narrative stucture

Tarantino uses an array of devices to create a adverse effect on the viewer,  here I am going to discuss them;

• Narrative structure – Tarantino uses narrative structure to his advantage using a non linear plot on both of these films. within the ‘reservoir dogs’ he uses the non linear structure to help describe the “heist” as every characters mind is incomplete and doesn’t actually know the full story the representation to the viewer is through the film that they are trying to tell a story of what’s happened and also trying to find out who the “rat” is, that’s why the audience is engaged within the movie, and it doesn’t actually show the “jewel heist” because it wouldn’t keep the audience within suspense throughout the movie rendering it useless. And also within ‘Pulp Fiction’ without the non-linear format the script wouldn’t actually make any logical sense it it was organized in chronological order, it actually would render the movie’s plot irrelevant. Each scene would make sense on its own, but wouldn’t actually get any message across,

• The use of the camera – Tarantino uses the camera to accent main features, within the movie, camera angles are used for the notorious “boot shot” where the camera points outside from a car boot at least a 45 degree angle as if it were the item the films characters were looking at, this is to censor some key elements from the audience giving them another wonder into the movie heightening senses about what’s going to happen, and it also makes the viewer think more, making the sub plot obvious of both movies, this is one of Tarantino’s “signature moves” where by he likes doing these things at any opportunity that he can, he also puts the camera in strategic places, like when the “ear cutting scene” you cant actually see this happening, but you know it is, also on ‘Pulp Fiction’ you can see where Samuel L Jackson got shot at within the room where there is a man within the toilet, the camera angle is set up so you can see the shots within the background wall before any shooting has commenced.

• The use of editing to link characters/ plotlines together – the uses of editing to link plotlines together is very clever because this also links in to the narrative structure, if the narrative structure was linear I would think this would be clearer then within the original directors cut, thus the audience having to sit their and not think for themselves, editing can easily make it easy to familiarize with characters from different point of views, lack of edit points and scene changes can make it a lot easier than having to think about plot and sub plot within this. It makes you see other characters sides that you wouldn’t normaly know for example within ‘Reservoir Dogs’ it edits points to a previous point in time, where they are being interviewed for the heist and the ‘Mob Boss’ is trying to get to know them better, and also within pulp fiction if it were in chronological order without any edit points it would make the characters reasoning/mannerisms flow easier.

• Lines of dialogue - this by far the most memorable monologue part within ‘pulp fiction’; "The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides with the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who in the name of charity and good will shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon those with great vengeance and with furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know that my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee."

 There is a notion of Redemption and divine right within the movie, by this dialogue above it shows that ‘Jules’ is quite religious within his job, and actually feels that it is his right to use the/a ‘god’ as an excuse for his transgressions against life, and within this this could be a sub plot, that god is an almighty power and redemption has to be implemented. Lines of dialogue memorable in ‘Reservoir Dogs’ are when mr blonde cuts a police officers ear off and shouts into it “can you hear me yet” with the “stuck in the middle with you.” Music on within the background, it pokes fun violence what shouldn’t be comical, but is. And that was to provoke an action within the viewer of laughter, so that the movie isn’t all boring, and has a sick comical humor to it. This links me onto my next point.

• Dramatic irony. Dramatic irony is where tarrantino uses this to his advantage and makes fun at things we really should not be laughing at, but he provokes the reaction. within Reservoir Dogs’ when Mr blonde with his ‘back street amputation theater’ has to commence surgery to a police officers ear ear off and shouts into it “can you hear me yet” with the “stuck in the middle with you.” Playing in the background, and also within ‘Pulp Fiction’ when Vincent shoots accidently shoots the Black Male within the back of the car, he turns around with a quite mesterious face on, much like the devil, I knew instantly there was something comical was going to happen, because Vincent doesnt otherwise speak up within the movie, and I as the viewer just got that feeling, its just not his style more like an understudy of Jules, comical part of it was the blood splattering on everything, and also Jules’ tone of voice as if to say “what the hell did you do that for, mother-f***er, why did you shoot that ‘nigger’ in MY car, god Vincent you really are f***ing stupid at times.”

• Music and sound effects, tarrantino uses old music to try and revitalize songs that may have been forgotten as a homage to them and he feels like he should homage a lot of films he uses “Stuck in the middle of you” for dramatic irony he uses the emphasis of diagetic music within ‘Pulp Fiction’ for example right at the start of the movie it sounds like there is the music coming from an old radio, when they change channel you can also hear them sounds, the representation to the audience is that the music amplifies