Investigating Tarantino as an auteur by shocking and controlling the audience?

3 FILMS

Item 1) RESERVOIR DOGS - Quentin Tarantino (1992)

This particular film is important for me as it was his first major picture in 1992 and boomed with awards and memroable scenes but ultimately set the scene for the "violent-humorous" cult era that Tarantino is all about. The violence, the comedy, the characters and the blood is what Tarantino is known for and Reservoir Dogs opened the door for all of that.


Item 2) PULP FICTION - Quentin Tarantino (1995)

This film is majorly useful as it reinforces the idea of Tarantino being an auteur as the film follows in the same footsteps along the lines of the themes as Reservoir Dogs. With an All star cast on his fingertips, Tarantino was able to create an interwining storyline of romance, violence, vengance, redemption and comedy whilst still shocking the audience. Tarantino plays with our minds in the film by keeping the theme of the unkown vivid as we dont know what were going to see next or whos going to die next.


Item 3) KILL BILL - Quentin Tarantino (2003)

Known as probably Tarantino's most violent film and maybe Hollywood's, Kill Bill is very important in showing how violent Tarantino wants his films to be whilst still showing a structured interwined storyline. Very useful as upon its release, Kill Bill shocked a lot of audience members and made history as the most conterversy film made. Tarantino also shows us in Kill Bill that he likes to shock but also play with stereotypes as he chooses a female to be the protagonist of this neo-samurai film rather than a male.

INTERNET

Item 4) KRON news article, Tarantino defends use of violence in films
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGQaJcwAtpU
This video interview featuring Quentin Tarantino on the violence in Kill Bill was taken from youtube. It was useful because it shows us how passionate and delicate Tarantino is regarding his movies involving violence. The interviewer confronts Tarantino in asking why he uses so much violnce in films and if kids viewed it they would engage in violence in the future. Tarantino argued back in explaining the difference between film and reality and ultimately stating that violence in movies is fun. This shows us that Tarantino only believes in the movie, which means every theme in his movies whether its violence or bad language.

Item 5) Quentin Tarantino Angry Interview: 'I'm Shutting Your Butt Down' 
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7ER_q0B1-I This channel 4 interview shows Quentin Tarantino promoting his new film Django Unchained. As the interviewer goes on asking questions about his use of violence, Tarantino kicks off and refuses to answer any more questions on that matter. " My fans know where I stand on violence", says Tarantino shows us that he has been questioned and tormented about his use of violence in his films for many years and has finally had enough of explaining the enjoyment in violence in films and the fact that films are a "fantasy" and "not real life". This is useful as it shows us that Tarantino is in fact an auteur as he justifies he has a distinct style and on going status quo in his movies that will never change.

Item 6) The most shocking Tarantino scenes by ShortList.com
Source: http://www.shortlist.com/entertainment/films/the-most-shocking-tarantino-scenes This article on 'The most shocking Tarantino scenes' shows us that Tarantino has been shocking and manipulating the audience with his use of violence ever since his first movie. "Still, it shows Tarantino's signature mix of finger-clickin' good tunes and ultraviolence was there from the start", a quote from the article explaining the movie Reservoir Dogs,  reinforces that Tarantino is an autuer as his films have followed the same style and recepie ever since "the start" with Reservoir Dogs. The article provides clips of 'the most shocking Tarantino scenes' and a little synopsis. What is noticible is that all the clips are simliar as they all have a mini lead up to something the audience isn't expecting at all, which is what shocks us. This shows us that he is an auteur as all the clips from each of his films have the same style but still suprises us and shocks us as we dont know when and what to expect the violence.

BOOKS/MAGAZINE ARTICLES

Item 7)  Media Magazine Issue fifteen/Febuary 2006

Item 8) 'Royal with cheese: Quentin Tarantino and the blood-letting of culture'
Source: Media Magazine Issue 35/Febuary 2011
This article, 'Royal with cheese: Quentin Tarantino and the blood-letting of culture', was very useful in once again showing Tarantino to be an Autuer of all audiences. "Changing the face of American cinema by speaking to all auidences", a quote taken from the article showing us that Tarantino has the power to connect with a wide range of audiences which makes him an Auteur as audiences recognise his work and accept his unique and distinct styles. "Films such as Pulp Fcition (1994),  Reservoir dogs (1992), Kill Bill (2003/04) can be seen to emphasise the human element - these are films that deal explicity with human themes of guilt, forgivness and redemption". Another quote from the article stating that Tarantino is an Auteur as he deals with the same re-occuring themes that attracts a wide range of audiences. This makes him an Auetur as people can recognise his work by his trademarked themes such violence, gory scenes and witty dialouge which are all themes and icons now in Tarantino's contemporary filmmaking. This article was excellent in showing Tarantino to be an Auteur as it describes him and his work in a way that every Auetur is described.

OBSERVATION SURVEY

Item 9) Observational survey of peers engaging with text
I asked one of my friends to watch a Tarantino movie and to tell me what they thought of it and if tehy could pick out some major elements in his filmaking. The film was Pulp Fiction (1994), and my friend expalined after watching the movie that he was abit confused with the structure of the movie due to the non-linear structure that Tarantino is famous for. He also mentioned that the film was really violent but enjoyed it as it was served with dark comedy which helped him keep positive when watching the film ultimately stating that he laughed out loud at moments he thought he shoudlnt have. I then asked him to watch another Tarantino movie the following night. I chose Reservoir Dogs (1992), and he stated the same techinques and elements of Pulp Fiction but for Reservoir Dogs which made him realise all of his filmography follows a distinct and unique recipe for filmmaking. This was important for me as it shows a person who has never seen a Tarantino movie can realise that he is an Auteur due to the way he can control the audience's emotions and feelings especially using comedy and violence together. But also how all of his films are similar in a way due to the themes, techinques, actors, locations and dialouge, which means if you like one of his films, your most likely to like all of them.


INTERVIEW

Item 10) Family member interview on use of violence.
I interviewed a family member on their thoughts of Tarantino and their appreciation towards the idea of him being an Auteur. My dad who has seen all of Tarantino's works was very possitive in expessing his feelings towards him and by stating that he was infact an auetuer. On the otherhand my mum said that his work does contain alot of blood and gory scenes which can be un easy to watch, but thats what makes it a 'Tarantino movie'.