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How does Tim Burton present issues of conformity in his films, and does it make him an auteur?
Films
Item 1 - Edward Scissorhands (1990)
A prime
example of this would be ‘Edward Scissorhands’. Consistently we see Johnny Depp’s character
(Edward) walking through the perfect, spotless, bright neighbourhood that makes
him stand out. Instantaneously we know he is the protagonist, and not the same as his
peers; and based off
Burton’s auteur style, we know he is not going to be welcomed into the
community; it is therefore an ideal example of my topic to explore.
Conformity is
also presented throughout Edward Scissorhands through the narrative and theme
of the film. The town consistently pressures Edward into making him follow
their rules; they make him look like them, getting him to go to school and
getting a job. Yet when he is unable to, he is rejected and forced back to
outside the town. This comes
from Tim Burton’s personal experiences and how he never felt like he used to
fit in when he was younger, making this film in particular very personal. But
it also the need of everyone else in daily life to feel like they fit in to some majority that also makes this film
personal to them.
Item 2 - Charlie and The Chocolate Factory (2005)
In this adaptation of the story, Charlie is in poverty and throughout the film is constantly judged/oppressed by the other kids and parents due to his visibly lower class. The other children are considered 'brats' due to their spoilt mannerisms and the parent unwillingness to confess that they are not particularly useful. The theme of greed is constant throughout the film and is only associated with the higher class people in the film.
Willy Wonka also visibly shows (through a flashback) that one of the reasons he created a chocolate factory because his father prevented him from having it when he was younger. The greed comes from his compulsive need to indulge in what he is not allowed.
Willy Wonka also visibly shows (through a flashback) that one of the reasons he created a chocolate factory because his father prevented him from having it when he was younger. The greed comes from his compulsive need to indulge in what he is not allowed.
Item 3 - Alice in Wonderland (2010)
The story of Alice in Wonderland is based around Alice not wanting to conform to the life her family has pusher her towards. The point of her going to wonderland is to escape these 'problems' and to think of the world her father once told her about. This relates to my question strongly because it shows the social issues on how because she is a young girl, she is supposed to just submit.
Interviews
Item 4 - Tim Burton by Danny Elfman (22-01-2010) - http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/tim-burton/#_
I wanted to use this interview because it discusses about how Tim Burton equalises his antagonists and monsters; the humans are just as bad because of the exclusivity and conformity they present. He even talks about how as a society 'no one's in charge' and how he couldn't fit in with Disney (which inspired some of his work).
Item 5 - Tim Burton, at Home in His Own Head (19 - 09 - 2012) - http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/movies/tim-burton-at-home-in-his-own-head.html
He discusses how he felt like an outcast when he was younger and how this influenced his character Victor from Frankenweenie; how you can sit in a room of people and not fit in, and how children could probably relate to that too. This is mirrored in the film with Victor not acting like other children, and so is isolated. He also discusses about how frequently horror television shows and films were played, and how these influenced him (and how his parents prefered that he watches them than dealing with him themselves).
Item 6 - Behind the Scenes: Tim Burton at MoMA - https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=337&v=mANsedYvsBs
In this video (2:00 onwards), he talks about isolation from when he was younger and how he has brought that into his work; that he has always strongly felt this way and how he almost feels trapped in his mind. He talks about symbolism and how each character can relate to different people because they are considered outcasts. He also talks about his inspiration which I could use to develop to reasons for his different representations of 'normal'.
Articles
Item 7 - Auteur: Tim Burton (03-09-2015) - http://www.sothetheorygoes.com/auteur-tim-burton/
This article includes reasons why Tim Burton includes so many features in his films and how his life has influenced his work. Even discussing how when companies tried to make him conform to suit their work, he put his style above them and made his style more prominent. This theme then continues to his films and how his characters are pressured but use their individuality as a strength instead of a weakness.
Item 8 - A Celebration of Outcasts: Why Tim Burton resonates with the introvert in all of us - https://moviepilot.com/p/tim-burton-movie-introverts/4067980
I wanted to include this article because it gives examples of characters, quotes and plots that relate to my question above.
Item 9 - Tim Burton, Narrative in Art - https://narrativeinart.wordpress.com/your-artist-14/
This article features an interview between Tim Burton and MTV which again discusses influences and how isolated characters are presented. It also gives direct words about social issues and conformity.
Rejected
Dark Shadows (2012)
I was going to use this film to show the binary opposition between the characters and how the protagonist is judged; however I don't feel the character is isolated enough to relate to my question because he also judges the other characters.
Frankenweenie (2012)
This characters in this film are more relevant to my question but the narrative doesn't. It doesn't focus on how the character isn't the same as everyone else, instead the characters try to be like Victor because he discovers how to bring the dead back.
Interviews
Item 4 - Tim Burton by Danny Elfman (22-01-2010) - http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/tim-burton/#_
I wanted to use this interview because it discusses about how Tim Burton equalises his antagonists and monsters; the humans are just as bad because of the exclusivity and conformity they present. He even talks about how as a society 'no one's in charge' and how he couldn't fit in with Disney (which inspired some of his work).
Item 5 - Tim Burton, at Home in His Own Head (19 - 09 - 2012) - http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/movies/tim-burton-at-home-in-his-own-head.html
He discusses how he felt like an outcast when he was younger and how this influenced his character Victor from Frankenweenie; how you can sit in a room of people and not fit in, and how children could probably relate to that too. This is mirrored in the film with Victor not acting like other children, and so is isolated. He also discusses about how frequently horror television shows and films were played, and how these influenced him (and how his parents prefered that he watches them than dealing with him themselves).
Item 6 - Behind the Scenes: Tim Burton at MoMA - https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=337&v=mANsedYvsBs
In this video (2:00 onwards), he talks about isolation from when he was younger and how he has brought that into his work; that he has always strongly felt this way and how he almost feels trapped in his mind. He talks about symbolism and how each character can relate to different people because they are considered outcasts. He also talks about his inspiration which I could use to develop to reasons for his different representations of 'normal'.
Articles
Item 7 - Auteur: Tim Burton (03-09-2015) - http://www.sothetheorygoes.com/auteur-tim-burton/
This article includes reasons why Tim Burton includes so many features in his films and how his life has influenced his work. Even discussing how when companies tried to make him conform to suit their work, he put his style above them and made his style more prominent. This theme then continues to his films and how his characters are pressured but use their individuality as a strength instead of a weakness.
Item 8 - A Celebration of Outcasts: Why Tim Burton resonates with the introvert in all of us - https://moviepilot.com/p/tim-burton-movie-introverts/4067980
I wanted to include this article because it gives examples of characters, quotes and plots that relate to my question above.
Item 9 - Tim Burton, Narrative in Art - https://narrativeinart.wordpress.com/your-artist-14/
This article features an interview between Tim Burton and MTV which again discusses influences and how isolated characters are presented. It also gives direct words about social issues and conformity.
Rejected
Dark Shadows (2012)
I was going to use this film to show the binary opposition between the characters and how the protagonist is judged; however I don't feel the character is isolated enough to relate to my question because he also judges the other characters.
Frankenweenie (2012)
This characters in this film are more relevant to my question but the narrative doesn't. It doesn't focus on how the character isn't the same as everyone else, instead the characters try to be like Victor because he discovers how to bring the dead back.
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