Representations in Pulp Fiction

Representations in Pulp Fiction:

Gender:

- Is stone right that the female characters are truly "strong"?
- Derogatory references to women, "bitch" is the default word for women.
- Men refer to women in a highly sexualised way that suggests objectification in dialogue, Women       talk to each other in terms of sexual provision for men.
- Male dominated and patriarchal
- Tarantino choses Uma Thurman as the main character for the films advertising. (Strength or               exploitation?)

Ethnicity:
- Most of the time the 'n' word is used by black people to refer to black people. (Jimmy is the                 exception)
- Black people are shown as criminals (but so are white people)
- Derogatory comments about other ethnicities (Jews/Mexicans)
- Black people are shown as cool.
- There is racial harmony and equality overall.

The film is notable for its heavy use of the racist term 'nigger' - something that Spike Lee in his occasional war with Tarantino has taken exception to. However Alan Stone in his 1995 review in the Boston Review reads the film as 'politically correct'. "There is no nudity and no violence directed against women... it celebrates interracial friendship and cultural diversity; there are strong women and strong black men, and the director swims against the current class of stereotype"

Evaluate this statement with evidence form the film. 


In Pulp Fiction along with many other of his films Quentin Tarantino uses racial and sexually charged language. The word 'nigger' is used loosely and frequently throughout Pulp Fiction. It is mainly used by Jules and the other black males to describe others and often replaces the word 'he' or 'man'. The only exception to this is when Jimmy uses it to describe his garage storage. However it may have been used as satirical and for humour here rather than insult. The interracial friendship between Jules and Vincent is highlighted and celebrated in the film as they can be seen as equals and in some light Jules could be seen as superior to his white male college as he is smarter and more aware than Vincent. The strong black males are shown in the character of Jules as well as his boss Marcellus Wallace. Although we see his success as he owns a large LA luxury mansion and runs a business he could also reinforce the typical black male stereotype as he runs a gangster business and is a criminal. So although he is successful it highlights the issue or criminal activity which is stereotypically associated with black culture in America. 
Although we see strong black men in Pulp Fiction there is a lack of strong female characters. The lead women in the film is Mia Wallace. However she lacks self control and overdoses risking her own life. She then is saved by Vincent and Lance which portrays the male dominance as without them she wouldn't have survived. Although there is no nudity or violence directed to women she can not be described as strong women as already stated she relies upon the males to save her during her overdose. Uma Thurman was also chosen by Tarantino as the main character to appear on the film posters and advertising. This could be a way of exploiting women or showing her strength. Honey Bunny in the opening sequence could be seen as a strong and powerful female as we see her holding a gun about to commit a robbery. However when we return to the restaurant at the end of the film she crumbles under the pressure when Jules and Vincent stand up to them during the robbery. She becomes weak and gives in to them. Therefore she can also not be seen as a strong women which contradicts the review/statement.

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