Race and Violence: A Study on Scorsese and Tarantino Films

Depictions of Race Through Violence in the Films of Scorsese and Tarantino

Hollywood seems to thrive on portrayals of violence. American audiences respond positively to violent, action-based films, which continue to perform particularly well at the box office. Some of these blockbusters glorify violence even further by highlighting patriotism in war films, making them both commercial and critical successes. These films let audiences admire American soldiers for killing their enemies and withstanding the savageries of warfare. In a nation that has arguably become desensitized to violence from witnessing recurring mass shootings and fatal racial tensions, it is no surprise that filmmakers Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino manage to captivate

In effective comedic sequences, the audience believes they are more upstanding or morally righteous than the characters they are watching on screen. Marvin’s accidental murder is thus funny for the viewers, because the accident occurs to the film’s “bad guys” who are otherwise immune to law and order. This clears the viewer from any involvement with Marvin’s murder, for they are simply laughing at the gangsters’ plan go awry, even if it means an innocent black man is shot in the face without thought. Furthermore, Tarantino’s deliberate overuse of violence throughout Pulp Fiction undermines the significance of Marvin’s death because it erases any and all racial implications of this specific act of violence. The combination of the conventional editing techniques and conversational irony produces an entertaining atmosphere that allows the audience to watch the film in a passive mindset. Instead of allowing the viewer to question how the black character is terrorized and targeted by the dominant white characters in the film, the filmmaker uses Marvin’s death as a verbal prop, a running gag for Jimmie’s character to poke fun at in his own