Pulp Fiction

Question 1

Who is Pulp Fiction directed by?

Answer 1

The film is directed by Quentin Tarantino.

Question 2

What is the context behind Pulp Fiction?

Answer 2

• Quentin Tarantino is an auteur from the 90s postmodernism movement.
• Tarantino makes hybrid films that blend genres together.
• Intertextuality is common within Tarantino’s films.
• Tarantino’s films are notorious for including extensive amounts of violence as well as the amount of dialogue.
• Tarantino has won multiple awards for his films, including multiple Oscars.
• Some of Tarantino’s films are Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction and Django Unchained.
• Another auteur from the postmodern movement who uses vast amounts of dialogue in his films is Kevin Smith, with Smith’s film Clerks being a good example.

Question 3

Analyse the film’s unconventional approach to film narrative.

Answer 3

• The film is structured in chapters, breaking the story up into different sections that affect the linear structure of the film to mirror the pulp fiction books the film is inspired by.
• The film follows Todorov’s theory until the final chapter, where the film reverts back to an earlier point in the narrative.
• The final chapter starts after Jules and Vincent secure the briefcase, which is jarring for the audience as Vincent is killed in the previous chapter.
• Jules and Vincent end up in the same diner as Ringo and Yolanda from the opening scene of the film.
• The ending scene takes place right after the opening scene, making the narrative circular.

Question 4

Analyse the film’s unconventional characters.

Answer 4

• Jules and Vincent are unconventional portrayals of gangsters as they are mostly polite as well as intelligent and have different personalities to typical gangster characters.
• The two talk about multiple subjects during their drive to secure the briefcase, displaying their intellect while having a conversation not typical for gangsters.
• Jules is not the stereotypical gangster as he shows signs of being religious.
• Jules has a change of perspective after him and Vincent are shot at yet they are left completely unscathed, which Jules views as divine intervention and decides to give up his life of crime.
• Jules’ new set of morals is evident in the ending scene, as he spares Ringo and Yolanda and gives them his money so they could walk away.
• The unexpected character development is unusual and contradicts the character roles in Propp’s theory.
• Jules and Vincent casually walk out of the diner in their summer clothes which is different to how normal gangsters present themselves and normally act in films.