Gloria Martinez Perez
COM 2010
Film analysis
Edward Sissorhands
Edward Scissorhands was directed by Tim Burton and it takes place during the late
1950s’ which was the era of conformity. The story is a "fairy tale" modern and therefore, like all stories, a fable with moral content and teachings.
Burton's film tells the story of a strange inventor, who created Edward, a boy who formed in the goodness and kindness, but it turns out to be artificial. The inventor died before completing his hands and the boy survived with scissors instead of hands. One day, a visit from a friendly cosmetics saleswoman, Edward opened the door from the outside world. Thanks to his skills as a gardener and hairdresser, he is initially well received by the inhabitants
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The horror of this comedy derives from the evidence that suburbanites are proposed to destroy this unique creature (and anyone else out of their criteria for
"normality") on behalf of an apparently civilized lifestyle
Burton's career started in 1985 and it includes a lot of movies. In all his movies, Burton uses characters like Edward, characters who are "outsiders, misunderstood and misperceived, misfits and often overwhelmed by a degree of duality." This is something that makes him to have a personal stamp. Burton maintains an ambiguous image, playing the role of teenager awful, but even with this role he is still being one of the most confident’s director in Hollywood
Edward Scissorhands is probably the most important movie by Tim Burton. He uses in it aspects of the theory of Gothic fiction, fairy tales and the definition of sexual gender.
In the cinematography aspect, Burton's film is notable mostly for its production design and photography, but also because it uses very well the narrative styles of Gothic and fairytale styles simultaneously parody and homage. Edward is also a text that affects the problem of defining a new masculinity to the 90s theme that links with
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'.
Gothic Literature was a natural progression from romanticism, which had existed in the 18th Century. Initially, such a ‘unique’ style of literature was met with a somewhat mixed response; although it was greeted with enthusiasm from members of the public, literary critics were much more dubious and sceptical.
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.
Vincent opens on a young boy, locked away in his room, imagining himself as an evil mastermind, and reading Edgar Allen Poe. This short film is one of Tim Burton’s first works, and perfectly encapsulates his style. Although Burton worked for Disney during his creation of the film, his style differs greatly from that of Disney. Disney takes stories geared traditionally toward children and removes all dark aspects creating a completely wholesome story. However, Burton takes children’s stories and embellishes the dark elements, creating eerie stories. Throughout Tim Burton’s work a clearly unique directing style is showcased, defined, in particular, by his use of colour, music, and camera angles to create characterization, foreshadowing, and mood respectively.
Anyone who has had the chance to read Mary Shelly’s original Frankenstein and watch the movie Young Frankenstein is aware that there is quite a difference when it comes to the two of them. For one it is easy to point out that Young Frankenstein is set out to be a comedy while the original version of Frankenstein is made to be serious. Young Frankenstein is a 1977 film that tells the story of Victor Frankenstein’s grandson. The film adaptation is essentially a parody of the classic tale along with other versions of Frankenstein. It pointed out from the start of the movie that it would run directly parallel with the original tale when Fredrick Frankenstein was mentioned to be the grandson of the infamous Victor
Since the communist era, the concept of conformity has been tested on humans thinking it would bring a sort of comfort. These regimes rapidly crumbled due to their often authoritarian nature. Following these dictatorships, we often associate conformity with misery. Similarly, in Edward Scissorhands, through the characterization of Peg Boggs, the symbolism of Edward’s castle home and the change in Edward’s behaviour, director Tim Burton rejects conformity since it leads to fakeness, boredom, and corruption and, instead, promotes the benefits of authenticity and old habits.
job. He owns very little material goods but has an insatiable appetite for luxury and
A querying of normative gender behaviour and sexuality pervades the 19th century gothic fiction text. What does this reveal about the cultural context within the tale exists?
The term ‘Gothic’ conjures a range of possible meanings, definitions and associations. It explicitly denotes certain historical and cultural phenomena. Gothicism was part of the Romantic Movement that started in the eighteenth century and lasted about three decades into the nineteenth century. For this essay, the definition of Gothic that is applicable is: An 18th century literary style characterized by gloom and the supernatural. In the Gothic novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, a wide range of issues are explored. Frankenstein represents an entirely new vision of the female Gothic, along with many other traditional themes such as religion, science, colonialism and myth.
...physical or intellectual ability. Therefore, stereotypical women were not given much personality in Gothic stories. The woman tends to be the motivation and the hope that the readers look for after the dread and despair of the gothic literature's depressing setting. Searching for the positive is a common response from readers after experiencing the haunted castles, landscape, or buildings. Again, if there was not any optimism in the story, readers feel awkward and reject the story. These settings display the Gothic feel for the characters that enter along with the reader. Along with the scary places, the monsters or villain, also take part in setting the Gothic feel to the literature. Whether it is a vampire, witch, woman in distress, or hero with super powers, the terror and optimism is a must within the story (“Themes & Construction: Frankenstein” 2003).
Looking onto the novel, there is a perfect gothic look presented to us with its every aspect. Infact every single concept covered comes deep from mythology. It talks about blood and fire, death and love, good and bad, fantasy and magic. And the Count; who sometimes happens to be an atrocital monster, a romantic lover… No doubt, these make the novel even...
Gothic Literature was a genre of writing created in the 1780's in order to give form to the impulses and fears of all mankind. It relied heavily upon the ideas of good and evil, and every emotion was symbolically externalized, either by nature, physical appearance, or crime, in order to establish a physical structure for the term evil. By the 19th century Romanticism began to appear, and slowly but dramatically changed Gothic literature forever.
Word by word, gothic literature is bound to be an immaculate read. Examining this genre for what it is could be essential to understanding it. “Gothic” is relating to the extinct East Germanic language, people of which known as the Goths. “Literature” is defined as a written work, usually with lasting “artistic merit.” Together, gothic literature combines the use of horror, death, and sometimes romance. Edgar Allan Poe, often honored with being called the king of horror and gothic poetry, published “The Fall of House Usher” in September of 1839. This story, along with many other works produced by Poe, is a classic in gothic literature. In paragraph nine in this story, one of our main characters by the name of Roderick Usher,
In what follows, my research paper will rely on an article by Kathy Prendergast entitled “Introduction to The Gothic Tradition”. The significance of this article resides in helping to recapitulate the various features of the Gothic tradition. In this article the authoress argues that in order to overturn the Enlightenment and realistic literary mores, many of the eighteenth century novelists had recourse to traditional Romantic conventions in their works of fiction, like the Arthurian legendary tales (Prendergast).
Almost everyone has a favorite genre of film, but how everyone defines their favorite genre can differ greatly. Horror is one of the genres where its definition can be perceived differently by many people. Like all other genres, horror does have rules and traditions that must be included in order for a film to be considered a horror film. These rules and traditions include a protagonist, an antagonist, an escape or escape attempt of some sort, and very influential audio and visual effects.