Annotated Catalogue

Annotated Catalogue


Does the constant use of predominately gothic elements throughout Tim Burtons films make him an auteur?

Films:
Item 1 - 'Edward Scissorhands' (1990)
This source is very useful, which is why i've chosen it as Item 1. It's the most well known film that Tim Burton has created, and is a great example of one of his films using gothic-styled mise-en-scene. Edward Scissorhands also is a great example of Tim Burton using styles of German Expressionism, which is another regular style throughout his other films, such as using chiaroscuro lighting. 
The main protagonist in Burton's films is often separated from society due to being abnormal and different to everyone else - In Edward Scissorhands this idea is taken to the very extreme: the main character cannot even touch another person. He is also known for reusing actors and actresses, in particular Johnny Depp, who is the main protagonist in this film. It could also be considered that Edward Scissorhands represents Tim Burton, and that his mise-en-scene is similar to Tim Burton in the way that he looked and felt as a child.

Item 2 - 'Batman Returns' (1992)
I've chosen 'Batman Returns' as my second film item as not only does it clearly display the recurring theme throughout Burton's films of isolation and seclusion of the protagonist in the community and separation of society, but it also continues the gothic styled mise-en-scene, with the protagonist's costume being again in black, and the continuation of shadows and 'dark tone'. In Batman Returns, 'Batman' is secluded from society, and is pushed aside and forced to witness villains take the spotlight and heroic titles. We see this in the very first shot of the newspaper article, where the villain is the headline. Batman Returns will aid in answering my presentation script question because it includes many scenes of gothic mis-en-scene, which is a recurring theme for Burton which will lead me to discuss whether this is evidence for him being an auteur.

Item 3 - 'Beetlejuice' (1988)
Beetlejuice is another of my focus films as it clearly represents themes that are seen throughout Burton's films, and also aids me in answering my question, if Burton is an auteur or not. Beetlejuice is obviously a Burton film, being ghoulish, bizarre, highly imaginative and a feel good movie about death. Beetlejuice carries on Burtons recurring theme about death and again uses gothic themed mise-en-scene. Although the characters aren't exactly secluded like in Batman and Edward Scissorhands, the whole setting of the small town is secluded from the rest of society, with the main house being even more secluded from the town. I chose Beetlejuice because the gothic themes, mise-en-scene and narrative all relate to answering my question on whether Burton is an auteur or not. The music was also made by Danny Elfman, which I can mention in my presentation script.

Internet:
Item 4 - BBC Article on Auteur Theory
http://news.bbc.co.uk/dna/place-lancashire/plain/A22928772
Item 4 gives a lot of useful information about the Auteur Theory, as well as giving my chosen director as an example, and going a step further to suggest films to back up why he could be considered an Auteur, using the three films I have chosen to research and a few other examples. It clearly states key themes that run throughout Burton's films and recommends reading and viewing of different books to assist researching Tim Burton. This will help in answering my question by giving me discussion points to add, such as the music from Danny Elfman.

Item 5 - Filmtracks article
http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/edward_s.html
This internet source focus mainly on Burtons consistent use of similar people throughout his films. This website focuses on Edward Scissorhands, my Item 1 Focus film. It highlights that Tim Burton uses similar people such as Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter as the main starring roles in his films, and people like Danny Elfman for the soundtracks, this would explain the consistencies throughout his films in the creative style. This links to the auteur theory and suggests that he chooses collaborates that understand his style and tone, which would also back up the argument for my question that Burton is an auteur - as Burton reuses Elfman for the fact that he can portray the gothicism in soundtracks of films. 

Item 6 - Online Magazine article, Senses of cinema
http://sensesofcinema.com/2003/great-directors/burton/
This source gives great information about the childhood of Tim Burton, as well as what impact that had on each of his films. It covers the films that I have chosen as my focus films in detail and also gives information of his other films.
It gives a link to his filmography, a bibliography and more web resources that are useful as it will allow me to reattach into other films, and see If Burton's childhood had a gothic-impact on these too.
This Internet article also gives information about public reaction to Burton's films, It will be useful to give quotes from leading film critics about his films and refer to to get a brief overview of the films.

