Textual Analysis draft.

Essay draft

Quentin Tarantino uses his authorship to recreate genres, he does this using his style and different themes that would not usually be used in specific genres. In this investigation I am looking at Inglorious Basterds ,a war film, and Django Unchained, a western film.

The themes Tarantino uses challenge the typical genres of both western and war films, and yet some do conform. By challenging the genres he has resulted in creating more complex genres. Django Unchained, is classed as a western film however Tarantino uses an unrealistic mise-en-scene for example the costumes are very stylised making them unrealistic and therefore the plot less serious. Tarantino has also used stylistic dialogue in the film, the language they use is exaggerated and not how people would talk in the time of the film an example of this is the term "negro" used a lot and during the conversation between the "KKK" attack. Their voices suggest that they're are illiterate creating a mockery of the group, and therefore mocking racism. By making a joke out of this situation, Tarantino implies the stupidity of racism and people at this time.

The unrealistic mise-en-scene and narrative in the films gives them themes of fantasy and also some humour. Although Django does conform to some of the same characteristics that a western would have like some of the costume are similar only exaggerated and it also includes violence. The violence however, would usually be shown as serious but Tarantino removes this feeling my exaggerating the blood and making it almost comical. The style in which the violence is shown is used in both Django and Inglorious Basterds, the colour of the blood is very bright and unrealistic reminding the audience that the historical plots are historically incorrect . The unrealistic violence is used more in Django Unchained throughout, Tarantino may of done this to portray Django as the hero and therefore Candie and the people who are killed as the villains. In many films to do with racism and slavery the 'whites' are often portrayed as the villain however Tarantino created Shultz who is a white German,  to be a sidekick with Django and also saves him at the beginning. The character "Stephen" played by Samuel L Jackson is also challenging the theme of racism as he is black and yet labelled as a villain and on the side with the "whites". Django says "Now all you black folk I suggest you get away from these white folk. Not you Stephen, you right where you belong." this dialogue suggests Tarantino didn't want to follow the usual characteristics of a film based around slavery and reverse some of the roles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv7FXjcRPfM

Again in Inglorious Basterds, Tarantino has used his style and mise en scene to make his films look like a graphic novel. An example of this is before the cinema scene, we are shown Shoshanna applying what looks like war makeup on her face. Although the war makeup conforms to the war genre, in the specific scene it does not fit especially as she is a female. Tarantino has made Shoshanna like a hero, as she is the personified ‘justice’ for the Jews. This is not normal for a war film as typically the hero would be a male and fighting in battle, as they are stereotyped as the ‘strong’ character. Tarantino decided not to challenge the gender roles in Django and followed the usual stock character of ‘the damsel in distress’, this being Hildy. Tarantino uses colour to foreshadow and evoke emotion. An example of this in inglorious basterds is the scene before and during the cinema scene. There is a lot of red used, this colour suggests blood and fire, which is an accurate foreshadow as the cinema is then burnt down with Hitler and everyone else inside. Before the fire, Tarantino shows Hitler and the Nazis cheering the death of soldiers on the film and we also see some Nazis killing Shoshannas family. And yet when we watch the Nazis die we are made to feel empathy for them because of the torture we see and Shoshanna laughs while the fire continues portraying her as a villain. Tarantino has done this to question whether it is ok to cheer for death whoever the person, and the answer is no.

                                                                                                        

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS1IG8hw73A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYYYAeSWOlI

By giving the films a fantasised revenge it allows them to conform to the classic Hollywood narrative as the heroes prevail evil and there is a general happy ending. The war and slavery did not end with a simple happy ending there were many disruptions and still today racism and discrimination towards religions continue. Tarantino may of used a violent revenge as his ending to compare with the disruption which in both films are caused by violence.