Cinema of Quentin Tarantino: Essays on Race, Violence and History in the Films

Quentin Tarantino is one of the most influential filmmakers to emerge in the last half-century. His films have been both critically acclaimed and embraced by audiences. With an oeuvre that includes such iconic films as Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill Volumes 1 & 2, Inglourious Basterds, Django Unchained, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, among others, Tarantino's work has had a significant impact on popular culture with his work frequently being quoted, imitated, and cited in films, on television, and in literature.

Over the span of Tarantino's career, critics and scholars have studied and debated the methods, artistry, and legitimacy of his work. This book of original essays assembles a range of critical thought, observation, and debate about the importance of these films, the underlying themes found within them, their historical significance, and Tarantino's artistic methods. These essays employ new perspectives while building on the insights of previous studies. Topics include Tarantino's approach to subject matter involving race, Tarantino's use of pastiche as a form of adaptation, the significance of the appearance of feet in the films, and an examination of Tarantino's reworking of Elmore Leonard's novel Rum Punch in his film Jackie Brown.