The Western was the first genre established
- Devoted to storytelling
- Often involves conflict
- Contains negative representations of Native Americans
- Conflict between Natives & American Settlers
- Set in the Old West – desert like landscape
The Western Conventions
- Set in the 19th century
- Often focuses on the life of a cowboy or gunfighter and often a lone wanderer
- Settings include isolated forts, ranches, saloon, ranches
- Show the spectacular scenery of the American West
- Often uses an extreme long shot to represent the isolation of the ‘Old West’
- Shows the progression of technology – guns, dynamite, the railroad
- It is normally rooted in archetypal conflict - good vs. bad, virtue vs. evil, white hat vs. black hat, man vs. man, new arrivals vs. Native Americans, Settlers vs. Indians, humanity vs. nature,
- Often the hero of a western meets his opposite "double," a mirror of his own evil side that he has to destroy.
- Typical elements in westerns include hostile elements (often Native Americans), guns and gun fights (sometimes on horseback), violence and human massacres, horses, trains (and train robberies), bank robberies and holdups, runaway stage coach’s, shoot-outs and showdowns, outlaws and sheriffs,
- Breathtaking settings and open landscapes
- Distinctive western clothing (denim, jeans, boots, etc.).
- Western heroes are often local lawmen or enforcement officers, ranchers, army officers, cowboys, territorial marshals, or a skilled, fast-draw gunfighter
- They are normally masculine persons of integrity and principle - courageous, moral, tough, solid and self-sufficient,
- The main men often have trusty sidekicks
- They possess an independent and honorable attitude
- The Western hero could usually stand alone and face danger on his own, against the forces of lawlessness
Joanna Hearne
- Popular film and television shows have shaped the way Americans view American history – especially the frontier encounters between settlers and Native Americans
- Joanna Hearne thinks that attitudes are changing towards Native Americans and how they are being represented.
- Some examples of films, including animated texts, are helping promote Native-American stories and languages.
- "When non-Native audiences see Native-Americans in Westerns, they often view them as part of the background, as if the actors are not really acting"
- "Westerns rarely portray Native Americans as having families or children, presenting images of dying or 'vanishing' Indians instead of Native family continuity”
- This can have a negative impact on Native children who watch the films, because these popular images are hostile to Native families."
Western Extract
Stagecoach Analysis
Director: John Ford
Year: 1939
Brief description of sequence (Stagecoach Part 7 Youtube 7:00-9:00 mins):
This extract is a chase fight scene between native Americans and American Settlers, it is a chase sequence beginning with an American settler being shot by a native.
The sequence begins with a long shot of the Native Americans on horses with bows and arrows as props. The music is dramatic and quite deep. Then there is an establishing shot of the setting where the chase will take place. There is close up of the leader of the group. Then the music changes from dramatic music to slow and peaceful, showing the setting as uninterrupted. The panning shot continues then the music changes back to the previous when the Native Americans are framed again. Then we have cross cutting to the American settlers, they are dressed in formal suits and are in a comfortable carriage being pulled by horses. This contrasts to the Native Americans who are in typical native dress of brown clothes with headbands and scarves, they also have long hair and look very informal. The music when we see the American Settlers is very similar to the panning shot of the setting like previous, it is peaceful and rhythmic. Therefore the American Settlers are positively represented and the Native Americans are represented negatively due to music and costume. As the American settlers are speaking, one says “Good health”, straight after we see a man being shot with an Arrow. After this there is cross cutting to the drivers of the American setters carriage they are shown speeding up and this is where the chase beings. After this there is constant movement of cuts and shots between the Native and Settlers. The American settlers have guns whereas the native Americans have bows and arrows. The sequence is edited continually, there are no fades or different transitions, only quick cuts to keep the movement of the scene fast paced for its audience. During this sequence the music begins a faster pace involving the audience and keeping up with the fast paced cuts.
Generic conventions within the sequence (Filmsite.org):
We see in this sequence very typical conventions, one is the conflict shown within the sequence. Another main convention is a conflict between the Native Americans and American settlers, the native Americans are generally portrayed in a negative light, an example from this sequence is the music used in the establishing shot. Another convention of Western films is the theme or setting of isolation. The surroundings within the sequence above was isolated showing that a conflict would take place and there would be no escape or help. There is use of stereotypical characters: the main Native American was standing up,he was the oldest and seemed the wisest of the group as he is holding a large staff . The plot is predictable as we see because of the isolated settings and the two cuts between the two groups, we assume a conflict will most likely take place. The plot is also recognisable, as its narrative structure is regular, with a conflict in the middle of the film. There is typical use of cowboy settings, props and costumes, everyone within the sequence is traveling by horse.
Opening sequence conventions (part one Youtube):
The first shot that we see consists of the main character played by John Wayne, this is a medium long shot. We know he is the main character as he is holding a gun and is dressed in a cowboy outfit, also the setting is typical as it is an isolated setting we know this because there is no one else in the shot accept him and a few props. In addition to this, the props such as the carriage in the background make it typical further. Therefore the mise-en-scene is typical of a Western film. We are then introduced to the setting and genre by a shot of horses moving on a sunset desert. The music throughout these shots is upbeat and positive. Throughout the sequence there are credits that include the actors and directors, this also establishes that it is an opening scene.
We know that the setting is isolated as there is no buildings or obstacles around suggesting that the setting is inaccessible, this stereotypical. The cinematography consists simple establishing shot were the people travel into the frames, therefore these shots have little variation. Simple shots therefore are typical of Western films as there is no use of different camera angles.
There are changes in setting throughout the sequence to represent a journey for the setting of the main film. Within the sequence we also have a very patriotic view of the American country because of the flag used. There is also a hook, or enigma, this entices the audience into watching more. In this sequence it is n interruption of the norm which is a telegram to the American Settlers.
This is the opening extract:
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