Item 7 - Gothic themes from Edward Scissorhands
https://dissectinglanguage.wordpress.com/2012/03/22/edward-scissorhands-the-gothic-genre/
This item is useful as it compares one of my focus films, Edward Scissorhands, to another well known gothic film, Frankenstein, to back up the argument that it is a gothic film - the source also lists some gothic conventions. I could use all of this to back up my argument, whilst also using the conventions as points of discussion to answer my presentation script question. The source will help me decide if Tim Burton is an auteur or not as it entirely discusses the gothic genre. 


Item 8 - Photo of Tim Burton
http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTcwNTc4NTMzOF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwMzc5ODYz._V1_SX214_CR0,0,214,317_AL_.jpg
This is a photo of Tim Burton which i'll use to begin my presentation script. This links with my question as through research i've found out that many of Tim Burtons more gothic characters appear to represent and are pictured in a similar style to Tim Burton himself. This could open the presentation script with the question of whether Tim Burton portrays himself in Edward Scissorhands and other Gothic characters in the focus films i'm researching.

Item 9 - Definition of Burtonesque
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Burtonesque
This is a definition of the term "burtonesque" which i'll use as an example of how Tim Burton's films have been recognised to all resemble a certain theme and tone that theres a common description word to describe that type of tone and satire that's found in his films. I'll use this in my presentation script to describe certain scenes and help answer my question.

Books:
Item 10 - 'Burton on Burton' - Tim Burton
This book is extremely useful as it has a separate chapter for each of his films from the directors point of view. It covers all of my focus films, allows me to see Tim Burtons view of his own films, helps me understand them, gives reasons behind why he chose settings and the meaning behind some key scenes. Burton on Burton also covers Burtons childhood in depth, explaining how it impacted his films and also goes over his own inspirations and directors he looked up to.
It also highlights why he uses a gothic theme throughout his films, and his obsession with ghosts and ghouls, then precedes to cover why he keeps using similar actors and actresses in films which is a key aspect of an auteur. Burton on Burton goes a step further, by providing contextual information of his films around the time they were being filmed and released, and giving a mix between Burtons opinion and a critics opinion. It is therefore a crucial source.

Item 11 - 'Tim Burton: Interviews' - Kristian Fraga
Link to book
This book would be a great source to quote, as it perfectly summarises Tim Burtons films and the themes that run throughout. The introduction is the most useful part, as it links his films in different ways to other books, rather then just the use of a gothic mise-en-scene.
This book also includes brief summaries of each film, and how big they became and the public and critic reaction to the film. This book also includes context behind each film, such as the artist directors and who the film starred.
The book will help me in answering my question, not only because of the above but because it includes imagery throughout his films and what they represent, and then also relates it to Burton being an auteur. 

Item 12 - 'Teach yourself Film studies: Auteur Theory' - Warren Buckland
Chapter 3, Film Authorship: The director as auteur
This book will be used to describe what the Auteur Theory is, and then I can link it to Burton, whilst giving clear examples of other Auteurs, and ask the question if this makes Burton an Auteur. This book describes the Auteur Theory in depth, and actually names Burton giving a few examples of his films, some of which are my focus films.


Item 13: 'An Unauthorised biography of the filmmaker' - Ken Hanke
This book is useful because of its Introduction. It has a very large chapter on how the iconography of Burtons films was impacted and directly related to his childhood.
It goes in depth about Burtons upbringing and famous directors at the time, and how the directors, and films and TV programmes that Burton watched have influenced his films.
It also relates to Tim Burtons vision, and why he chose certain actors and actresses, as they fitted his vision and in some ways made the characters look like himself or other influential people in his childhood.

Item 14: 'The English Dictionary' http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/auteur
This is the official Oxford English Dictionary definition of an auteur, which I will use to quote in my presentation script and reference to in the terms of Tim Burton to relate and prove that he is defined as an auteur in the English Language, which will aid in answering my question of whether Tim Burton is an auteur or not due to his gothic styled films.

Interviews:
Item 15- Hollywood's King of Quirk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1euQqXWUvE
This interview talks about how his childhood affected his characters in his film, using the fact that he grew up as a dark and mysterious person, quite lonely and an isolated person -this relates to my question as dark, mysterious and isolation are all connotation of the gothic genre..
Burton expresses how this was reflected in Edward Scissorhands exponentially, as well as his other films. This item is useful to reference to when I relate to Burton portraying himself in his characters on set, in the likes of Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands, which are my focus films, visually and emotionally.

