Quentin Tarantino’s films are always controversial, and Pulp Fiction is no exception. The film depicts graphic violence and overt drug usage, while shying away from politically correct language. The film’s controversial topics such as racial stereotypes, has led some critics to hail the movie as racist; however, the movie denies many of these stereotypes, portraying character and character relationships as not exclusive to their stereotype. Furthermore, the movie mocks many of societies stereotypes, and it is not afraid to address, or not to address, uncomfortable racial topics. Thus, Pulp Fiction challenges racial barriers.
Jules Winnifield begins the movie as a criminal, a hit-man to be specific, but as the movie progresses he decides to move away from his life of crime in pursuit of righteousness. Jules’s character development challenges racial stereotypes because he is initially presented as a stereotype, but as the movie progresses he moves away from the cliché and becomes an individual. His character development thus shows the audience that African Americans are not confined to a few archetypes. African American males are frequently portrayed in media as heartless criminals, who do not think twice about their actions, and this is how Jules is portrayed the beginning of the story. However, after he makes it out of the morning visit alive, Jules decides to reevaluate his life, deciding to end his criminal activity and search for a more righteous life. This is a movement away from the stereotype and thus the breaking of our racial barriers. Further, Jules goes from merely reciting scripture to searching for the deeper meaning behind its versus, thus showing him moving away from stereotypical African American preachers a...
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...ationships, treating them as so normal that they do not even need to be acknowledged in the dialogue. By showing and displaying two interracial marriages Pulp Fiction defies the stereotype of members of one race only marrying within their race.
Works Cited
Aldridge, Kevin, Richelle Thompson, and Earnest Winston. "The N-Word." The N-Word. Cincinnati.com, 1 Aug. 2001. Web. 20 Feb. 2014.
Carroll, Joseph. "Most Americans Approve of Interracial Marriages." Gallup Poll. Gallup, 16 Aug. 2007. Web. 20 Feb. 2014.
Metroactive. "The Word 'Nigger'" Metroactive News & Issues. Metroactive News, 9 Apr. 1998. Web. 20 Feb. 2014.
Spears, Arthur K. "Perspectives: A View of the 'N-Word' from Sociolinguistics." Diverse Issues in Education. N.p., 12 July 2006. Web. 20 Feb. 2014.
Willis, Sharon. "The Fathers Watch the Boys' Room." Camera Obscura 32 (1994): 40-73. Web.
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