Throughout my textual analysis I focused on
the use of gender roles, emasculation of the male characters and Mulvey’s male
gaze in the Tarantino films; Pulp Fiction, (1994); Jackie
Brown, (1997); Kill Bill, (2003/04)
and Death Proof,
(2007).
I decided to incorporate these aspects throughout my key frames in order to
create an artifact in the style of the Tarantino films I have studied. I found
that all of the above aspects were prominent in the majority of the texts, and
therefore the incorporation of these aspects would result in a successful
artefact inspired by Tarantino’s films.
One of the main aspects I was studying in
my textual analysis was the switching of the stereotypical gender roles.
Throughout my study, I researched into others’ own interpretations and
analysis, including my own, to define whether Tarantino uses this theme
throughout his work. I eventually came to the conclusion that, despite
Tarantino’s Death Proof, (2007), the majority of
my texts incorporate the reversal of stereotypical gender roles. This had been
portrayed throughout the films; Pulp Fiction, (1994); Jackie
Brown, (1997) and Kill Bill, (2003/04)
through aspects such as the man adapting to a submissive role, whilst the
female takes on a dominant, typically masculine characteristic, as we see in
the opening scene of Pulp Fiction. We
also see the stereotypical roles being reversed through the violent, macho female characters that Tarantino
creates. For example, the fight in Kill
Bill with Vernita and Beatrix conveys them with characteristics that
signify a traditional male stereotype. The violence that is imposed upon the
couple is through the use of household objects, making the reversal of the
stereotypical roles become comedic and exaggerated.
The confirmation of
the switching of gender roles lead me to incorporate this heavily into my key
frames. As the key frames progress, the cinematography
develops to show Sapphire's power. We see at the beginning that she is
portrayed with sexualised close up shots and medium long shots. As the key frames
continue, we see her portrayed from low angle shots to portray her hierarchy
and position of power. Meanwhile, Zi's portrayal through cinematography
decreases to show his suppressed position. We see him dominated by Sapphire
when we are first met with Zi, in key frame no 7, being portrayed through a
medium long shot, Sapphire sits strongly and assertively, whilst Zi is 'pushed
into a corner' and seems to have a submissive portrayal. Zi is then
further emasculated through cinematography through key frame 8. Although Zi is
looking at the waitress as a sexual object, the high angle shot conveys Zi as
the weaker. We see how Zi's power and hierarchy as deteriorated through the use
of flashbacks. For example in key frame no 12, Zi is portrayed through a low
angle shot, portraying his power and control.
Similarly, I have also
reversed the typical gender roles in my key frames with the use of the milk and
Budweiser. Drinking a beer from the bottle could be seen as a stereotypical masculine
action, the fact this is carried out by Sapphire, whilst Zi drinks a glass of
milk, confirms the reversal of the stereotypical gender roles.
Zi’s dialog is also
very minimal in comparison to Sapphire, subtly hinting at his submissive
position.
The lighting and colour tones used in the key frames
also portray the switching of the stereotypical gender roles. Sapphire's name
conveys a strong powerful woman, whilst incorporating aspects of blaxploitation
that Tarantino too uses throughout his work. The semi precious gemstone can be
typically red. I have manipulated this and portrayed this throughout my key frames
by using a subtle red tone on the majority of the frames. This portrays Zi's
emasculation and Sapphire's power. This colour tone also creates an old look
and feel to the key frames that Tarantino films such as Death
Proof also have. The use of flashbacks have also been
manipulated with colour toning. The flashback images have a subtle blue tone
conveying Zi's power and control over Sapphire, who is the weak and
submissive.
I feel that the
incorporation of the switching of stereotypical gender roles was successful as
I portrayed this subtly, without over indulging and therefore creating an exact
replica of the Tarantino films.
(603 words)
The second aspect that
I analysed in my textual analysis is the emasculation of male characters. I
found that Tarantino often makes his male characters become, as Emanuela Betti
puts it, as the ‘butt of the joke’, whilst portraying women as strong and independent.
I came to the conclusion that this is incorporated throughout all of the texts
I studied. As a result of this, I ensured that I did the same in my key frames.
I decided to heavily incorporate the use of phallic imagery around Sapphire to
portray her with the masculinity that the male character has lost, resulting in
emasculation. This is evident through key frame 4, 5, 11, 13, 15, 16 & 20.
The use of the joint, Budweiser bottle and gun all convey that phallic imagery,
which combined with Sapphire’s gender creates an ironic atmosphere, whilst
emasculating Zi along with the prominent use of the glass of milk and high
angle shots.
However, the key
frames that incorporate the most significant amounts of emasculation are 13,
14, & 16 where we see the threat of Zi’s castration by the use of phallic
imagery, thus creating more ironic tones of emasculation.
Overall, I feel that I have incorporated
this theme into my key frames sufficiently, however, if I were to complete this
task again, I would alter Zi’s clothing throughout the flashbacks to portray
his deterioration of masculinity.
(232 words)
I also analysed how far Mulvey’s male gaze
theory applied to the Tarantino films I studied. I concluded that although
Tarantino gives his female character dominance and a voice, this is often
through their sexualisation. As a result of this finding, I decided again to
incorporate this into my key frames. We see Sapphire, the dominant female being
sexualised throughout. We see the male gaze in my key frames through aspects of
voyeurism in key frames 2 & 3. Here, we only see Sapphire’s legs, which
ultimately disconnects the spectator from her. Sapphire’s clothing is also
fitted, emphasising her figure. Similarly,
key frame 5 & 6 sexualise Sapphire due to the focus of the camera on
figure, creating her as a sexual object.
I feel that I incorporated the male gaze
subtly into the key frames, which did not subtract substance from the
narrative.
(144 words)
Overall I feel that the aspects explored
throughout my textual analysis have been incorporated into my key frames
successfully without creating an exact replica of the Tarantino films or
subtracting substance from the narrative.
