Individuality In Edward Scissorhands

823 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Analysis of tim burton

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'. Burton explores the rejection by society and the impacts left behind through the use of the formal elements of German 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

Show More
Related

  • Diversity In The Outsiders

    877 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Outsider characters Edward and Raphael from the movie ‘Edward Scissorhands’ and the novel ‘Trash’ change their bland and featureless environments by providing creativity and ambition to the locals. Edward is an Outsider by his appearance while Raphael is an Outsider by poverty. Their communities express kindness to them both. Both individual characters do not act in the way the inhabitants of the society or slum. This is positive for the community and the creativity of the Outsiders change their

    Read More

  • Film Analysis: Edward Scissorhands Genre

    1243 Words  | 3 Pages

    The most appealing films are those that keep audiences guessing, surprise them at the most unexpected times and break conventional film boundaries. Edward Scissorhands (1990) directed by Tim Burton, is a feature film that does exactly that. It blends a fairy tale story with a gothic horror film, to engage the viewer right from beginning until the resolution. It tells the tale of Edward, who was the creation of an inventor who died before he could give Edward proper hands, and was left with scissors as hands. When he was taken from his gothic mansion, into a “normal” suburban community, he was at first welcomed, but then heartbreakingly rejected when things went wrong. The character of the “monster” is an important feature to many gothic horror texts, and examining Edward and other various characters helps to bring about interesting ideas and concepts about this key role. Burton also draws on the relationship between the princess and the prince, commonly found in fairy tales. By using various features found in the gothic horror genre and the fairy tale genre, Edward Scissorhands is able to sway us to think about the consequences of judging people who are different, it influences us to question what true love is and changes the way we view who can be the prince and princess.

    Read More

  • Use of Allusion and Symbolism in Edward Scissorhands

    694 Words  | 2 Pages

    Using the production elements of symbolism; especially hands themselves, and the use of allusion to elements from other genres; particularly those from fairytale and gothic romance/horror films, Tim Burton has directed the film in such a manner to illustrate, emphasise and ridicule the materialism and lack of imagination of society. The film however, is prominently a satire which has certain elements from fairytale, comedy and horror genres. Through the choices made by the director, the audience is invited to become aware of the inhumanity present in the way society functions, especially in its prejudiced treatment towards people who do not conform. The use of allusion in Edward Scissorhands is one of the most important choices in production that has been made by director Tim Burton. In order to fully appreciate and understand the plot, the movie is dependant on the audience being able to recognise certain references and elements emulated from other films.

    Read More

  • Edward Scissorhands: A Short Film Analysis

    992 Words  | 2 Pages

    Everyone has that one friend who is a complete goofball: the one who is just different from the rest and can be a little abstract. The misfit may be easy to spot in a crowd and be judged; however, Tim Burton accepts the oddball and takes the concept of character dramatization one step further. Through his movies, Edward Scissorhands and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the outcast tries to break through the social barrier by reaching out to the community and trying to fit in. With Burton’s imaginative characters, Burton shows how being an outcast gives a person the potential for success.

    Read More

  • Tim Burton's Cinematic Style In Edward Sccissorhands

    708 Words  | 2 Pages

    Tim Burton’s films depict his lashing back from a tortured childhood. Somehow, his movies tell his story. His first big budget movie, Batman, was a huge hit. He then chose to make Edward Scissorhands, his most personal film. Despite the fact that Batman was a hit, movie executives were reluctant to give Burton authorization. His use of cinematic techniques displays his unique style.

    Read More

  • The Psychological Fulfillment in Watching Mel Brook’s Young Frankenstein

    2560 Words  | 6 Pages

    For centuries, authors have placed human features on their fears allowing their public to confront a concrete creature rather than an abstract idea. The fear of death resulted in stories regarding vampires and mummies, fears of the unknown resulted in stories about creatures invading the Earth, fears of reincarnation resulted in stories of mad scientists creating life from death. With the invention of the motion picture in the late nineteenth century, these fears were able to be seen using human actors and actual “monsters” making both the fears and the fulfillment greater. As more of these films were created, audiences grew more tolerant of the once frightening monsters forcing directors to go even farther. To continue this trend, filmmakers soon were creating more fear than they were relieving creating another psychological void that needed to be filled. Sensing that the realm of horror films and many other genres of film were saturating the film industry, Mel Brooks wrote and directed two films in 1974: Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein. Th...

    Read More

  • Analytical Essay on Tim Burton's Style in Film Directing- Edward Scissorhands

    933 Words  | 2 Pages

    Indisputably, Tim Burton has one of the world’s most distinct styles when regarding film directing. His tone, mood, diction, imagery, organization, syntax, and point of view within his films sets him apart from other renowned directors. Burton’s style can be easily depicted in two of his most highly esteemed and critically acclaimed films, Edward Scissorhands and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Burton ingeniously incorporates effective cinematic techniques to convey a poignant underlying message to the audience. Such cinematic techniques are in the lighting and editing technique categories. High key and low key relationships plus editing variations evinces the director’s elaborate style. He utilizes these cinematic techniques to establish tone mood, and imagery in the films.

