Tim Burton Auteur Study: Edward Scissorhands - Key Concepts

1. Burton's Visual Style: Tim Burton's visual style in Edward Scissorhands is characterized by stark contrasts between light and dark, Gothic elements, and quirky, exaggerated designs. He often uses unusual angles, spirals, and stripes to create a sense of unease or whimsy. In the film, this is evident in the juxtaposition of the dark, Gothic mansion where Edward lives and the pastel-colored, cookie-cutter suburban neighborhood.

2. Use of Color: Burton employs color strategically to convey mood and themes. In Edward Scissorhands, the suburban setting is depicted in bright, almost artificially cheerful pastel colors, representing conformity and false perfection. In contrast, Edward's world (the mansion on the hill) is portrayed in dark, muted tones, symbolizing his isolation and uniqueness. This color contrast helps emphasize the theme of the outsider versus society.

3. Character Design: Edward's character design is a quintessential example of Burton's approach to protagonists. He has pale, almost corpse-like skin, wild, untamed hair, and is dressed in a black leather outfit adorned with buckles and straps. This design makes Edward both sympathetic and alien, embodying Burton's theme of the misunderstood outsider. His scissor hands are both a source of his artistic talent and a barrier to human connection.

4. Role of Music: Danny Elfman's score in Edward Scissorhands is crucial in establishing the film's fairytale-like atmosphere. The music often features delicate, music-box-like melodies that become more complex and emotional during key scenes. It's particularly notable during Edward's ice sculpting scenes, where the ethereal quality of the music enhances the magical nature of his creations. The score helps to convey Edward's innocence and the wonder of his world.

5. Recurring Themes: Two prominent recurring themes in Burton's films, including Edward Scissorhands, are: a) The outsider struggling to fit in: Edward, with his strange appearance and abilities, represents the misunderstood outsider trying to find acceptance in a "normal" world. b) The dark side of suburban conformity: Burton often portrays seemingly perfect suburban settings as stifling and intolerant of individuality.

6. Subversion of Fairy Tale Elements: Burton subverts traditional fairy tale elements in Edward Scissorhands by making the "monster" the most sympathetic and human character. Unlike traditional tales where the outsider is transformed to fit in, Edward remains unchanged, and it's the suburban world that's revealed to be monstrous in its intolerance. The "happily ever after" ending is also subverted, with Edward returning to isolation, though now understood by some.

7. Symbolism: Edward's scissors serve as a potent symbol throughout the film. They represent both his creative potential (shown through his hedge trimming and ice sculpting) and his inability to connect physically with others without causing harm. The scissors embody the double-edged nature of being different – it makes one special but also isolated.

8. Narrative Structure: Edward Scissorhands employs a frame narrative, with an older Kim recounting the story to her granddaughter. This structure gives the film a fairytale quality while also allowing for a bittersweet ending that diverges from traditional Hollywood narratives. The story within this frame follows a relatively conventional fish-out-of-water plot but is imbued with Burton's unique style and themes.

9. Influence of Animation: Burton's background in animation is evident in the exaggerated, almost cartoonish qualities of both the characters and settings in Edward Scissorhands. The suburban neighborhood, with its perfectly manicured lawns and identical houses, has an unreal quality reminiscent of animated backgrounds. Character movements, especially Edward's, often have a deliberate, puppet-like quality that recalls stop-motion animation.

10. Suburban Setting: The suburban setting in Edward Scissorhands is similar to settings in other Burton films like Beetlejuice. Burton portrays the suburbs as places of stifling conformity, hiding darkness and intolerance beneath a veneer of perfection. This setting serves to heighten the contrast with Edward's Gothic world and emphasizes themes of individuality versus conformity, and the hidden darkness in seemingly idyllic places.

Having an understanding of Tim Burton as an auteur, and having watch some of his films, you're now ready to complete a written response.  This covers various aspects of Tim Burton's auteur style, focusing on Edward Scissorhands while requiring you to draw connections to his broader body of work. The questions align with the Year 10 Media Arts syllabus by addressing:

1. Visual style and aesthetics

2. Use of color and mood

3. Character design

4. Sound and music

5. Recurring themes

6. Genre subversion

7. Symbolism and meaning

8. Narrative structure

9. Influence of animation on live-action

10. Setting and themes

These questions encourage critical thinking, analysis of film techniques, and understanding of Burton's unique style as an auteur. You will need to provide specific examples from Edward Scissorhands and potentially other Burton films to support their answers.

Each question is out of 5 marks.