2.1 Western

The Western genre emerged in early 20th century American cinema, mythologizing frontier life and cowboy culture. From silent films to Hollywood's Golden Age, Westerns became an iconic genre, establishing conventions like heroic gunslingers and themes of law versus chaos.

Westerns typically feature rugged individualist heroes in frontier settings, exploring conflicts between civilization and wilderness. The genre evolved from classic morality tales to revisionist critiques, spawning subgenres like Spaghetti Westerns and influencing filmmaking techniques and American cultural identity.

Origins of Western films

• Westerns emerged in the early 20th century as a distinctly American film genre that mythologized the frontier experience and cowboy culture
• Early silent Westerns like The Great Train Robbery (1903) established many conventions of the genre including heroic gunslingers, scenic landscapes, and themes of law and order
• Westerns gained popularity in the 1930s-1950s during the Golden Age of Hollywood, becoming one of the most prolific and iconic American film genres

Defining elements of Westerns

Frontier settings vs civilization

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• Westerns are typically set in the American Old West frontier during the late 19th century, often in isolated and lawless territories
• The frontier is frequently contrasted with encroaching civilization and modernity, symbolizing a clash between wilderness and progress
• Common settings include small frontier towns, cattle ranches, saloons, and vast open landscapes of the American Southwest

Rugged individualist heroes

• Westerns often feature stoic, independent, and morally upright male protagonists who embody the ideals of rugged individualism
• These heroes are skilled gunslingers, horsemen, and fighters who operate by their own code of honor and justice
• Examples include the strong, silent type (Gary Cooper in High Noon) and the rebellious antihero (Clint Eastwood in the Dollars trilogy)

Recurring Western themes

• Westerns explore themes of good vs evil, law vs chaos, and the taming of the wild frontier through the establishment of civilization
• The genre often depicts conflicts between settlers and Native Americans, outlaws and lawmen, and rival gangs or factions
• Revenge, redemption, and the search for identity are common character arcs in Westerns

Subgenres of Westerns

Classic Western vs Revisionist Western

• Classic Westerns (1930s-1950s) typically depict a clear moral universe with heroic cowboys, villainous outlaws, and romanticized frontier life (Stagecoach, Red River)
• Revisionist Westerns (1960s-1970s) subvert and critique classic tropes, presenting morally ambiguous characters, graphic violence, and a more critical view of American history and mythology (The Wild Bunch, McCabe & Mrs. Miller)

Spaghetti Westerns

• Spaghetti Westerns are a subgenre of Westerns produced by Italian filmmakers in the 1960s-1970s, often shot in Spain with international casts
• These films are known for their distinctive visual style, operatic violence, and eclectic musical scores (The Good, the Bad and the Ugly)
• Spaghetti Westerns launched Clint Eastwood to stardom and influenced the evolution of the broader Western genre

Contemporary neo-Westerns

• Neo-Westerns are modern films that adopt elements of the Western genre but are set in contemporary times or different historical periods
• These films often subvert or reinterpret Western tropes and themes to comment on contemporary social and political issues (No Country for Old Men, Hell or High Water)

Influential Western directors

John Ford's iconic Westerns

• John Ford is considered one of the greatest Western directors, known for his sweeping vistas, use of Monument Valley locations, and collaborations with John Wayne
• Ford's Westerns often depict the formation of communities and the establishment of law and order on the frontier (Stagecoach, The Searchers, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance)

Sergio Leone's stylistic innovations

• Italian director Sergio Leone revolutionized the Western genre with his Spaghetti Westerns, known for their gritty realism, stylized violence, and iconic musical scores
• Leone's films feature morally ambiguous antiheroes, tense standoffs, and extreme close-ups (the Dollars trilogy, Once Upon a Time in the West)

Clint Eastwood as actor and director

• Clint Eastwood emerged as a Western icon through his roles in Sergio Leone's Spaghetti Westerns and later directed and starred in his own revisionist Westerns
• Eastwood's Westerns often explore themes of violence, revenge, and the consequences of the Western myth (High Plains Drifter, Unforgiven)

Legendary Western actors

John Wayne's archetypal roles

• John Wayne is the quintessential Western star, known for his tough, laconic, and morally upright characters in films directed by John Ford and Howard Hawks
• Wayne's roles often embody the ideals of rugged individualism, patriotism, and masculine heroism (Stagecoach, Red River, The Searchers, True Grit)

Clint Eastwood's antihero characters

• Clint Eastwood became a Western icon through his portrayal of the "Man with No Name" in Sergio Leone's Dollars trilogy, a cynical and ruthless antihero
• Eastwood's Western characters are often lone wolves who operate outside the law and challenge traditional notions of heroism (High Plains Drifter, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Unforgiven)

Representation in Westerns

Native Americans in Westerns

• Early Westerns often depicted Native Americans as savage enemies or noble savages, reinforcing stereotypes and justifying American expansionism
• Later revisionist Westerns began to offer more complex and sympathetic portrayals of Native American characters and critiques of their historical treatment (Broken Arrow, Dances with Wolves)

Women's roles in Westerns

• Women in classic Westerns were often relegated to secondary roles as love interests, schoolteachers, or saloon girls, embodying the civilizing influence on the frontier
• Some Westerns subverted these stereotypes with strong female characters who challenged traditional gender roles (Johnny Guitar, The Quick and the Dead)

Racial dynamics of Western films

• Westerns have often marginalized or stereotyped non-white characters, particularly Mexican and African American characters
• Some revisionist Westerns have explored the racial dynamics of the American West and the experiences of non-white characters (The Magnificent Seven, Unforgiven)

Music in Western films

Ennio Morricone's iconic scores

• Italian composer Ennio Morricone revolutionized the sound of Westerns with his eclectic and operatic scores for Sergio Leone's Spaghetti Westerns
• Morricone's scores feature distinctive instrumentation (harmonica, electric guitar, whistling) and memorable themes that enhance the films' emotional impact and stylistic flair (The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Once Upon a Time in the West)

Cinematography of Western landscapes

• Westerns are known for their expansive and iconic landscapes, often featuring the rugged terrain of the American Southwest (Monument Valley, Almeria desert in Spain for Spaghetti Westerns)
• Cinematographers use wide shots and panoramic vistas to capture the grandeur and isolation of the frontier landscape, emphasizing the characters' relationship to the environment
• Westerns also employ dramatic lighting and framing to enhance the genre's themes and motifs (silhouettes, low-angle shots, deep focus)

Legacy of Western genre

Westerns' influence on filmmaking

• The Western genre has had a profound influence on American and international cinema, shaping the language and techniques of filmmaking
• Westerns pioneered location shooting, the use of widescreen formats (CinemaScope), and the development of the antihero archetype
• The genre's themes, iconography, and storytelling conventions have been adapted and subverted across various genres and national cinemas

Cultural impact of Western mythology

• Westerns have played a significant role in shaping American cultural identity and mythologizing the nation's frontier history and values
• The genre has both reflected and influenced American attitudes towards masculinity, individualism, violence, and the tension between wilderness and civilization
• While Westerns have declined in popularity since their peak, they continue to be revisited and reinterpreted by filmmakers exploring the complexities of the American experience (Brokeback Mountain, The Power of the Dog)