    Read More

  • Tim Burton's Particular Way of Making Films

    700 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...e his ideas a fresh breathe of air, but they have a deeper meaning and are a breeding ground for thought and consideration. His reoccurring theme of individuality, which is supported by symbolism in his works, makes for relatable characters and situations. The ability to make a man with scissors for hands or a skeleton into a character that is relevant to one’s current life is special; not many people could pull it off. Burton gracefully blended his influences of Edgar Allan Poe-like characters and Dr. Seuss inspired scenery to create cinematic works that affected people of all ages. He may have been an outcast as a child, but what once was a flaw now makes him stand out from other directors. Edward Scissorhands and The Nightmare before Christmas are only a portion of the films in which he wove a deep threaded theme promoting individuality and being true to oneself.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Tim Burton's Role Style

    750 Words  | 2 Pages

    Tim Burton's style compared to others is quite unique. His many films do not give off the same mood and feeling that audiences are used to with child films. With some of his role models being Edgar Allen Poe and Ronald Dahl, it's no surprise that his films mix children ideas with a sense of darkness, and even at times creepiness. Tim Burton combines these feelings of child movies and darkness through the way he uses lighting, shots and framing, and to spread his message.

    Read More

  • How Does Tim Burton Create Suspense

    481 Words  | 1 Pages

    Overall, Burton’s creative style is clearly seen in his films Edward Scissorhands and Beetlejuice. It is most clearly seen through his use of dramatic music and low key lighting. The dramatic music helps to set the mood and the low key lighting creates suspense and leaves the audience asking questions. Through the use of these 2 cinematic techniques, Burton is able to fascinate his audience with mysterious and exciting stories, and that is what makes him a great and unique

    Read More

  • Time Burton´s Gothic Fantasy: Representing the Victorian Culture through Animation and Parody

    2584 Words  | 6 Pages

    Film adaptations based on particular works such as Dickens’s Great Expectations are not the only means through which we get a glimpse of Victorian culture and society. Animated films such as Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride (2005) represent the Victorian era through humor and exaggeration and reveal Burton’s awareness of 19th century English society. In his study Gothic Fantasy: The Films of Tim Burton, Edwin Page argues that Burton’s films are not realistic in nature, but like fairy tales they communicate through symbolic imagery, as they speak of “things far deeper within our conscious and subconscious minds than most films would dare to delve” (7). His films are believed to be personal and reflect dark humor, as he combines elements of fairy tales, the gothic, parody and grotesque. Most importantly, Burton usually identifies himself with subordinate characters in horror films that exhibit grand melodramatic emotion and also finds himself “identifying with the monsters rather than the heroes, as the monsters tended to show passion whereas the leads were relatively emotionless” (13). The monsters in his films symbolize the outsider and the alienated, a figure that defies society and is almost always exaggerated in representation. Significant examples from his numerous films include Edward in Edward Scissorhands (1990), demonic Mrs. Lovett and the blood thirsty barber in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) and the tragicomically grotesque jilted bride Emily in Corpse Bride (2005).

    Read More

  • Theme Of Individualism In Frankenstein

    1200 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout the year Professor Prudden has been teaching us the idea of the individual and when and how it came about. We have studied The French Revolution, Scientific Revolution, Colonialism, and Reformation, all stressing what made this time period important to the individual. We finished the class reading the novel Frankenstein with does a great job of demonstrating a man or “monster” creaking his own being. We have already determined that an individual is; the habit or principle of being independent and self-reliant. Mary Shelley demonstrates individuality through Frankenstein and leads to his internal isolation and loneliness. She shows that uniqueness is the most important aspect of individualism not only through Frankenstein but Victor

    Read More

  • Edward Scissorhands: A Sense Of Belonging

    761 Words  | 2 Pages

    As Nathaniel Brandon once said “…first step towards change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.” In Edward Scissorhands directed by Tim Burton, the society are all very aware of Edward’s differences but they are reluctant to change their views and fully accept him.The film reveals how Edward is isolated because he is different and how society selfishly exploits the unique talents of Edward and then when their feelings change and they regard him as dangerous, they reject him. However the Bogg family provide a sense of belonging and acceptance for Edward. Edward Scissorhands makes important comments about society’s inhumane treatment of people who differ from the norm, ignoring that all people deserve to be treated equally and with respect.

    Read More

  • Psychoanalyzing Victor Frankenstein

    1606 Words  | 4 Pages

    “When I reflected on his crimes and malice, my hatred and revenge burst all bounds of moderation.” In her novel, Frankenstein, Mary Shelley creates Victor Frankenstein, as a character who becomes psychologically unable to continue his normal life after he turns lifeless mater into a living creature through his studies of natural anatomy. Though many years have passed between the writing of Frankenstein and the making of the Television hit, Dexter, the creator of the show, James Manos Jr., created a character in Dexter that is psychologically very similar to Victor. Dexter is also unable to live a normal life after he realizes something about him is different from other human beings.

    Read More

  • Mise-en-Scene in Edward Scissorhands

    848 Words  | 2 Pages

    Edward Scissorhands, written by Tim Burton, tells the tale of a young man who is lovable, childlike and sensitive, bewildered by the humanity around him, yet is terrifying- someone who has scissors, the deadly weaponry, for hands. Many viewers may read this film as a “Tim Burton” type of fairytale which includes both an alternative aspect and romance. However, through the presentation of mise-en-scene in this film, Burton drives in a much more serious subject of social criticism by establishing two different understandings of life in the movie.

    Read More

More about Individuality In Edward Scissorhands

Open Document