JR - Analysing an Opening Sequence

Pulp Fiction ( Quentin Tarantino, 1994)

Genre Analysis

The film 'Pulp Fiction' is a thriller action film, we can tell this by the opening sequence as there is a shoot out and this is a common convention of the genre. Also the location is in what looks like a City Cafe.

Another Convention of a thriller is the bad guys and good guys, this is a stereotypical image of what a action film is normally. The opening credits are two a upbeat soundtrack, which also leads to how the genre is a fast pasted and upbeat.

In this opening sequence the does fulfil the generic expectation of the text, this expectation was a gun scene at the begin to which draws the audience into the film, and this is a stereotypical ideology of thriller. At the beginning we see the couple talking about robbing banks, drug stores and other places, this sets up our expectation of the thriller genre.

The clip does conform to many characteristics of the genre of a thriller, it does this by presenting several conventions of a stereotypical thriller film, these being fast pace action, guns and a little bit of romance. Thought this are not always presented in the beginning of a thriller but can be seen throughout.

Institutional Context

There are many well known stars in 'Pulp Fiction' a few being, Samuel L. Jackson, John Travolta and Tim Roth. It was important to have bit known stars so to promote the film. Samuel L. Jackson for example is a well known actor to the genre of thriller therefore he helps to promote the film. Also having a very well known director also helps sell the film.

The studio which produced 'Pulp Fiction' was Miramax Films, which is an art house/ independent film production company.