That's wacky. I read that Thursday, and it made me start thinking about how any philosophy could be attached to the movie (or any movie--Harold Ramis said he was contacted by people from every major religion after he made "Groundhog Day", who said "That's exactly what our religion teaches!"
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"A Freudian Analysis of Tarantino" by me. Bear in mind, I have no idea what I'm talking about; I'm re-iterating psychobabble and applying it to what I've seen in his movies.
What are the first words out of the actor/director's mouth in his first major motion picture? A diatribe about the phallic metaphors he finds in what is arguably the greatest song (or at least breakthrough song) of one of the greatest (well--most well-known) pop culture icons of the era.
When Mr. Brown (Quentin Tarantino) waxes about Madonna's "Like A Virgin", he says that it is about a loose woman who, upon experiencing a massive penetration, reminisces about her first time. He is met with dissenting opinions on the subject, but it's never finally decided. Madonna herself reportedly sent Tarantino an autographed copy of the single, explaining that "It's about love, not dicks", but I for one haven't heard whether Mr. Brown's theory is his own, or if it is also Tarantino's.
In that speech (and in the speeches that follow), Tarantino seemed to be laying the groundwork for many of his sexual proclivities. The very next sexual reference refers to Toby, the little Chinese girl who was once a paramour of Joe Cabot. Interracial relationships are a staple of Tarantino's movies:
1) Joe Cabot and "Toby" (referenced only)
2) E-lois and Nice Guy Eddie (he never had a relationship with her, but he did fantasize about her)
3) Jimmy Dimick and Bonnie
4) Marsellus and Mia Wallace
5) Jackie Brown and Max Cherry (never consumated, but definitely some heat there)
6) Ordell Robbie and Melanie
7) O-ren Ishii's parents (not interracial per se, but the "impurity" of her parentage is a point of contention)
I deliberately left out Zed, Maynard and Marsellus, because rape has more to do with power and domination than anything resembling affection. Still, that angle is played up often in QT's movies. Drexl's house of ill repute undoubtedly had such relationships too, though none were evident (perhaps because Tony Scott directed the film?).
Bare feet, foot massages and other references have led many to believe that QT has a foot fetish of sorts, but this is discussed in detail in the existing articles. I'll move on.
Guns--the ultimate phallic symbol--or so the anti-gun lobby would have us believe--score highly in the Tarantino universe. The "Seinfeld" lookalike in Brett's bathroom still has his pants undone when he emerges, hand cannon blazing. Jules wonders first of all at the size of the gun. "It was bigger than him," marvels Jules. This is the same guy, who, before his manly pistol made him feared and revered in front of Brett, admitted that his girlfriend forbade him to eat meat.
Vincent suffers from "his gun going off prematurely", with potentially disasterous consequences. Winston Wolf doesn't carry a gun, but his demeanor is so intimidating that, even without one he is able to cow the two ruthless killers into stripping naked so that he can "squirt them with his hose".
Likewise, the swords in "Kill Bill" have a phallic significance. Budd, the only male member (no pun intended) of the DiVAS, doesn't use his sword--he falls back on the OTHER phallus--his trusty shotgun--which fails in leading to the Bride's downfall.
As for the vagina, well...Mr. Pink did say that his name sounded like "Mr. Pussy", which is exactly what he turned out to be. He ducked and covered when the shooting started (instead of choosing a side), then ran for the hills when it ended.
When Butch exits Maynard's dungeon ("leaving the womb"
prematurely, he knows that he has to go back; that he is not complete. When he re-emerges, he is, in effect, being reborn into a warrior. And, like a newborn, he is covered in blood.
When Jackie holds the gun up against Ordell, she presses it up against his package, indicating that she is no longer the frail female, but on equal terms with him, holding the gun strategically in front of her pelvis.
Well, that's all I can think of at the moment--I knew I should have jotted down some notes when I thought of it four days ago. Oh well.
