446. Tim Burton stuff FS4

Research and Annotated Catalogue (10 to 15 items)

 

 

With the area of investigation considered, decided on and approved, the next stage is to begin the research.

Both primary and secondary research should be undertaken.

This will then lead to a body of research materials being put together, from which items will be selected to produce an Annotated Catalogue.

 

Each catalogue item should be appropriately referenced and be accompanied by a brief note (around 5 lines), which explains how the particular item is relevant to the area of investigation and assesses the importance of the item to the overall research. A short, closing paragraph will identify significant items not selected for inclusion in the catalogue, offering reasons why.

An annotated catalogue for a project that addresses genre through an area of investigation considering the emergence of a ‘gothic’ genre in American film may well look something like this:

 

Annotated Catalogue

FILMS

 

Item1: Edward Scissorhands (Fox, US 1990, Dir: Tim Burton). Very useful as it has all the markers of the new gothic genre on display, and also has a clear relationship with Burton’s early films and his later ones.

Item 2: The Crow (Entertainment/Most/Pressman, US 1994, Dir: Alex Proyas). The genre was still in cult territory here, and this shows in the comic book feel. Development of genre markers and influence of Burton clear. Useful, but could have easily been one of several other films in this place.

Item 3: The Craft (Columbia, US 1996, Dir: Andrew Fleming). This is the film that was the turning point for the genre, where it suddenly not only got mainstream acceptance but also spawned similar films. Very much a teen movie, this shows the changing focus towards a new audience. Invaluable.

 

BOOKS

 

Item 4: Baiss, B. The Crow: The Story Behind the Film (Titan 2004). This was a very good piece of research as it not only told the story of making the film it also gave a broad overview of what makes a gothic film. This is possibly the most useful piece in the catalogue.

Item 5: Smith, J & Matthews, C. Tim Burton (Virgin 2002). This gives a clear sense of what Burton’s work is all about, and how he practically defined the new American gothic genre. Detailed information on all of his films, and on the thoughts underneath them, this led me to some of the other material in the catalogue and some deselected from it.

 

MAGAZINES

 

Item 6: Tim Burton: Cinema’s Prince of Darkness, supplement in SFX Magazine, March 2005

Detailed on Burton with a clear emphasis on the gothic elements. Could not miss being included.

Item 7: Travers, P. Auteur in Angora in Rolling Stone Magazine July 1995 An interesting article that looks at Burton as an auteur – some good references to his film and some discussion of his “burtonesque” genre.

 

INTERNET

 

Item 8: http://www.thetimburtoncollective.com The Tim Burton Collective is a fan-based site that offers a considerable range of articles, biographical information, and links for Tim Burton. This was the best of the Tim Burton related sites as it seemed authoritative and was also recommended by many other sources.

Item 9: http://www.sensesofcinema.com/contents/04/31/lost_in_translation.html Neon Gothic: Lost in Translation by Wendy Halsem – this is a great article by a University Lecturer that served to widen my view of the gothic. Full of film references, it took my research in several unexpected directions (some not so fruitful).

Item 10: http://minadream.com/timburton/EdwardScissorHands.htm this is a quite sophisticated site, but I sense it is still a fan site. Full of information about Burton and the gothic, this was particularly useful for looking at Edward Scissorhands.

Item 11: http://www.darklinks.com/dmovies.html Dark Side of the Net – this was a little bit strange (particularly the movie forum) but it did clue me in to a whole range of American gothic films that I hadn’t even considered before. Not as relevant to the focus films as the other sites, but good for a general overview.