Auteur Theory In Pulp Fiction

Auteur theory is the theory of filmmaking in which the director is regarded as the key creative force in a film. Dubbed by American film critic Andrew Sarris in France during the late 1940’s, auteur theory was an outgrowth of the cinematic theories of Andre Bazin and Alexandre Astruc. This theory states that the director, who oversees all visual and audio elements of a film, is considered somewhat of an ‘author’ of a film more so than the writer of the screenplay. This means that visual elements such as blocking lighting, camera placement and angles as well as scene length deliver the message of the film, rather than the plot. To qualify as an auteur, a director must showcase technical competence, personal style, and interior meaning. As well …show more content…
Because Tarantino is so well-known, this criterion is easily fulfilled. Thematic elements that Tarantino is known for are all present in Pulp Fiction, elite group vs the outer world, revenge, loyalty and betrayal between characters. He is celebrated for his pop culture references as he often incorporates components of other director’s work as way to pay homage to his many influences. Pulp Fiction is filled with a variety of references to classic noir cinema, and in Reservoir Dogs there is obvious allusion to Ringo lam’s revenge movie, City on Fire and Stanley Kubrick’s gangster film The Killing. Tarantino also introduces several of his own creations; his films are recognisable by their mixture of humour, violence and madness. As well as this, Tarantino is very ‘over the top’ in his approach.
Fulfilling the three criteria Sarris created, Quentin Tarantino can qualify as a modern version of a film auteur. While the theory is extensively criticised for its absence of a solid definition and its continual reworking of the criteria, the explanations and opinions that are currently presented on the topic all propose that Tarantino is a worthy example of a film