Tim Burton draws on both classic and popular culture in Dark Shadows by incorporating elements from old horror films into a story appealing to modern audiences. He uses mise-en-scene to depict the classic culture of Barnabas's time but also comments on contemporary financial issues. Burton challenges conventions by depicting Barnabas, influenced by Nosferatu, as both a dark hero and one with good and evil sides. The film contrasts historical gender roles by showing the witch and David's mother as strong fighters able to defeat Barnabas, representing the liberation of women over time.

1. Dark Shadows

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Relating back to Todorov
theory 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.

5. 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.