Yeah I think the audience is meant to laugh because it's completely unexpected when you first watch it.

Why is it weird to laugh at violence on screen ? Many films use violence as a comedic tool. Just look at the silent slapstick films in the 20s like Buster Keaton and Chaplin/ Laurel and Hardy. Even back then it was normal.

I just don't want to feel that I'm desensitized to violence, even in a movie. Now that I've thought about it more I'm sure I've laughed at violence, but I never second guessed myself like I did with Pulp Fiction.

There are moments in old time radio where it would be considered politically incorrect these day. I was just listening to Father Knows Best where his little girl was annoying him to the point that he started to mimic her. I chuckled.

Actually, Marvin getting killed speaks to several key themes that I believe Tarantino is weaving into this movie. I discuss the details of Marvin's death here, the 5th installment of my Pulp Fiction series. While reading one may seem far-fetched, if you get through them all you might see the collage in entirety.

I thought it was horrible and didn't laugh. But my friends thought it was hilarious and they all laughed about it after the movie.

There's definitely the element of shock and surprise, and it's possible you react to that with laughter (I didn't, though). But I don't think Tarantino intended for you to find the kid getting shot in the face to be funny. Their reaction , of Vincent especially, is certainly meant to be funny.

^ Yeah. The whole film is like that really. It is funny sometimes but it is very dark.

The scenario as a whole is supposed to be darkly humorous. I laughed when it happened because I wasn't expecting it and Jules and Vincent's reactions added to the humour.

Not sure if I was meant to but I did laugh. It was hilarious.

Yeah it's damn funny. Why wouldn't it be funny? On behalf of political correctness? IT'S A BLEEP...G! MOVIE! That's why we buy popcorn ,and soda before going in. It's our make believe world. If we can't separate the two, I'm more worried about us. FUNNY AS HELL

i find Vincent's reaction the funny bit.

i just shot Marvin in the face...

the delivery and his expression, as if he'd stepped in dog do.

It's just good stuff.

Yeah, it is. Tarantino's original script initially called for Marvin to get shot in the throat, not the face...a really ugly, agonizing scenario as Marvin does not die at once. The black kid who played Marvin told Tarantino that this scenario would cause people to dislike Jules and Vincent, so QT changed it to what you see in the film.

I actually believe QT is so sick that the final reveal of Marvin in the car's trunk before Winston tosses the garbage bag over his bloody body is supposed to be funny, too.

It's the shock and disbelief that it happened and that the director did it that makes you laugh... it's not immoral... your laughing because you know that it's not real and that the actor didn't die... and That that isn't blood... it's just red....

Yet. At the same time it is a visceral experience... that's why it's such a good scene... something Tarantino has been mostly unable to replicate since...

@Renovatio said:

Yet. At the same time it is a visceral experience... that's why it's such a good scene... something Tarantino has been mostly unable to replicate since...

I dunno, I can think of several remarkably layered scenes in From Dusk till Dawn, Kill Bill franchise, Django Unchained...all since Pulp Fiction (although PF is my favourite).