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themes in edgar allan poe short stories
tim burton's cinematic style
a paragraph on the gothic genre
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The film Edward Scissorhands is a contemporary archetype of the gothic genre exploring themes such as unrequited love, social rejection and human creation as defined by Tim Burton. Feature films explore different ideals that can be categorized into different genres that create expectations among audiences about characters, settings, plots and themes. Edward Scisscorhands directed by Tim Burton in the year 1990 is described as both a dark romantic fantasy and a gothic horror film. The film tells a story about Edward Scissorhands, the creation of an elderly inventor who dies before he can give Edward his normal hands in place of his scissor hands. Edward is taken from the mansion he lives in by a suburban family in an attempt to live a ‘normal’ life. The public feared Edward in the beginning but after due time began to welcome him into the neighbourhood until rumours spread and things became ugly. Edward Scissorhands has a fairytale fantasy component. The opening of the film is depicted by Kim ‘Grandma’ in her older years telling a child a bedtime story about how snow came to be. Grandma Kim typically begins the story with “once upon a time” a phrase commonly used when telling fairytales. Fantasy and fairytale each reflect the ‘make believe’ fictional themes portrayed in this film. There are gothic horror themes reflected throughout Edward Scissorhands. The setting of this movie depicts a clear gothic theme, from the eerie mansion he was created in to his character costume throughout the movie. His dark makeup and costuming is juxtaposed to the bright suburbia he is living in revealing his isolation and difference to society which becomes his biggest battle throughout the film. Edward’s loneliness is exposed by the setting of... ... middle of paper ... ...nd says “the roof caved in on him, they both killed each other” and then says “you can see for yourself” as Kim holds up a Scissor hand she had found as she ran out the door. Kim did the right thing by leaving Edward in peace and out of the way of chaos. It is evident in many of today’s award winning film’s that themes and genres of fairytale, dark fantasy and the gothic horror are still as popular and have stood the test of time. This film is known among all generations as a ‘classic’ it incorporates different ideals that appeal to a range of audiences. Each of these themes appeal to both genders; fairytale for girls and dark fantasy/gothic horror for boys. Through virtuous directing by Tim Burton an award winning film was created, his manipulation of character development and depiction of different themes through setting, costume design and juxtaposition.
Would you let a man with scissors for hands in your, that you found in a dark evil-looking castle? I know I wouldn’t, but a mom named Peg would. Peg, who is very empathetic, decides to go sell Avon to the evil mansion across the street, but then finds a boy with scissors for hands and decides to take him home. Edward seems to be doing fine in the community, but is soon seen as a monster because he is framed by a bully name Jim. The movie is Edward, the protagonist, trying to recuperate his innocence and he won’t stop until he does. Throughout the movie, director Tim Burton used the stylistic elements of juxtaposition and symbolism to show the character’s personalities and to show how some places in the story are opposites.
Not a single individual is able to watch a Burton film without noticing the lighting effects and how it significantly contributes to the tone and mood of the entire film. In the movie Edward Scissorhands, one might be overwhelmed with the burst of extravagant colors in the scenery. Indeed this cinematic technique, high key, wholly influences the viewers perception and impression of the town. One can conclude that even though flamboyancy pervades the town, iniquity lurks in all directions and hypocrisy governs the minds of its inhabitants. Irony is harnessed in this film. How can an effulgent town harbor wickedness and Edward with a chilling and gothic complexion radiate innocence and righteousness? Burton uses these opposing conceptions brought about by the contrast of lighting to convey the message that materialism has been ingrained in the mentality of society (at least in the neighborhood in which Burton lived in the past), thus yearning for th...
Tim Burton is a creative director when he directs gothic movies. This essay talks about the cinematic techniques that Burton uses in the movies, Edward Scissorhands, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Alice in Wonderland. Tim Burton uses shots and framing, sound, and lighting, to make a dark and gothic movies. He tries to make you feel a special way, in a certain scene, in his movies, by his different techniques.
The film Edward Scissorhands shows how society rejects people who are different. This film directed by Tim Burton is about a boy named Edward who lives in an empty mansion. The film shows a community that is quick to judge but slow to distinguish the qualities of Edward. The people in the community are selfish and expect to receive from Edward without giving but regardless of this there are still some who love and care for him. By viewing this film the audience recognises how important it is to give someone a chance to prove themselves before judging them.
Burton widely used these techniques in one of his films, Edward Scissorhands, Edwards’s cloths are all black and he is notably pale. Edward could be seen as being gothic whereas the environment around him are colorful, bright, and alive. When Edward and Peg arrive at Peg’s house for the first time you can see that Edward stands out significantly from the houses and the other people around him. This makes the reader feel that Edwards been secluded from the Excitement and emotions of the outside world. In another one of Burton’s films, Corpse Bride, Burton uses a lot of greyness in the first portion of the film for instance the opening scene of the film has no color but grey and darker shades of grey. Burton, by using only grey color creates a sense of perpetual loneliness or a sense that there is no happiness in the world that the characters live in. Overall Burton’s use of color supports the darker part of his style by frequently using out of place colors that are typically darker colors in this case In Edward Scissorhands Edward having gothic like cloths compared to the bright surroundings is a great example of his dark use of
Director Burton uses exaggeration in cinematic techniques such as music to convey a certain theme to the audience, showing his unique style. For example, in the film Edward Scissorhands, Tim Burton purposely exaggerates the color of the townhouses contrasting with the dark castle to show how light and frivolous the town is. This is also shown through the apparent exaggeration of the housewives’ personalities. Throughout the entire story, the colors of the town are so stark that the audience winces as the camera pans over the town. This achieves the effect of grabbing the audience’s attention, enlightening them of the fact that Burton wants to convey: This town is simply shiny and pretty on the outside, with the nosy, despicable personalities of the housewives’ within. These cinematic techniques and characters reflect the cruel truth of society, where people only treat you well when they wish to take advantage of you. Tim Burton incorporates his own personal feelings about the world into this movie, ...
