Quentin Tarantino Stereotypes

Iconic post-modern filmaker, Quentin Tarantino, is a highly regarded Hollywood Director. Tennessee born, Tarantino, directed his first film was Reservoir Dogs in 1992. It was from this very debut where he formed a cult following and found instant success within the film industry. In 1994, two years later he created another blockbuster, turned iconic film, Pulp Fiction that went on to win the Palme D’OrAward at the Cannes film festival. Race is defined as the major divisions of humankind having distinct physical characteristics (Matthew, 2004 pp 892). It was in Tarantino’s films, Inglorious Basterds (2009) and Django Unchained (2012), that he outlines both directly and indirectly different representations of race. Tarantino does not confront

Blaxploitation made up a brief, yet celebrated part of America’s history, lasting approximately three years from 1970-1973. Blaxploitation broke existing film stereotypes by presenting confident and unperturbed black men (and occasionally women) as the lead hero role (Encyclopedia Britannica 2014). This was very new to America and something that was widely celebrated by the black and white American communities. Some African American critics found the films damaging to their race as most of the hero’s in the film where presented in poor light, such as drug dealing and violence (Encyclopedia Britannica 2014). In defence, the directors defended their newly created genre by clarifying that before blaxploitation, black people were never featured as a main character. They are just catering for their new market of black Americans and why would they intentionally offend their new market. This is what Tarantino also intended on doing with both Inglorious Basterds, Django

Tarantino intentionally never allows for the relationship between Schultz (White Bounty Hunter) and Django (Black Slave) to never become ‘equal’ (of the spangled mind 2014). Schultz’s is a powerful character and takes control of most conversations, in particular with Django. This is seen through cinematography techniques such as camera angles. For example when Schultz directs conversation to Djgano the camera is tilted downwards to symbolize his power above him. However, the film skilfully takes pains trying to equalize their relationship (of the spangled mind 2014). Tarantino does this intentionally to show the imbalance of gender that is still felt in society today, even though the government and public are actively trying to make it an equal democratic society. Having a Black American actor as the main lead in the 1970’s during the blaxploitation period was something worth celebrating amongst the black community (Los Angeles Times 2014). There were an increasing number of black actors from 1960-1970 in Hollywood films as the box office identified the interest with a new black market. Django Unchained and Inglorious Basterds re-ignite this notion and act as a reflection of the development of quality between the black and white Americans. There were an increasing number of black actors from 1960-1970 in Hollywood films as the box office identified the interest with a new black market.