Essay about Postmodernism in Pulp Fiction - 1681 Words

The film Pulp Fiction was an immediate box office success when it was released in 1994 and it was also well received by the critics, and celebrated for the way it appeared to capture exactly a certain pre-millennial angst and dislocation in Western capitalist societies. The term post-modernist, often used to refer to art and architecture, was applied to this film. The pulp fiction refers to popular novels which are bought in large numbers by less well educated people and enjoyed for their entertainment value. The implication is that the film concerns topics of interest to this low culture, but as this essay will show, in fact, the title is ironic and the film is a very intellectual presentation of issues at the heart of contemporary†¦show more content†¦On another level the film plays with the cultural connections that the actor John Travolta has with the 1950s. The musical film Grease which is perhaps Travolta’s most famous film, takes place in this kind of setting. When Travolta’s character in Pulp Fiction encounters this scene, playing a much older character in a much more adult and violent film, it causes an ironic ripple. The audience makes an instinctive connection with what they know outside the film, and this explodes the usual time and action frame of film. In Pulp Fiction Vegas begins to dance and this again brings in a whole host of meanings related to the famous dance between Travolta and Olivia Newton John in Grease. In the later film, however, this is no innocent flirting between teenagers. The new context is a dangerous flirtation with the wife of a deadly killer, and both of the participants are adults who know the consequences of their actions. Critics have noted that this, also is ironic, quoting elements of older film styles: â€Å"The story of the flirtatious boss’s wife draws on established elements from the gangster genre, while her overdose provides an unexpected Gothic reference.† The trickle of dark blood from the pale body of Mia (Uma Thurma) is what recalls the Gothic horror genre. These evocative touches characterise Tarantino’s exuberant style. The scene where Vincent takes Mia toShow MoreRelatedPulp Fiction: Hyperreal Violence and Postmodernism2180 Words   |  9 PagesPulp Fiction: Hyperreal Violence and Postmodernism Pulp Fiction is an iconic early 1990s film directed by the unparalleled Quentin Tarantino. The title of the film pays homage to mid-20th century crime novels. In this way and others, the title is revealing of the content of the film. The film follows a very postmodern style that often distracts the plot to focus instead on developing the characters. The cinematography of Tarantino further highlights the characters, at times not allowing theRead MorePostmodernism And Its Influence On Modern Society1612 Words   |  7 PagesPostmodernism is a complex term that has tried to be describes by many different theorist in many different ways. Some say that it is so hard to define because it is an idea that emerges across and variety of disciplines. In its most basic form Postmodernism can be describes at â€Å"departure from modernism and is characterized by the self-conscious use of earlier styles and conventions, a mixing of different artistic styles and media, and a general distrust of theories† (Oxford Dictionary, 2010). SoRead MorePulp Fiction - a Sociological Debate1412 Words   |  6 PagesSociology 2XX Critically anlayse a popular culture ‘text’ utlising relevant theories and debates In sociological theory there are many concepts discussed that are utilized in the analyses of society and culture. Some of the main concepts are Postmodernism, Historical Materialism, Structuralism, Interpretive Sociology and Poststructuralism to name a few. These theories are relevant to the research of understanding certain or specific cultural texts. These concepts provide problems and solutions associatedRead MoreThe Art of Editing and Film Meaning Essay1559 Words   |  7 PagesTherefore, not only did he demonstrate that editing is the essence of cinema, but that its application in a certain manner has the ability to change history. In order to illustrate the potency and effect of editing in film, Tarantino’s indie hit Pulp Fiction (1994) will serve this purpose by analysing its non-linear structure and subversive genre rule bending. If for Eisenstein, art is always conflict, and his montage is supposed to intellectually and emotionally challenge viewers through metaphorsRead MoreQuentin Tarantino - Adventures in Postmodern Cinema4027 Words   |  17 Pagesin comprehensive, original and effective ways is a mark of his adeptness as both a writer and director. He has been credited with popularizing non-linear narrative patterns by effectively applying it to Reservoir Dogs (1992) and more famously in Pulp Fiction (1994). His films have also been the subject of extensive revile as much as they have been lauded, most prominently for its intense displays of violence. However, to disregard his films solely on the basis of excessive violence is to overlook theRead MoreEssay about The Power of Horace McCoy’s They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?2674 Words   |  11 Pagesliterature seems an equally dubious task. It is commonly accepted that Noir literature (offspring of the Depression-Era’s pulp fiction, industrialization and the rise of capitalism) conveys a strong Modernist agenda; yet a textual analysis of Horace McCoy’s They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? reveals a surprising, although latent, Post-modern undercurrent. Dismissed as a ‘pulp’ novelist by American critics, Horace McCoy (like James Cain) received acclaim in Europe for the absurdist and existentialistRead MoreCity of God (2002) Represents Violence and Poverty as Spectacle.3961 Words   |  16 Pagesshot of his smiling face as he shoots again. As Goose falls to the ground, we are placed in his position with a canted worms-eye shot looks up the barrel of the child-gangster’s gun, an image which yet again mimics the visual style of Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (1994). From here a fast cut sees Lil’ Dice from the same position but in different locations across the favela. Meirelles reveals that he has continued to ruthlessly murder throughout his childhood and into adolescence, but not without a smileRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagesrulers a nd the local, colonized people in offices, shops, industries, and schools, although not as much in recreation. The results of this interaction were unpredictable. In addition to the social science literature, biographies, autobiographies, fiction, drama, and films are filled with the stories of indigenous people and colonial rulers who were transformed in one way or another through their interactions with the diverse residents and the institutions of the European colonial cities, often