Pulp Fiction

Question 1

hat is the ideology of Pulp Fiction

Answer 1

1. old structures no longer apply but moral outcomes are still achievable
2. represents late capitalism (consumerism as the only facet mode of address)

Question 2

what makes a film experimental

Answer 2

1. non-linear
2. asynchronous sound or no score
3. use of varying abstracting techniques

Question 3

how can Pulp Fiction be described if not experimental

Answer 3

unconventional, post-modern, playful, challenging mainstream conventions

Question 4

how can Pulp Fiction be considered stereotypical

Answer 4

through genre iconography and character types

Question 5

how is Pulp Fiction’s narrative arc experimental

Answer 5

1. non-linear and ahistorical
2. portmanteau film
3. lack of a central protagonist
4. no cause and effect
5. lack of establishing shot
6. humanist irony (dialogue drives narrative)
7. non-sequitur
8. rejects metanarratives
9. lacks conventional binary oppositions
10. unresolved enigmas
11. disconcerting ending
12. hypothesis forming

Question 6

how is Pulp Fiction’s narrative arc not experimental

Answer 6

1. Jule’s conventional character arc
2. follows gangster film conventions
3. recognisable genre characterisation
4. achiveable moral outcomes
5. moralistic ending

Question 7

how does the non linear narrative of Pulp Fiction affect spectator alignment

Answer 7

causes the spectator to align with many characters at different points

Question 8

what happens when Pulp Fiction is placed in chronological order

Answer 8

1. cause and effect is regained (lacks playful structure and Vince’s return)
2. no longer post-modern or rejecting metanarratives
3. no longer relinquishes previous held notions of narrative

Question 9

how was the period of post-modernism characterised by late capitalism

Answer 9

human life determined by economic structure thereby denoting consumerism as the only facet mode of people’s lives

Question 10

what equals Tarantino’s auteur traits

Answer 10

post-modern traits

Question 11

what is a portmanteau film

Answer 11

a film that consists of loosely related but largely distinct storylines

Question 12

how does framing in Pulp Fiction encourage active spectatorship

Answer 12

spectator’s attention is drawn to alternative areas of the frame

Question 13

what did Tarantino say about the script that evokes characterisation and humanist irony

Answer 13

“let the script direct”

Question 14

what did Tarantino and Sally Menke say about Pulp Fiction

Answer 14

they hadn’t a clue how the film would be received

Question 15

who did Tarantino likely get the idea for a needledrop score from

Answer 15

Martin Scorsesse

Question 16

where does Pulp Fiction’s needledrop score come from

Answer 16

different eras and genres (retro classics of the 50s, 60s and 70s)

Question 17

why is cool music used in Pulp Fiction

Answer 17

for the amorality and enhancement of the characters

Question 18

what are the positive attributes of Marsellus Wallace’s representation

Answer 18

1. good reputation
2. being a victim humanises him
3. successful
4. powerful
5. in control
6. wealthy
7. interracial relationship

Question 19

what are the negative attributes of Marsellus Wallace’s representation

Answer 19

1. gangland boss
2. possible threat towards Mia
3. rigs fights
4. emasculated when he was assaulted

Question 20

what is Marsellus Wallace’s weakness

Answer 20

Mia (never see the two together and he is possibly violent when concerning her)

Question 21

what are the negative attributes of Jules’ representation

Answer 21

is a criminal and a murderer

Question 22

what are the positive attributes of Jules’ representation

Answer 22

1. moralisitc
2. cool, calm and collected
3. respects authority
4. wise and intelligent
5. parasocial relationship via intertextual references

Question 23

how are women represented in Pulp Fiction

Answer 23

1. powerful
2. secondary characters
3. infantalised
4. femme fatale (humanist irony causes them to be weak)
5. little screen time
6. damsel in distress
7. reliante on men (career)

Question 24

how are elderly characters represented in Pulp Fiction

Answer 24

wise and dignified

Question 25

what defines Tarantino’s auteur signature

Answer 25

1. playful treatment of the narrative
2. playful treatment of genre and stock characters
3. dialogue driven narrative
   4.post-modern traits

Question 26

how does Tarantino imprint his signature style on the aesthetic

Answer 26

uses a vibrant and hyper real approach to mise-en-scene

Question 27

what did Tarantino work as

Answer 27

Video clerk in LA