Alice in Wonderland Directed by Tim Burton and Influenced by Drugs?

Tim Burton is once again pushing boundaries that ought to be pushed. The images from the upcoming Alice in Wonderland movie which is based on the beloved book by Lewis Carroll, are absolutely brilliant.

Teaser Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiPR6kA4_iU

This movie poster looks like the Victorian era on acid or rather absinthe, which is actually not a far fetched idea. Both opiates and absinthe were popular drugs when the book was published in 1865. Throughout the book there are constant references to drugs. Most notably the mysterious liquids and mushrooms Alice consumes to manipulate her body size and also whatever the caterpillar is smoking.



Several famous artists during the time when the book was published have also used the substance as subject matter.

There is speculation that the artworks of the impressionist artists are bright in color and have a hazy appearance because the artists were using absinthe. The use of the drug didn't always have such beautiful outcomes. Some think that Vincent van Gogh cut off his ear due to absinthe (http://www.absinthealchemist.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=28).

So why did Carroll use drugs as such a strong theme in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland? Well there are two main theories about this but neither can be confirmed with proof. The first theory is that Carroll used drugs himself. A quick Google search entitled "Lewis Carroll on Drugs?" will turn up 11,900 results of blogs, biographies and articles. The other theory is that Carroll could have been trying to reach people about the harmful effects of drug use (http://www.studyworld.com/newsite/ReportEssay/Literature/Novel%5CLewis_Carrolls_Brainchild-38946.htm).

I will be very interested to see if Tim Burton puts any modern twists on the story that have to do any of the worlds current problems. Namely, environmental issues.

Should anyone feel inspired to read the book before seeing the movie here is an online copy.
http://www.literature.org/authors/carroll-lewis/alices-adventures-in-wonderland/

Release date for the movie is not until March 5, 2010

Images from
http://wahooart.com/A55A04/w.nsf/Opra/BRUE-5ZKCBU?OpenDocument&ChangeLangue=ES
http://www.artquotes.net/masters/picasso/pablo_absinth1901.htm
http://www.vangoghgallery.com/painting/starryindex.html
http://store.encore-editions.com/Artists/degas.html