In the movie Edward Scissorhands, directed by Tim Burton and released on December 6, 1990, revolves around a scientist (Vincent Price) wo builds an animated human being -- the gentle Edward (Johnny Depp). The scientist dies before he can finish assembling Edward, leaving the young man with a freakish appearance because of his scissor blades in place of hands. Loving suburban saleswoman Peg (Dianne Wiest) discovers Edward and takes him home, where he falls for Peg's teen daughter (Winona Ryder). However, despite his kindness and artistic talent, Edward's hands make him an outcast. Throughout the film, in different scene, we can see the effects on sound, lighting and camera angle and how it aids in creating a mood for the audience. Sound is one production element of ‘Edward Scissorhands’ which works to not only establish the character of Edward, but also defines the relationships he has with those who come to surround him. The often tender, pensive and romantic soundtrack highlights Edward’s emotions as he tries to blend in with the people surrounding him. The seemingly cheerful music which plays during the film’s opening scene initially makes the …show more content…
The camera angle changes when she reaches the mansion as the long wide-angled shot conveys the relative size of character and setting which suggests Peg’s vulnerability in the strange environment. Conversely, Edward is presented to the audience in a long-shot which quickly shifts to a medium close-up of his pale, scarred face; his shock of black hair, accompanying black clothing and ‘scissor’ hands are fully in view and thus he is immediately cast as a monster. Interestingly, Burton immediately forces the audience to challenge this stereotype through the combination of Edward’s gentle voice and the close-up of his sad
Individuality is rejection, whether it be a rejection of society or a rejection by society. Burton explores the consequences that can derive from rejection and how appearances may differ from reality. The work of Tim Burton consists of a unique style unlike any other. Not only do his films convey his ideas of individuality to the audience, it is done in a distinctive Burton way. Burton’s style of the formal elements of German Expressionism, gothic horror, and unique characters allow him to convey his ideas. His views of individuality are evident through the work of his film 'Edward Scissorhands' and short film 'Vincent'.
Tim Burton also uses great Lighting to make Edward look like shouldn't be there, for example, it shows Edward cramped into a small car and with bright colors in the background. In the scene where they enter Edwards garden it seem so beautiful up close, but like hell far away because its very dark over there, then when it enters back into the house it seems like it would be from a horror movie. And the make up on his face makes it more fit with the lighting because of the scars with his pale white face and his crazy black hair.
As a response to the Enlightenment movement in 18th century Europe, Romanticism gradually began to undermine the way people thought about human consciousness and nature itself. Appreciation of the natural beauty of the world and pure, human emotion bloomed in Europe as Romanticism’s influence grew ("Topic Page: Romanticism”). Romantics valued Individualism and thought that being close to nature would make them closer to God (Morner and Rausch). People also searched for solace in nature to overcome the adversities and cynicisms that followed the French Revolution ("French Revolution."). Romanticism and Romantic ideals influenced Mary Shelley, and that influence can be seen throughout her novel Frankenstein. The two main characters, Victor Frankenstein
From the very beginning, Edward is cast as the monster – but is he really? We first see Edward when Peg searches for the owner of a dark, ominous, gothic mansion. She climbs up a set of gigantic spiral stairs that lead to “Edward’s room”. The setting is quite dark and the only lighting is coming through a gaping hole in the roof. Her curiosity gets the better of her, and as she examines this foreign place, we can hear in the bac...
In the film Edward Scissor hands the director Tim Burton explores conformity and isolation of its protagonist, Edward, through film techniques. Even though society is made up of unique individuals that can result in a dynamic environment, Edward faces difficulties when trying to integrate into society due to his uniqueness. Firstly, when Peg meets Edward, use of color and camera work emphasizes his solitude and individualistic qualities. Secondly, when Peg dresses Edward in a ‘normal’ fashion, costume and dialogue are used to highlight the difference between Edward and society. Lastly, in the scene when Edward is on television, costume and dialogue are again used to enhance Edward’s unconventional character.
For instance, at the start, Edward enjoys helping others, is nice, gullible and very polite. However, he does not fit in the individualistic town. The townspeople, being egotistical, take advantage of the vulnerable Edward. He is therefore forced against his will to do chores around the town. These tasks include garden sculptures, hairstyles, dog hairstyles, and so on; all of which are fake. The town likes fake ways to promote their conformal lifestyles and to try to differentiate themselves from their neighbour. Meanwhile, the town’s values corrupt Edward and his behaviour drastically changes. His authenticity cannot be accepted by the townspeople: “Furthermore, his work - the garden sculptures, hairstyles and so forth - indicate that he's a highly imaginative... uh... character. It seems clear that his awareness of what we call reality is radically underdeveloped” (Edward Scissorhands). He is considered as a mere character and not a person since he is not like the typical town “person”. Additionally, his authentic personality is categorized as “radically underdeveloped”. The categorization shows at what point the town cannot stand authenticity and takes comfort in its conformity. In contrast, while all the townspeople turn against Edward, Kim’s character evolves into loving the authenticity Edward portrays. The white clothes she starts
In her novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley and the film Edward Scissorhands by Tim Burton their creations have a desire to be loved. Which leads them on a journey of acceptance for themselves and others. Everyone has felt the need to find why they are here on earth; we all search for answers we are no different from them.
