Edward scissorhands coursework

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What comments does Tim Burton make about society in Edward Scissorhands?

Edward Scissorhands is a film by Tim Burton which expresses the single mindedness and selfishness in American Suburbia. The plot revolves around a man named Edward, an inventor's creation, who has dangerous scissors for hands, and appears frightening, who is adopted into a colorful, but stereotypically suburban, family by a warm-hearted woman, Peg, she takes Edward with her into middle class suburban America in order to “help him.” Her desperate housewives like neighbours, while initially curious of her visitor, become thrilled at Ed's skillful skills at hedge clipping and haircutting. He’s used and treated like a celebrity as all the neighbours want a piece of him for his originality.

The modern fable is an eye-opening look at how our society sometimes regards outsiders. This sets up Edward’s clash with a society that cannot understand him, and results in his ultimate rejection by the end of the film. There is a reflection on our society that someone can be liked for being different but at the same time it is easy to get people to fear the same person because of the thing or things that makes them different. The film is a criticism by Burton as how society it is today.

Right at the beginning as Peg walks on a windy path the path represents the society and how it’s twisted and it’s not easy but in fact complicated. Then straight after this in a foreboding way we get the fact straight away that Joyce is a sexual predator with her tight clothes, red lips, clothes and nails, these show connotations of a sex obsessed woman which we later find out to be true; she may look okay but underneath that cosmetic metaphorical mask she is sinister. The society at first also appears tidy, perfect and pleasant but just like the women it’s rotten and immoral underneath.

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The women in particular use cosmetics which create a metaphorical mask but that mask is only ever short term just like the haircuts Ed gives them, they all crave the originality of Ed’s wacky hairstyles but in fact get none of that as everyone else is doing the same.

Before Peg goes into the castle to find Ed she is rejected by customers and when she she’s the castle in her mirror – a point of view shot is used here, she seizes the chance to make a sale but instead finds a severely disabled stranger who was ...

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