Argumentative Essay On Tarantino

Tarantino-Comparative Essay
Alex Bouter

Tarantino is an extra-ordinary, peculiar and quirky director that spent his younger years hibernating in a video rental shop, where he learnt all he knows about films. He took what he learnt and made some of the most controversial movies ever seen in the film industry. While he was there, he formed certain opinions about all the movies he watched and got fixed on certain genres, which he now incorporates in all of his films. Manipulating his audience is his main aim and he does this through influencing conventions and in some cases flipping them on their heads. The above statement can be attached to Tarantino’s films as he has a certain method of making films that make fun of conventions and use them to get a certain reaction from his audience.

Tarantino’s use of conventions sometimes leave the audience in disarray, not knowing what is going on and
completely confused. In the film Kill Bill, Tarantino uses the convention of not naming the main character to his advantage as it brings a certain mystery to the film and in effect, makes the audience actually want to see the sequel as they are curious as to what her name is. This method is a great asset to him as it will bring more people to watch his films and so exploits us through his conventions, Tarantino is bent on making films that are above all else entertaining, Through not naming his main character it brings the audience closer to the film, wanting to try and see if they can grasp a hint of her name.

In Tarantino’s films he speaks about things that are taboo in most cultures.
Pulp Fiction is a film focused on sex, drugs and rock n’ roll which in itself is a convention. He exposes many issues that most people believe to be “hush hush” subjects. Another subject that is taboo to some, that Tarantino uses, is explicit violence or exaggerated violence which is the convention of action-violence films. In Source H it shows a popular internet cartoon show called ‘Happy Tree Friends’ which can be linked to Tarantino’s films, as it shows really gory violence that is unfavorable to some. In his films, this convention is almost in every scene which adds a whole different genre to some of his films. Source A talks about how Tarantino uses this to his advantage and exaggerates violence to the point where it is surrealistic and fake in some circumstances. This exploits the audience as they believe the film to be a joke but can’t get enough of it because of its entertainment factor. Numerous people are attracted to violent films and this is how Tarantino gets some of his
following.

Source F speaks about quite imaginative ways to kill a man. Tarantino in his films kills off his characters in many many different and creative ways. In the film Kill Bill, the Bride exterminates Oren by slicing off the top of her scalp. This shocked many, while it also inspired many more. Also in the film, Kill Bill, the Bride is confronted with a huge number of body guards, all determined to kill her and in the end she defeats them all through a lot of very unique and original methods. Using these weird and wonderful ways of ending his characters lives, he draws people to his films and makes them want to see what happens next and why. Once again the entertainment factor is prevalent. Tarantino seems to have us stuck with an addiction, one that can only be quenched by his artistic and strange films.

Tarantino uses many different genres of music in his films which at many times is ironic to how the scene is going in the film. Source B talks of how Tarantino uses non-commercial music and adds them to his films in scene that might not actually agree with what the scene entails This is an effect that creates suspense at times and at other times make certain scenes that contain violence, very humorous and ironically non-violent. His music manipulates and confuses the viewer as they do not know what to think about a certain scene, because someone might be dying but there could be happy and childish music blasting in the background.

Tarantino loves to make us think while we watch his films, he loves to guide us in a certain direction but then completely disorientate us by flipping the story line completely. His movies often have an extremely open ending leaving us thinking about what could have happened or should have happened. Tarantino is above all a trickster and a manipulator that makes his audience feel confused throughout most of his films. He loves to exploit us in this way through his conventions that give us a strong opinion about his films. Everyone has a strong opinion about Tarantino whether it is a good one or a bad one. Either way, he forces us to make a decision about his films and compels us to think about what he is going to make next and most times, it is nothing like what we could have expected.