Mise-en-Scene in Edward Scissorhands Essay - 844 Words

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 â€Å"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. To begin, the idea of two realisms is first illustrated in the opening sequence of the film and continues throughout the length of the story. For example, the neighborhood shown in the film is†¦show more content†¦Also, the black castle is frightening, unsafe and almost looks like a monster’s abode. This contrast creates an uncomfortable feeling and introduces us to the second realism of the â€Å"fairy tale† world. Edward’s first words, â€Å"Don’t go,† to Peg suggests that he desires contact with other people instead of being isolated. That is when she takes Edward, the â€Å"fairytale† figure into the neighborhood, where he experiences his social awakening. In addition, mise-en-scene is used to show the contradictions between the two understandings of life. The barbecue and dinner scene show the emotional overkill and unstable conduct of the residents in the town by using the lively and distinctive color (Burton, 1990). The distinction with Edward’s gothic punk style of fashion, hairdo and makeup is unusual and marks him as an outcast. It is not only his exterior that points out his detachment from people, but also his ideas which represent his own reality and separates him from the world that he does not belong to. When the people discover Edward’s talents they begin to request different tasks from him. Overall, it seems as if the society i s only accepting of Edward for their own benefit. However, Burton makes it clear that there is no true acceptance for Edward when he is forced to leave Peg’s house. Kim, the girl Edward falls in love with, knows she cannot change society, so she leaves him in the castle and tells everyone he’s dead so he is protected.Show MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Edward Scissorhands, By Tim Burton1660 Words   |  7 PagesIn my essay I am going to reference two films, Edward Scissorhands (1990) and Vincent (1982), directed by Tim Burton. Edward Scissorhands, is Tim Burton’s take on the Frankenstein story. We can clearly see the influences that have appealed to Tim Burton in the classic Frankenstein (1931) was not the character’s monstrousness appeal but the sense of sad sorrow that audiences sympathized to in Boris Karloff’s performance. Whereas in Tim Burton’s vision, we see a â€Å"Special† character as the FrankensteinRead MoreEssay on A Written St udy of Edward Scissorhands1809 Words   |  8 PagesA Written Study of Edward Scissorhands In the film Edward Scissorhands, Tim Burton creates a suburban fantasy by explaining his interpretation of what it is like to live in a suburb. The definition of suburb is living in the outskirts of a town and having limited interests and narrow minded views. Tim Burton creates suburbia and practically makes a parody of the suburb where the family live. The women typify the definition of a suburban housewife; they stay at homeRead MoreSelf Reflexive1132 Words   |  5 Pagesoften enhances the de-centering of the screen world. Classic German Expressionism: Expressionism in its purest form is found in 1920’s German cinema, in which case it was overtly opposed to realism, emphasizing elaborate distortions in the mise-en-scene. Contemporary Expressionism: Most easily found in the films of Alfred Hitchcock (Psycho, e.g.). Hitchcock employs low angled shots, close-ups and other camera tricks in order to accent the viewers’ perception of the subject and the overarchingRead MoreGerman Expressionism and Tim Burton Essay2030 Words   |  9 Pagesbefore World War I). It is through such things as sets, themes, makeup and costuming, lighting and shadows, acting techniques, and character that we can see Burton has been widely influenced by films of the era. The notable directors films Edward Scissorhands (1990), Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992), all draw parallels to expressionist films of the era and the characteristics these films feature. Burtons expressionist style films are predominantly similar