Pulp Fiction Essay

Emily Haynes Mr Ford Media Studies Pulp Fiction is a perfect example of post modern text, discuss; Post modern media; "Postmodernism tries to come to terms with and understand a media-saturated society. The mass media, for example, were once thought of as holding up a mirror to, and thereby reflecting, a wider social reality. Now that reality is only definable in terms of surface reflection of the mirror," Strinati, (1995) Media which breaks preconceived ideas of how media ‘should’ be, a piece of text which is realistic. Tarantino breaks this in Pulp Fiction. Pulp fiction is a perfect example of a post modern text because its non conventional, for example the way the film pulps time, mixes it around, which is unrealistic. Most of the clocks in pulp fiction are set to 4.20 which is known particularly in America for being cannabis time, this originated from the time the ‘naughty’ kids got out of detention, they would all meet and smoke cannabis. This is one of the many cultural references in Pulp Fiction. If the audience didn’t no this information then they would not put the connection together of all the clocks being set to the time 4.20, but if you do realise and no the meaning it makes you feel more involved in text, this brings in one of Roland Barthes five codes, the cultural code. Most of the ‘gangster’ events happen in the morning, and the other time is not covered this adds to the fact the Pulp Fiction plays with the audience because there is absolutely no linear. The time period settings is also confusing it jumps from styles from 1990's, 1970's. 1950's to the 1940's. For example when Butch is in the taxi on his way back to his hotel room after his fight, the back drop from the car is unrealistic; it’s black and white and looks like a scene out of a 1950's film. Another example is Mia's house has an old 1960's stereo and they are wearing what looks like fashion from the 90's. The viewer can either get that Tarantio has done it for audience effect and for his own meanings or just feel confused, personal the first time I watched it I was slightly puzzled by this aspect unparticular but on other viewings you understand that it is for effect. And I feel that this is this film allover, it’s the added detail which makes the audience feel involved and when you get it you feel almost closer to the text because you understand and can relate to it. I agree with the statement, it has an ideal construction which does not bare any relation to reality this is very post modern. The plot explains the no sense in time as Vincent gets shot in the second situation but then is in the third. This film was extremely successful as it breaks every convention and sense of time, which is a fantastic achievement for moving media, because often audiences don’t understand and feel confused. I believe that one reason for the success of the film is that it stars John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Tim Roth, Amanda Plummer, Eric Stoltz, Bruce Willis and Ving Rhames, this all star cast widens audiences as people

who like a certain actor may watch the film, also it will give audience a sense of ‘this must be a good film with them in it.’ The plot includes many intertextual aspects for example; Jules quoting from the Bible is reminiscent of Robert Mitchum's character quoting from the Bible in Night Of The Hunter (1955 Charles Laughton,) Mia's haircut styled after Louise Brooks in Pandora's Box (1928 G.W. Pabst.) Also the moment where Butch is waiting at a crossroads in his car has his path crossed by Marcellus Wallace is a direct reference to the moment in Psycho (1960 Alfred Hitchcock) when Marion Crane sees her boss walk in front of her car after fleeing from him, having stolen $40,000. The way that one of the reastraunt waitress, when Vincent takes Mia out for dinner is dressed as Marilyn Monroe's and she does the famous blowing white dress action, when the skirt flies up over a subway grating from the film The Seven Year Itch (1955 Billy Wilder.) There are many more but lastly when Butch chooses his weapon to save Marcellus, all the weapons are from much older films, the Hammer—The Toolbox Murders (1978,) Baseball bat—Walking Tall (1973) and The Untouchables (1987,) the Chainsaw —The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) and The Evil Dead II (1987,) the Katana (samurai sword,) Seven Samurai (1954); and The Yakuza (1975) and Shogun Assassin (1980.) These references have been included into Pulp Fiction so film lovers can pick out there own bits and understand and relate to the text personally but also for Tarantino’s own amusement and satisfaction of a deeper, meaningful text. All the references above don’t matter to the importance of understanding of the film, so you can watch it on face value and still enjoy Pulp Fiction, this attracts mainstreamers. Although if you notice the hidden factors of film, references and time for example it makes you feel involved which attracts aspirers. Tarantio has extremely successful created a complex post modern text which can be viewed on two levels which pleases different audiences.