Pulp Fiction: Representations (Racial/Ethnicity/Gender)

Pulp Fiction

Representations

Racial
- Use of the n-word throughout the film -> controversial, Spike Lee (racial activist, highly critical of Tarantino)
- Positive outlook on race
- Final scene: 1 black character in the scene -> peacemaker/hero, white guy is the bad gut (held the place up) -> goes against the stereotypes at the time/film history -> Jules is the one with common sense to change himself

Ethnicity

Gender:
28 minutes to 31 minutes
Key element: Sound - Diegetic - Son of a preacher man (Dusty Springfield) -> sexual element -> ironic, song juxtaposes what's occurring in the actual scene (drugs/alcohol etc), however Travolta's black & white clothes show hint of holy element -> auteur trait
                                                  - Mia's voice - intercom -> Sound creates a seductive/sexual element, representing the female as mysterious -> assertive & sure of herself -> camera builds on that
Sound: Sexual + Mysterious combination = powerful

Camera movements: Travolta is looking around -> lost, not in control, also shown by the way he holds himself (performance) -> walking in sheepish. Thurman -> powerful, smoking (seen as a 'masculine' thing and powerful, weak women wouldn't smoke, film noir, moves 'out of the shadows/smoke', plays on motion of femme fatale without evil motive) -> she has a view of everything/moving the camera/looking down on him, 'directs the scene'/how the footage plays out, Tarantino gives control to the female character (can link to auteur, aka Kill Bill/Jackie Brown), controlling him 'like a puppet'.

Sexual connotations shown through camera as well
Flashes of light at start of this scene: connotes back to mysterious suitcase, shows Mia as being suspicious
Male representation: Vulnerable but trying to show masculinity/keep control, heroin puts him into a 'dreamlike' state -> shows nerves, paints them in a shady light, can go kill someone but becomes a trembling mess when he has to take Mia out (Performance), women such as the painting even looking down on him.