Representation of Violence in Liberal

¶ … Representation of Violence in "Liberal Hollywood": Pulp Fiction

This paper discusses the film Pulp Fiction in connection with cultural perceptions of good vs. evil and the irony with which the American public views violence, paying particular connection to the sequence where Jules quotes scripture prior to murdering Brett for attempting to deceive another character, Marcellus.

The film presents the inner struggle between good and evil that exists within and among the characters, and portrays violence in a manner suggesting that violence should be mocked for its paradoxical nature. The filmmaker embraces violence with a sense of humor that is evident in many scenes and sequences, which will be discussed in greater detail below. The filmmaker also attempts to present violence as a mechanism through which the characters form, maintain and end relationships throughout the course of the movie.

Film Analysis

Pulp fiction is one of many movies that addresses the subject of good vs. evil utilizing a variety of methods including extreme violence. The film is similar to many other films including Natural Born Killers (Olinger, 2003) which approaches violence from the perspective that it is simply a part of culture, one that may in fact be worthy of making mockery of at times.

To understand the filmmaker's intent in portraying such violence in the film, one must first consider the nature of good vs. evil. Society tends to associate certain actions with good and with evil. No where in the movie is the struggle between good and evil more evident than in the actions and dialogues between two of the main characters, Jules and Vincent. Jules in particular is portrayed by the filmmaker as having an inner struggle or turmoil with the concepts of good and evil.

This is evidenced in Jules actions and monologues. The character Jules in the film Pulp Fiction for example, tends to struggle with his idea that miracles do exist, yet at the same time struggles because his lifestyle is one that is violent. In particular he utilizes the following quote, which he states is from Ezekiel, 25:17, before killing Brett in the film:

The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities 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 thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee."

During this scene there violence is portrayed in a number of ways, in particular through language. Before Jules kills Brett, he interrogates the character using phrases such as "English mother*****er, do you speak it? Does he look like a *****... you tried to ***** him."

The filmmaker is attempting to portray the irony that exists between a man who kills people for a living, but also has a conscious and perhaps God complex, feeling it is his duty to kill those that would upset the natural order of things as they are with his friends or associates. He claims to his partner Vincent at the very end of this scene that a miracle occurs, and that he needs to quit his ways. These statements indicate that the character Jules is dealing with some inner conflict.

The cinematography used in this scene is also very telling. The scene captures primarily the faces of each of the characters involved, including Marvin, Jules, Brett and Vincent. The characters faces are lighted in such a manner that they stand out. Another technique can be noted right after the moment Jules kills Brett for cheating Marcellus. As Jules comments that a miracle has occurred, one might also observe that lighting that sort of 'highlights' his head and the face of Vincent, suggesting that they are some type of hero or angel in the face of debauchery.

Violence is often portrayed this way in mainstream film, as a type of struggle between man and evil, or good and evil. Hollywood often attempts to show man in conflict with himself. The notion that man is by nature good but prone to carry out evil tasks is no more evident than it is in Pulp Fiction, particularly in the sequence described above.

Massing (1999) suggests that the filmmaker is attempting to poke fun of violence and brutality, putting an ironic spin on it meant to make light of the real violence and brutality that exists in the world. This is evident in the scene by the nonchalance of the characters, and the references to eating and other aspects of what might be considered 'normal' behavior in the midst of a scene where three young men are about to be brutally murdered.

Indeed Massing goes on to say that deplorably movie violence has become more the norm than the exception to the rule within Hollywood. There are many other critics that have over time supported this notion, claiming that Hollywood has become very liberal and accepting of violence as merely a part of culture and a way to express different aspects of culture and relationships that exist within society (Olinger, 2003).

Massing isn't the only critic that acknowledges the irony of violence in Pulp Fiction. Schneider (2004) suggests that violence is fun an ironical twist in Pulp fiction but also as a culturally necessary function of relationships. Further he quotes Onderdonk stating that Pulp Fiction uncritically depicts the culture of American capitalism, one that involves violence and close male partnerships. He suggests that the movie attempts to reconcile violent masculine competition and betrayal with a "paradoxical celebration of intimate and exclusive male bonds" (Schneider, 2004).

The intent of the brutal power struggles as evidenced in the movie including in the scene described above is to give credence to the American Dream, including "delusive promises of freedom and social mobility" (Schneider, 2004).

The struggle of good vs. evil is also a classic theme in what is considered to be "liberal Hollywood" with many movies portraying the battle against good and evil in varying ways (Olinger, 2003). Pulp Fiction does not take the classical stance of good vs. evil, but rather portrays the good "gangsters" if you will as fighting against the bad "villains" in the film.

While one group of people can not necessarily be justifiably 'good' Jules and Vincent are far more 'good' than evil at least from the filmmakers perspective in this movie. This may coincide with the American ideals and dreams of what makes a person good. Jules is attempting in his mind to do what he believes is righteous. He appears to have an inner struggle with himself, a struggle between good and evil. This can even be identified in the lighting of the scene described, where as mentioned the faces of the 'good' characters are highlighted with the only light in the room, while most of the surrounding features are very dark and ominous.

Conclusion

Pulp fiction is a classic Hollywood tale rich with imagery, word and scene that characterizes violence in a liberal Hollywood fashion. The filmmaker utilizes a variety of scenes and cinematographic techniques to depict violence in an ironic fashion, showing the clash between good vs. evil and exhibiting some of the ironies that exist within the American culture. For this reason the film is often considered a symbol of iconography within the world of movies.