Essay draft
Quentin Tarantino uses his authorship to recreate genres, he
does this using his style and different themes that would not usually be used
in specific genres. In this investigation I am looking at Inglorious Basterds
,a war film, and Django Unchained, a western film.
The themes Tarantino uses challenge the typical genres of
both western and war films, and yet some do conform. By challenging the genres
he has resulted in creating more complex genres. Django Unchained, is classed
as a western film however Tarantino uses an unrealistic mise-en-scene for
example the costumes are very stylised making them unrealistic and therefore
the plot less serious. The plots are therefore made more complex as the story
is combined with fantasy when it is a film about factual events. Tarantino has
also used stylistic dialogue in the film, the language they use is exaggerated
and not how people would talk in the time of the film an example of this is the
term "negro" used a lot and during the conversation between the
"KKK" attack. Their voices suggest that they're are illiterate
creating a mockery of the group, and therefore mocking racism. By making a joke
out of this situation, Tarantino implies the stupidity of racism and people at
this time. This is one of the main themes which is often included in Tarantinos
films. I believe he uses blaxploitation and racism in his movies to
make the audience create a complex of how they act themselves as although
the racism in his films is used in a comical manner it is still present in
reality.
'Django Unchained' explores the adventure of a slave who
becomes a freeman when resuced my a German 'freedom fighter' who kills people
for the reward however the people he kills are wanted for crime. 'Shultz'
portrays the message that one mans terrorist is anothers hero. This message is
also in 'Inglorious Basterds' as the basterds themselves kill many people for
good however from the other view point they are seen as terrorists. Both films
being conroversial have resulted in being criticised by Hollywood critics, due
to the usual plots which were not followed. By not conforming to Hollywood
films and using such contreverisal plots the films automatically are what
Tarantino is known for. Th majority of his films conform to their genres
through style however challenge it through the narrative. The characeters often
reinforce their stereotypes however often will have some characteristics of
mise-en-scene which do not conform. For example 'Django' although wearing slave
like costume at the begining he then changes into what looks like a 'pimp' suit
exploiting his stereotype and the serious theme of slavery. In 'Inglorious
Basterds' I would say that the characters cobnform to their stereotypes more as
they wear typical war or costume from during the time. Styllistic dialogue is a
large part of Tarantinos films, to emphasise the setting of the film, as in
Django, they are in Western America and use a lot of racism due to the slavery
which occured in this time so for example the word 'nigga' is used a lot. In
Inglorious basterds, their French, German and American accents vary throughout
which is unrealistic at the time, this is what reminds the audience the
historical events portrayed in his films are not factual.
The unrealistic mise-en-scene and narrative in the films
gives them themes of fantasy and also some humour. Although Django does conform
to some of the same characteristics that a western would have like some of the
costume are similar only exaggerated and it also includes violence. Characteristics
in an archetype of a Western film would be a basic cowboy and Red Indian
conflict, the costume used would be cowboy hats, boots and for props horses and
whips would be typically used. The setting of a Western film is most likely
going to be set in deep South America, this was and still can be identified as
a racist area which is why Django is set there because it exaggerates the
racism. The violence however, would usually be shown as serious but Tarantino
removes this feeling my exaggerating the blood and making it almost comical.
The style in which the violence is shown is used in both Django and Inglorious
Basterds, the colour of the blood is very bright and unrealistic reminding the
audience that the historical plots are historically incorrect . The unrealistic
violence is used more in Django Unchained throughout, Tarantino may of done
this to portray Django as the hero and therefore Candie the slave owner and the
people who are killed as the villains. In many films to do with racism and slavery
the 'whites' are often portrayed as the villain however Tarantino created
Shultz who is a white German, to be a sidekick with Django and also saves
him at the beginning. The character "Stephen" played by Samuel L
Jackson is also challenging the theme of racism as he is black and yet labelled
as a villain and on the side with the "whites". Django says "Now
all you black folk I suggest you get away from these white folk. Not you
Stephen, you right where you belong." this dialogue suggests Tarantino didn't
want to follow the usual characteristics of a film based around slavery and
reverse some of the roles.
Again in Inglorious Basterds, Tarantino has used his style
and mise en scene to make his films look like a graphic novel. An example of
this is before the cinema scene, we are shown Shoshanna applying what looks
like war makeup on her face. Although the war makeup conforms to the war genre,
in the specific scene it does not fit especially as she is a female. Tarantino
has made Shoshanna like a hero, as she is the personified ‘justice’ for the
Jews. This is not normal for a war film as typically the hero would be a male
and fighting in battle, as they are stereotyped as the ‘strong’ character.
Tarantino decided not to challenge the gender roles in Django and followed the
usual stock character of ‘the damsel in distress’, this being Hildy. Tarantino
uses colour to foreshadow and evoke emotion. An example of this in inglorious
basterds is the scene before and during the cinema scene. There is a lot of red
used, this colour suggests blood and fire, which is an accurate foreshadow as
the cinema is then burnt down with Hitler and everyone else inside. Before the fire,
Tarantino shows Hitler and the Nazis cheering the death of soldiers on the film
and we also see some Nazis killing Shoshannas family. And yet when we watch the
Nazis die we are made to feel empathy for them because of the torture we see
and Shoshanna laughs while the fire continues portraying her as a villain.
Tarantino has done this to question whether it is ok to cheer for death whoever
the person, and the answer is no. Blaxploitation is used in Inlgorious
Basterds, through the romantic relationship between Shoshanna and the black
projectionist. He is also a part of the plot to kill the Nazis which makes him
the villain and also the hero. Again the recurring film is one man's terrorist
is another man's hero.
By giving the films a fantasised revenge it
allows them to conform to the classic Hollywood narrative as the heroes prevail
evil and there is a general happy ending. The war and slavery did not end with
a simple happy ending there were many disruptions and still today racism and
discrimination towards religions continue. Tarantino may of used a violent
revenge as his ending to compare with the disruption which in both films are
caused by violence.
No comments:
Post a Comment