Experimental - Pulp Fiction Flashcards
Experimental narrative
A narrative that challenges convention – in the case of Pulp Fiction, it is to do with the non-linear nature of it. This is our Specialist Focus for this question!
Narrative Playfulness
A reluctance to treat the idea of ‘narrative’ seriously – playing or challenging conventional narrative rules
Postmodernist
Post Modern films are identified by being self-referential, using intertextuality, being knowing, having elements of irony or pastiche, and playing with the narrative form.
Long Takes
The length of time one shot is held for. A good example is the over-the shoulder-shot of Butch (Bruce Willis), which is over two minutes, making the audience feel uncomfortable.
Intertextuality
Referencing other cultural products, such as films
Self-referential
Referencing the film-making process through such techniques as breaking the fourth wall
Knowing
Sharing an inside joke with the spectator – a speciality of Tarantino.
Non-linear narrative
A narrative that is not in traditional chronological order – this is the marker of the ‘Experimental’ nature of this film.
Homage
Explicit recreation of cultural products such as scenes or lines from films
Pastiche
A tongue-in-cheek recreation – fond, but possibly mocking
Blackly Comic
Things that perhaps may be shocking, but still funny.
Irony
A tongue-in-cheek approach to the narrative or character or theme.
Whimsical Dialogue
A chat about seemingly random stuff – like the Royale with Cheese section
Tarantino’s Magpie Approach
A phrase to suggest Tarantino as a cinephile, ‘stealing’ (like a Magpie does) ideas and images and characters etc from many other films.
Tarantino-esque
Adjective used by critics to compare other directors’ work to his – often marked by dialogue-heavy narrative.
