Evaluation

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.