Edward Scissorhands is an unfinished experiment that is afraid of the human race. Brought to the town by Peg, Edward is like a tool to the rest of the townspeople. They only accept him for what he can do and prejudice him as inhuman because of his hands. Edward is a caring person but, his wrong actions outweigh the good deeds that he has done in society. The color scheme of Edward compared to society is different, the townspeople all wear and decorate their houses with very vibrant and attention seeking colors (colorful houses, cars, clothing, hair, etc.). Edward, on the other hand, wears very dark and gloomy colors (full outfit is black, black hair, paler than the townspeople, etc.). As Edward becomes more used to society, he starts to wear human clothing like a white suit shirt and black pants but, never anything too bright like the townspeople. Edwards isolation and rejection from society makes it so that he is afraid of humans and how they will view him. When Edward went to jail, destroyed the plant sculptures, accidentally scratched up Kevin and, attacked Kevin, Society shunned him. They think he is a monster and forces him to become alone again. This change in character development proves that society never accepted Edward. The red the townspeople were wearing when Edward scratched up Kevin symbolizes how he is not human with his scissor hands, cursed to destroy
The repercussions of treating sentient life as monsters or miscreation’s is disastrous. When non-human conscious life is created it is easier to treat these creations as outsiders rather than accepting them. There are two stories that show this clearly. The novel Frankenstein or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelly and the film Ex Machina by Alex Garland. When self-conscious life is created it must be treated as such.
Critic Northrop Frye says, “Tragic heroes tower as the highest points in their human landscape that they seem the inevitable conductors of the power about them, the great trees more likely to be struck by lightning than a clump of grass. Conductors may of course be instruments as well as victims of the divine lightning”. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein greatly exhibits the theme of the consequence of knowledge and irresponsibility among others through its tragic hero, Victor Frankenstein. Northrop Frye’s quote is certainly true when looking at Frankenstein’s situation. Victor is a victim of his divine lightning, and ultimately causes much trouble for himself; however, Victor also serves as the tragic hero in the lives of the monster, his family, and his friends.
Many people know that Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, was part of a family of famed Romantic era writers. Her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, was one of the first leaders of the feminist movement, her father, William Godwin, was a famous social philosopher, and her husband, Percy Shelley, was one of the leading Romantic poets of the time ("Frankenstein: Mary Shelley Biography."). What most people do not know, however, is that Mary Shelley dealt with issues of abandonment her whole life and fear of giving birth (Duncan, Greg. "Frankenstein: The Historical Context."). When she wrote Frankenstein, she revealed her hidden fears and desires through the story of Victor Frankenstein’s creation, putting him symbolically in her place (Murfin, Ross. "Psychoanalytic Criticism and Frankenstein.”). Her purpose, though possibly unconsciously, in writing the novel was to resolve both her feelings of abandonment by her parents, and fears of her own childbirth.
In gothic novels tragic figures are symbols of pain to the characters. Victor Frankenstein brings misfortune to his loved ones, which concludes to his overall tragedy. Ironically the monster in this novel is Frankenstein the creator not the creature. He has seven victims including himself and his fall is due to his ambition to be superior.
Multiple people claimed they “know a doctor that might be able to help” fix his situation (Edward Scissorhands). At one point, Edward said, “I’d like to meet him” (Edward Scissorhands), knowing if he received prosthetic surgery, he would be accepted as normal and not special. Edward accidently cut Kim and Kevin with his scissorhands, though his intentions were to help them. The incidence leaves the neighbors with an evil impression causing them to chase Edward, though he only wanted Kim’s love. The physical features of Edward and the creature led others to conclude that they were malicious and therefore deemed outcasts, though their intentions were only to find
However, everything is unusual in Edward’s world. Tim Burton introduces another realism from Edward’s perspective. The impression of where Edward comes from is completely different from what is observed in the neighborh...
As an audience we are manipulated from the moment a film begins. In this essay I wish to explore how The Conversation’s use of sound design has directly controlled our perceptions and emotional responses as well as how it can change the meaning of the image. I would also like to discover how the soundtrack guides the audience’s attention with the use of diegetic and nondiegetic sounds.