Catanzariti Robot Boy

Robot Boy

Pretty much all of Tim Burtons works are stemmed from his childhood experiences. In the poem Robot Boy, the connection between robot boy and Burton’s childhood is evident. Robot boy’s parents ( the Smiths) are introduced as  “normal” people who are excited to have a child. This is though until they find out that robot boy is not normal at all! Upon his birth, his parents disregard him for how he looks and blame their new found “lives- filled
with misery and strife” on robot boys lack of normalcy. Similarly, Burton felt mentally abandoned by his parents whilst living in a white-picket-fence-suburbia. The contrast between the norm and strange is amplified in most of his pieces.

The Smiths, also blame the change in their relationship on the fact that robot boy isn’t a normal boy. He wasn’t “warm and cuddly
 and he didn't have skin”. The way the parents viewed robot boy went from “their little bundle of joy” to a child garbage can. All was well with their relationship.. until they had kids. This is also mirrors a common topic in conversations with adults today. The whole “what if” question or “could have”. It seems like Burton is remarking on the pedestal children are placed on at first, until it becomes a reality. Just like how Carl Jung proposed the idea of a man and women needing each other- seeking the anima- the parents sought further completion in a child,  Also another reoccurring theme in burtons works.

Like most children who appear to be strange or different they are often misunderstood. The Smith’s didn’t really give robot boy a chance, they had already made their judgments and the state of mind they were in was going to be changed. When Robot boy grows up to be an adult “he was often mistaken
for a garbage can.” People who have no idea about who he is just see the physical appearance of him and jump to conclusions that his only purpose is a garbage can. As far as archetypes go, robot boy is a misunderstood hero, and his parents are the monsters. 

Catanzariti-Mardi Pardi

Up close and personal at Zulu

My Mardi Gras experience definitely measured up to all the talk about it. I went to Muses, Bacchus, Zulu, and Rex. All of them had their own themes and were really fun and interesting. My personal favorite has always been Zulu. It’s what seems like the cleanest of the parades, but the people and floats are so beautiful. It is completely different from the others with all the feathers and face paint, and of course the fight to get a coconut. Too my luck I caught 6! When I was younger I saw Zulu and Rex, but it was a much different experience than the one I had this week.  A few years ago when I came here for the parades I was with my family, looking over the parades from a balcony. Back then I can remember beads being thrown and all the children being really competitive to get the most ones. It was just a lot less dirty and crowded than it was for me this year.

Mardi Gras is a religious celebration before lent, but it’s funny how we celebrate it. Obviously the soul celebration doesn’t revolve around catching objects from floats and people getting heavily inebriated, but from the point of view from an 18-year-old college carnival goer its really funny. Looking around during the parade, 40-year-old men and young adults are screaming, and physically fighting over plastic toys being thrown into a crowd! I think Tim Burton probably finds that hilarious.

Carnival season is a time to indulge in sin before the Lenten season begins on Ash Wednesday. During this time people are supposed to be wearing masks (sadly I didn’t see many people doing so). The masks purpose is done so in order to hide you while sinning. If they cant see your face it wasn’t you! Burton embraces the concept of the mask in all of his movies. Every villain and hero is masked by something. Batman wore a mask to hide his true identity. The joker painted makeup across his face to cover his scars and embrace his new self as the joker.

The whole premise around Mardi Gras is really neat and unlike anything else in the US. If its celebrated responsibly and with the right people and can be a really fun time!

Catanzariti Edward

Edward Scissorhands, Snow scene

                                                                Edward Scissorhands

Edward Scissorhands is Tim Burtons most touching film. This is probably because of how personal it is to him. Throughout all of his works the reoccurring genre is always a spin off of a fairytale. Edward Scissorhands is the most definitive in showing this. The movie begins with a “once upon a time” kind of introduction and within the first 15 minutes the audience is introduced to the love interest, Kim, and the “castle”.

At both the beginning and the end of the movie Edward reverts back into his “castle”, his house on a hill. He is then initially welcomed into a juxtaposing pastel-colored-suburbia. At first the town seemed to welcome Edward, but the audience then realizes that he was just being used and only liked while people wanted something from him. As the movie progressive the catty side of the neighborhood is brought out, and we are shown how ruthless people have the potential to be.

 Unlike some other movies of Burtons, this one places a greater emphasis on the romantic part of the film. Kim is the “princess” in this fairytale.  She helps make Edward feel loved and somewhat normal toward the end of the film. Sadly though it does not have a perfect-happy-fairytale ending, rather a realistic one that shows that “things don’t always work out”(Gothic Fantasy).  There is no hero in this fairytale though, only the misunderstood monster, Edward. His greatest downfall is his own hope to be accepted. This need for acceptance and love drives him to break into a house for Kim and her boyfriend, but in doing so gets caught and ruins his reputation.

Many of the aspects of this movie remind me of beauty and the beast. Kim is the beauty, and Edward is the misunderstood gentle beast. He just wants acceptance and to feel loved. The Beast from the Disney film locks himself in his castle because society will not accept him, and the same goes for Edward. It is a heart-wrenching fairytale that begins with hope and ends with the realism of reality. 

Catanzariti Catwoman

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/3/39305/778569-catwoman.jpg
Catwoman and Batman

The relationships Batman/Bruce Wayne has with Vicki Vale and Catmwoman are very different. Vicki Vale’s relationship with Bruce Wayne was shallow and uninteresting. Compared to his relationship with Catwoman. The way they discovered Bruce’s alter identity is also a big factor of the depth of the different relationships. Vicki is simply shown the bat cave by Alfred. While Selina discovers the truth about Bruce through a romantic moment. They finish each others sentences from a past encounter between Batman and Catwoman.

 Michelle Pfiefer in Batman plays two very important role. The first one we are introduced to is Selina Kyle. Selina is a smart vulnerable shy women. When the audience is first introduced to her she appears very fragile. Selina is almost raped until Batman shows up and saves her, but also building her hatred for men. She plays the perfect damsel in distress. She works for corporate monster Max Shrek who dumbs her down once she knows too much Shrek pushes her out the window in attempt to kill her. Once she “comes back to life” her personality flops a 180 into the Catwoman. As Catwoman she is sexy, confident and outspoken.

Batman also has two sides. Bruce Wayne and Batman are lonely men. Catwoman appeals to Batman because of her refusal to be saved. She seduces him with her body and ruthlessness.  Once they discover who one another are it seems like Batman is even more attracted to her. Bruce Wayne sees Selina and their relationship as potentially being something now. This is because they are so similar, he feels like someone could actually understand him. But Catwoman/ Selina is still coming to terms with her new self and is not ready. Having a boyfriend would also completely compromise the character of Catwoman. She built herself upon her hatred for men and female empowerment.