Tim Burton: Paradox

Batman, one of the most famous movie series ever produced, symbolizes the climax of Tim Burton’s career. It’s dark, evil mood easily entrances us with its beauty. Supported by his dark past as an outcast, Tim Burton pours his very soul into his movies. It is this that distinguishes him from the masses. His history is mimicked in everything he creates; his dark past reflects itself into his characters. The place he found in our society, as a director, transfers into the theme of every movie he creates. Director Burton reveals his somber yet joyful style by using contrasting music, lighting, and people and by expressing themes that deeply relate to his life. Without his unique style, Burton’s movies just won’t be “his.”

Contrast, a paradox, is present in all of his movies. Burton uses contradicting music, lighting, and people to highlight his style. For example, this contrast is highly prominent in Edward Schissorhands. Right before Peg discovers Edward, loud, booming music plays, and the room is lit by low-key lighting. The music outright suggests that in the room where Edward should lie, lies a great evil, and the dark lighting inspires a feeling of dread in us. We expect an utterly terrifying monster in that room. Instead, in that room lays one of the purest of beings. Despite his deceiving appearance, Edward is as innocent as a new-born baby. The town is noticeably more cheerful when he comes around, and everyone rejoices when he improves the town. A mix of happiness and darkness is present underneath the obvious. One cannot survive without another. Furthermore, in the same movie, the townspeople are always met with the brightest of lighting and colors, perhaps too bright. Bright light is usually good, but there is a thing such...

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... by his father’s death. A pattern emerges here. A character starts a journey when the mood is dark. The mood then , gradually grows happier. After the happiness is at its height, the modd is, again, polluted by regret and misery. The movie revolves around a cycle of joy and somber. It contains both at the same time yet contains none totally. One cannot exist without its companion, forming a paradox of opposites, a fitting theme for Burton’s style

Mere parts of a whole, contrast and theme are glued together with many other elements to form Burton’s style: a paradox of misery and utter joy. Burton’s soul resides inside his movies, and we can use that connection to understand him. Famous and popular yet an outcast, Burton is a contradiction himself, which oddly resembles Burton’s style. Through our link with him, we can gain insight into life that few will ever give.