Tim Burton's Gothic Imagination

Discussion questions and activities
• What features of Vincent might be described as Gothic?
• In what ways does Vincent demonstrate the influence of the German
Expressionist style of fimmaking?
• For a transcript of Vincent’s verse, go to:
http://www.timburtoncollective.com/vincent.html
• Tim Burton was not a great reader in his youth and has commented that he did
not actually read the stories of Edgar Allan Poe but, instead, imbibed them
through the films.
o Are dark images and horrifying themes particularly memorable?
o What are some of the dark myths – drawn from both fact and fiction that
have become part of our shared cultural knowledge or history?
• Think about this quote from Tim Burton:
Embracing death and the catharsis of ‘Oh my God I’m going to die and The Fall of the
House of Usher and The Raven and Edgar Allan Poe and Vincent Price all helped me to
live’. 24
• What does he mean by this?
• List as many of the visual and narrative allusions in Vincent as possible (a good
group exercise).
o How many of Burton’s references are familiar but hard to place?
o Does it matter that The House of Wax has no direct connection to Poe’s
work?
• The metre of Vincent is based on the work of Dr Seuss – one of Burton’s
childhood favourites.
o What is the effect of the rhythms of the verse?
• The mother in Vincent is also drawn from Dr Seuss. While it would be quite a
stretch to describe The Cat in the Hat as Gothic, isn’t there something rather
sinister and unsettling about this absent mother who instils such fear in her
children?
FREE FOR EDUCATION Education Resources Tim Burton’s Gothic Imagination 13