The idea of change is repeated with much regularity towards the end of the book, What You See in the Dark. The author, Manuel Munoz, outlined the numerous changes that various characters of the book were experiencing through the years and decades. The city of Bakersfield, Arlene Watson, and the Director all experienced some form of change.

Bakersfield has seen development and transformation due in large part to the construction of the new freeway. With the opening of the freeway in the summer of 1962, it connected Los Angeles to Sacramento, while altering daily life for many in Bakersfield. The freeway had a main exit for Bakersfield, Union Avenue, which fed into the downtown district. As a result, downtown faced much reconstruction in its sidewalks, roads, and shops. However, the characters and places that didn’t improve their businesses suffered greatly. This leads to Arlene.

Arlene Watson in many aspects of her life lacked change over the years. Arlene’s lack of change hindered her from emotional and social stability. Emotionally, Arlene was quite closed off, as seen from her rejection of Vernon. Her dismissal made it clear to Vernon that she wanted none of his help, which led to his failure to return to the diner. Her refusal to sell the motel hindered social stability. Many knew that her business would suffer greatly because of the lack of available freeway exits to her motel. Additionally, the diner also lacked change. The diner refused to improve cosmetically to make it more appealing for travelers coming from places like Los Angeles. With fewer customers, the less money Arlene made which negatively affected her daily life.

Cinema was another aspect in the book that endured change. The Director had difficulty in adjusting to the ever-advancing industry of cinema. Budgets became increasingly larger, technology advanced, and color in films was now integrating into the norm. All while the Director was towards the end of his career and seen as the old guy on the block. He knew that the newer, younger directors had all the time and ability to adapt to the new technology and larger budgets, to make themselves more relevant and feed the audience what they want to see in the changing American culture.

Change, or lack thereof in certain cases, is highlighted by Munoz towards the end of the book to offer a sort of conclusion to each of the stories. The change that Bakersfield was experiencing offered an insight to its possible future. The lack of change throughout Arlene’s life disallowed her from moving her feelings from past relationships and onto a brighter and more optimistic future with Vernon. The lack of change also hindered Arlene to sell the motel even when it became clear that her business would be greatly affected negatively by the new freeway. The change that cinema undertook affected the Director because of his age and lack of time to adjust to newer modes. Change played a key role in What You See in the Dark and it serves as a mode to conclude each of the stories of Bakersfield, Arlene Watson, and the Director.