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 also rejected like her and that’s why I think she took him in and tried to help him. The point of view shot in particular has a lot to suggest as there was a castle high up than all the houses and people and this suggest that it’s the most moral again criticizing society in the American suburbs, before peg goes in the music changes then forms a crescendo which then builds up mystery and tension.
The society that Edward enters is much conformed. All of the houses and the cars are the exact same, just different colours. People in this society live their lives the exact same way everyday. Once Edward enters this society he slowly begins to change the town. When Edward first arrives in the town all of the ladies want to know who he is. This tells you right off that the people in this town are not used to seeing new people. Edward eventually creates chaos in this town. The town is not accustomed to any violence or mischief. Edward first gets a bad reputation by getting caught by the law for trying to steal money. After this incident the whole town starts to turn against him. The town’s people view Edward as a criminal and they don’t want anything to do with him. Even though Edward is not a mean person he inflicts pain upon anyone he touches for example, when he dives at Kevin and pushes him away from a speeding car he cuts him all over then when he tries to help he cuts him even more.
Edward uses his artistic ability to change the town. Everyone’s lawn is the exact same, but Edward reshapes the lawn by creating weird statues out of the bushes. He first starts to cut his hosts’ bushes then he eventually branches out to cutting all of the neighbours’ bushes also. I think he does this because he wants to feel belonged and for people to accept him for what he is. Edward then starts to give the town’s people haircuts. All of the people had ordinary everyday haircuts. Edward uses his artistic ability and he gives the people new creative haircuts. Edward begins to give the people of this town a little variety from their everyday lives. During the party where all the neighbours got to meet Edward, it is very evident that Edward is viewed as an outcast of the town. Everyone at the party is wearing extravagant pastel colour clothing but when you see Edward he is wearing white and black.
Each house in this suburban neighbourhood is a different pastel color – and exactly the same shape and size. The setting appears to take place in the 1960s but has references to modern day technology including CD players and security systems. Everyone loves and takes care of Edward until he gets caught up in an unfortunate series of events that make him look like a crazed criminal. Soon, the very same neighbors who had once been fighting over who was going to get there hair cut by Ed are now whispering about how they always knew something wasn’t right with him.
Furthermore, in the classroom in which Ed is later taken to by the boy (Peg’s son) is very bland and boring. But the fact is that he takes Ed for show & tell making him a toy/camody while the boy controls him. The classroom itself is very dull; painted grey, When Ed finally shows them his skills they all suddenly are very happy and full of life after he cuts quickly but during the event the music turns dramatic and becomes a crescendo. In the scene there is a point of view shot as if you are Ed looking at the classroom, Burton uses this to show us the fear and to make us feel like the pariah then feel sympathy for him as the class gasp at us. There is also a moment where we see all the globes just put away in the corner of the room suggesting that the American suburbia have rejected the outer world and only focus on themselves. This is yet more disgrace towards the society in which Edward was put into.
Edward was very rapidly turned into ‘one of them’. His appearance was immediately changed and he was wearing civilized clothes. This proves that they want to change him but really don’t accept him for who he is, and shows us that once again the society in which we first thought it was is really sinister and evil at heart. They first admire him then all of a sudden think he’s a killer which really transforms Edward into his true colours. He lashes out and punctures a tyre as if he’s attacking the American dream all Americans have that there should be equality and freedom, that they should be self sufficient. This all happened after the Wall St crash – the start of the depression. Burton is attacking this idea by saying that it’s stupid and will never be fulfilled because Edward’s salon is failing and Peg works at Avon so they are not self sufficient. Instead Jim resorts to crime as well as that there is no equality as Ed is a non-conformist. When Ed slashes the tire the car represents the dream and he slashes it; this shows the dream is futile and pointless.
The character of Edward is seen as the black sheep in this community. His clothes are black and gothic whereas the neighbours and Peg all wear bright coloured clothes with neon coloured houses another one of the aspects in there society which creates a mask over the rotten findings underneath, it’s complexion and outer looks are very deceiving but as for Edward however he looks gothic and dark really like a modern day Frankenstein however he’s more moral and more generous, caring and really tries to fit into the society in which he was put in, unfortunately fails. Burton shows us the society as deceiving by creating a clever mask just like he does with the people but to really understand what the society is actually about we have to read between the lines and look for little things.
One of the key scenes in which Ed is mistakenly accused of things he didn’t do which then resulted in the women who were desperate for his attention turn into a mob hating him is starts when Ed is carving an ice sculpture from a block of ice. The ice shavings create effect of precipitating snow, under which Kim dances. Jim, passing by, catches Kim's attention, whereupon Edward, unaware of her presence, turns around and accidentally cuts Kim's hand. Jim assumes that Edward deliberately harmed her, and uses this as a pretext to attack Edward in a jealous rage. The situation worsens when Kevin is almost run over by Jim's drunken friend, who is driving their van. Edward, seeing Kevin in danger, pushes him out of it, mistakenly cutting his face. In the confusion, the neighbors misunderstand the situation, thinking Edward attacked Kevin. This is just one of the incidents where he is wrongly accused by the society, they have wrongly judged him without asking and have turned on him as if he was worth nothing they haven’t cared about any of his feelings and what he has to say.
In conclusion, I’d like to say that Burton continuously shows us the wrong doing of the society in which Ed was unrightly thrown out of after being dragged into.. Nearly all comments he made were negative towards the society as they used, deceived and accused Edward which is exactly the point Burton is trying to get across to us. Tim Burton using a range of techniques to show his approach about society in the film and how sing-minded, selfish and unfair it is
By Anwarul Haque