Tim Burton uses the cinematic technique of lighting in order to flawlessly portray dark, mysterious and creepy scenes. In his movie, Edward Scissorhands, Burton effectively uses low key lighting in the scene where Peg enters Edward’s mansion and uses it in the opening credits to create tense and suspenseful scenes. Burton also uses high key lighting to his advantage when the neighbors and Peg threw a party for Edward. The scene was flooded with light to create a scene of happiness, amusement and surprises during the party. His use of lighting though, is taken to new levels in his other movie Frankenweenie. Although the whole movie is flooded with darkness, you can see when the scenes get darker or lighter. Burton uses low key lighting in the scene where Victor Frankenstein’s beloved dog Sparky is trapped inside the burning windmill while attempting to rescue another dog. The scene is flooded with darkness in order to create a frightening scene full of suspense. Burton also uses high key lighting during the scene where Sparky is revived by the New Holland’s citizens after the devastating fire that “killed” Sparky to create a scene ...
To begin, Tim Burton uses lighting to send the mixed emotions of child like with darkness. Examples of lighting come from the two movies Edward Scissorhands and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. In the movie Edward Scissorhands, Tim Burton uses a mix of lighting on Edward. At happier times,when Edward is performing haircuts, the lighting is high key and has a front lighting the face of Edward. This portrays Edward is good although Tim Burton contradicted this decision later showing that Edward is somewhat of an criminal. For example, low key and bottom lighting were used when Edward is walking towards the police as if to seem that he is a criminal. This shows how Tim Burton uses his mixed emotions to make the audience not know what to think of Edward. In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the outside
If children or adults think of the great classical fairy tales today, be it Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, or Cinderella, they will think Walt Disney. Their first and perhaps lasting impression of these tales and others will have emanated from Disney film, book, or artefacts (Zipes 72)
On August 25, 1958, Timothy Walter Burton was born (“Biography”). Burton had a painful childhood in which the relationship with his parents and brother was nonexistent (Morgenstern). Through his intense feeling of isolation, his visual talent began to develop. The comfort found in hobbies such as writing and drawing led him to attend the California Institute of the Arts which led him to his first job in any artistic field at the Disney Animation Studios (“Biography”). Burton has since been referred to as one of the most visually gifted writers, artists, and filmmakers that America has seen (Hanke). His short stories, poems, and film scripts are centered on an inner darkness which he has been slowly acquiring since his childhood. He throws himself into everything he writes and makes even the simplest characters have a deep, complex meaning. His famous darkness and symbolism is shown in his book The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy and Other Stories. The book contains a collection of his short stories, poems, and illustrations about a variety of fictional characters that can be compared to Burton and his life. Tim Burton’s home life and previous hardships have made a significant impact on his work. In my paper, I will draw parallels to his life and work as well as prove that there is reasoning and beauty in the way he is.
Through his portrayal of characters and unorthodox style of writing throughout the fairy tale, Goldman pokes fun at the literary process and ordinary fairy tales. Through his fairy tale, The Princess Bride, Goldman ridicules numerous tropes of fairy tales and simultaneously critiques overdone expositions. Every character represents an archetype of a common fairy tale, but they all have glaring flaws that directly contradict how they are supposed to act. William Goldman sets forth his satirical theme that the literary industry’s rigid rules reflect its inability to adapt in an ever changing society.
Good Morning Teachers and students. Today I will be exploring Tim Burton’s creative world, and how he looks closely at the outsider character to deepen our understanding of the world. You might wonder why it is that Burton so consistently portrays outsider characters in his films. As an Auteur, he strives to show us the outsider in a more familiar and close up way, and comments on the way that conformity can often lead to unhappiness. Burton chooses to show the outsider to us using a mixture of Gothic and German Expressionistic elements, such as the
reality. Edward Scissorhands is a film about a man with scissors for hands who was taken into the suburbs of his town after many years spent in isolation. The film relays a message of the good and bad of the individual and the conformity. In the film, Edward is the individual while the towns’ people represent society and the conformity. Edward is first rejected by society and tries to fit in, but then realises that he cannot please anyone no matter how hard he tries. He then rejects society and what they have caused him to become. ‘You blend and blend and blend, blending is the secret,’ this line has a double meaning of blending in making up as well as blending to fit in. The makeup itself has a second meaning, a mask used to cover up Edward and hide him from society. Burton exaggerates how perfect the town’s people are in order to place emphasis on their imperfections. Edward may look monstrous but the town’s people represent it. The concept of appearance vs. reality not only applies to the characters but also the castle and suburbia. The suburb of the town is depicted as perfect, picturesque, but this contrasts with the people of the town. Although they seem to be perfect, the town’s
The director Tim Burton uses colors to create a happy mood during the scenes in the movie Edward Scissorhands. He portrays the neighborhood and all the people that live there in bright pastel colors which gives off a happy feeling. These bright colors give off the impression that everything is picture-perfect and everyone is content. The whole neighborhood is unchanging and routine. Throughout the movie Burton shows the men have left for work at the same time every day and everything is a lively color. When Edward arrives, he is dressed in all black and is
It is Edward’s myths, of course, that really reveal the man he is. Tim Burton has cleverly constructed his movie around Ewan McGregor, the young handsome Edward Bloom, and so the tall begin. The screenplay, by John August, mixes tender heartfelt drama with zany, outrageous scenes, skipping from past to present, while keeping the tension alive.