Item 16- BAFTA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQW6UICoDTM
This is an interview with BAFTA talking about Burtons achievements, critic response and how successful a director he is. It talks about how Burton got to where he is, and mentions why Burton chooses to use Gothic genres throughout his films. This interview will be good to reference as it gives his point of view on the gothic genre, which is my main focus, as it will aid in answering my question.

Item 17- The New York Times, Tim Burton Interview
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/movies/tim-burton-at-home-in-his-own-head.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
This is a Q&A with Tim Burton, with an introduction covering two of my focus films, Edward Scissorhands and Beetlejuice. This interview/article refers to the similarities between some of Burtons films and Frankenstein, talking about how Frankenstein was considered a 'freak' and cast as an outside, similar to all of Burtons films and main protagonists. This is a recurring theme which will be useful to relate back to when discussing Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands. 

This Q&A also talks about Burtons childhood and upbringing, I could refer to this to answer my question. 

Magazines:
Item 18- Burton - 'Hotdog' Jan 04 

        




     
This article from 'Hotdog' is extremely useful, and packed with information, such as descriptions of my focus films, context around each film and quotes from notable people, which I can refer to when creating my presentation script to answer my question - this would refresh my mind on each of my focus films and also give some good talking points. 

It raises some good talking points, such as Burtons opinion on his own films and critics opinions, particularly on Edward Scissorhands, but also mentioning my other two focus films. This Magazine rates Edward Scissorhands and also gives a plot summary, it also provides screenshots that can act as reminders whilst i'm writing up my presentation script.

The Article provides insights from Tim Burton himself, and a very useful side article about what people say about burton and what he says about himself.

Item 19 - 'The Mad World of Tim Burton Total DVD No. 62'
Although the magazine focuses on 'Big Fish', a more recent Tim Burton film, the article is still useful as it provides information about Burtons love for Gothic films and the recurring gothic themes that run throughout all of his films.
It also talks about what inspired burton for each of his films, which I could include in my Presentation catalogue by talking about where Burtons love for the gothic genre comes from.

Item 20 - 'Bat to Basics, Burton - Batman' Hotdog 03
This magazine is entirely focused on Batman Returns, and will be where I get all my information such as points of discussion for themes of gothic nature that are in this film and similarities to other Burton films, who the music and soundtracks were made by (Danny Elfman, the same person as Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands) and contextual information about the film such as critics responses and public response.
This magazine will be crucial for my response to my essay question, as it will aid me in all my information about Batman Returns. 

Rejected Items:
Film: 'Planet Of The Apes'
I've rejected this film because it doesn't directly assist me in answering my question, whilst it does display similarities to other Burton films, research on the film has been harder than the three focus films that i've chosen. This film didn't have as much resources on it, and theres less gothic themes throughout the film then the three focus films that I've chosen.

Internet: http://moviecitynews.com/2010/03/tim-burton-sometimes-being-an-auteur-is-a-bad-thing/
This internet source isn't what I'm looking for. It criticises Burton and is almost the opposite to what I'm looking for - the article is reasons why Burton isn't an auteur and talks about other films that I have chosen not to look at.

Magazine: 'Burton POTA Sight and Sound' 2001
This magazine doesn't focus on my focus films at all, and only talks about Planet of the Apes. This is no use to me as it doesn't assist in answering my questions, and only talks about the critics response to the film from a one sided point of view, and doesn't explain any imagery or recurring themes, therefore it is not very useful. 

Internet: 'Biography of Tim Burton' http://www.biography.com/people/tim-burton-9542431
The Biography of Tim Burton doesn't assist me in answering the question that I have, as it doesn't talk about recurring themes and how they relate to his childhood, instead it talks more about how he became famous, and his life as a whole - such as opportunities that he has had. This doesn't aid in discussing whether Burton is an auteur or not and doesn't discuss the gothic themes, nor the focus films I have chosen. 

Internet: Prezi, presentation on Tim Burton
http://prezi.com/ktmakd_9d2qb/tim-burtons-gothic-mise-en-scene-and-the-recurring-presence/
This website, whilst the information may aid with me answering my question is an unreliable source, as the information can be uploaded by any user as it's not from a credited site much like wikipedia. This would make my presentation script wrong and a waste of time therefore will not help in answering my question legitimately.