Mise-en-scene setup in gothic cinema: Tim Burton's cinema

Gothic is a concept that emerged as an architectural style in the middle ages and gradually found its place in literature, painting, sculpture, music, and eventually cinema. Becoming a modern concept, gothic has not only adapted and survived in the fields of art but also in popular culture for centuries. The influences of gothic style can be seen in films since the early years of cinema. In recent times, it is observed that especially acclaimed directors considered as auteurs have made films incorporating gothic elements. This study aims to determine how the gothic style transitioned into the art of cinema after preceding art forms, how it represented itself, and how it established itself through mise-en-scène elements, focusing on Tim Burton's films. The unique mise-en-scène setup and iconography of films that feature dominant gothic architecture and expressive style, expressive cinema lighting, costume choices that adhere to gothic fashion, and the use of objects and symbols frequently encountered in gothic literature are among the hypotheses of this thesis, suggesting that the most significant factor in Tim Burton's style as an auteur is the use of gothic elements. In this context, the first chapter of the study discusses the concept of gothic, its areas of application, debates on film genres, and iconography. The second chapter focuses on the history, setup, and elements of mise-en-scène. The third chapter of the study examines a total of eight films, four before and four after the year 2000, by Tim Burton, based on gothic elements in terms of mise-en-scène setup. In this thesis, it has been determined that Tim Burton's films can be evaluated as iconographic qualities in future film research, considering the elements they carry; indeed, it has been found that there are also similar/common qualities that can be presented in the use of the gothic concept in cinema.