What does “pulp” in Pulp Fiction mean?

Pulp Fiction is one of my all time favorite movies. I’ve seen it many many times and each time I enjoyed it.

It’s a brilliant movie, very catchy and interesting to watch, very original and unlike any other movie. It’s fresh, cool, glam, romantic, it has guns, beautiful girls, cool guys, interesting human characters…

So, have you ever wondered what does “pulp” in Pulp Fiction mean?

Well, “pulp” generally refers to the pulp of a fruit (the creamy sweet stuff inside the peel). But Pulp Fiction refers to something else. From 1896 to the 1950s there were these cheap comics names “Pulp Magazines“.

The magazines were printed on wood pulp paper. Wood pulp was cheaper than the glossy paper other magazines were printed on. I guess that Quentin Tarantino was a fan of these pulp magazines and was inspired by them to create his masterpiece. So the name “Pulp” in “Pulp Fiction” is a tribute to the Pulp Magazines.

There is even a scene where Travolta reads a Pulp Magazine.

Now you will also understand the meaning of Pulp Fiction’s movie poster. It is made to look like a Pulp Magazine cover and Uma Thurman seems to be reading these magazines.

I always thought it was a random choice of design, but I guess I was wrong. Anyhow, nothing is random in the greatest works of art.