In 2003, Banksy created Pulp Fiction in London, a work paying homage to Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 film, sharing its ironic and irreverent spirit. Here, the film’s typical violence is ridiculed: John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson hold bananas instead of guns, the only colored elements in an otherwise black-and-white composition. The intention is clear and immediate; rather than a critique, the work is a playful, parodic celebration of Hollywood cinema.
The mural appeared in Old Street, a symbolic hub of London Street Art. However, in 2007, London transport authorities decided to remove it, arguing that it incited violence and contributed to urban decay. The decision sparked controversy: for many, the work had become a genuine cultural landmark, attracting tourists and fans of the artist. In response to the censorship, Banksy created a second version in which the two characters were dressed as bananas and wielded real guns. Shortly after, the piece was altered by another writer, Ozone, who added the inscription: “If the next one is better, I’ll leave it alone.” This act was part of a series of provocations between the two artists, a kind of “feud” in the Street Art world, abruptly ended by Ozone’s tragic death, struck by a train in the subway.