Dark Shadows

The relationship between the audience and characters is clearly visible in the scene where audience notices typical stereotypes; the father abandons his son

to pursue his desires. This is often noticeable in families in which parents prioritise their carrier over the family.

Tim Burton draws postmodernism when producing his film where he uses from both classic and popular culture by being massively influenced by the old time movies. This has an impact on the audience because it brings the yesterday to

today and the film will be appealable to both young and older audience.

The use of mise-en-scene allows

Tim Burton to identify the classic culture which Barnabas lives in, however, it controversies the fact in which he finds himself and his family in a critical

financial situation; that precisely links to popular culture. Tim Burton produces this popular culture film with the introduction of classic aspects.

Representation.

Nosferatu has influenced Tim Burton such as it has influenced many respectable films from 1920 up until today. Barnabas is shown as a dark hero, whereas, Nosferatu was an evil

character. Therefore this shows the variation which Tim Burton has used in order to

challenge the typical codes and conventions. Relating back to Levi-Strauss theory, Barnabas

is a binary opposition himself. He is a character that juxtaposes good and evil; with no scruples, he kills people and yet is shown

as a hero at the end.As he stuck between two personalities being

a family man and a vampire.For example Barnabas didn’t want to kill

Hoffman but because she transgressed the limits and lied to Barnabas to use his blood

he thus killed her.

Ideology

Relating back to Todorovtheory Tim Burton uses the

character roles to specify the characters. We can argue

that David is the donor as he uses his mother as a

‘magical object’ to help Barnabas , therefore, the

family curse is broken.

Narrative

Tim Burton uses feminism as a weapon in this scene to contrast historical changes

throughout time; women were represented as objects , where in today’s society women have equal rights and can be stronger than

men. Both the witch and David’s mother fight whilst Barnabas is helpless; this represents

liberation as previously women were represented as powerless and weak. The

typical cliché d use of witch craft suggests an old historical belief; the use of special effects introduces old folklore to an audience who is accustomed to popular culture. Tim Burton

has used beliefs and ideologies from the 1920s, representing them in our generation.

Stereotypes