The stories commonly include bounty hunters, gunfighters, outlaws, cowboys, settlers, brothels, whores, card games, horses, native americans indians, civil war elements, and saloons. Western, a genre of novels and short stories, motion pictures, and television and radio shows that are set in the american west, usually in the period from the 1850s to the end of the 19th century. There are many different characteristics of the western genre, as the genre itself is very distinct. Western the western began as a uniquely american genre of film, extoling the heroic virtues of cowboys and settlers pioneering the western frontier in the 1800s. In the golden age of spursandsaddles films, between 1940 and 1960, up to. Drums along the mohawk 1939 stagecoach 1939 my darling clementine 1946 fort apache 1948 she wore a yellow ribbon 1949 rio grande 1950 wagonmaster 1950 the searchers 1956 the man who shot liberty valance 1962 cheyenne autumn 1964 john fords cavalry trilogy.
Western novels featuring legendary heroes have been popular for a long time and got its start in the penny dreadfuls and later the dime novels. Because of this decline, european filmmakers decided not to continue making the films. Beginning with reconstruction, this program will examine the important connections between the western and the tale of expansion economic, geographic, ecological, cultural and violent conquest. A gangster film has a plot revolving around the mafia. The western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. To describe a film as purely a western is to reduce a film to its location. Western film is a genre that revolves around stories primarily set in the late 19th century in the american old west. Western is a literature, film, and television genre.
Given the american frontier setting, most scores tend to feature a number of specific characteristics which have come to define for many the sound of american orchestral music, regardless of the actual variety of american music both at then and now. The western and film studies westerns movie, cinema, role. Any of the three internal genres could be paired with any of the subgenres of the western. Most westerns, particularly those from the heyday of the genre, feature orchestral scores. In a way it is forced for the western genre to include horse in movies because it was a convention of the western to travel by horse. The perceived genre of a film can change over time. After all, a mysterious fellow cant ride into town without a horse, and he cant ride off into the sunset either. Edward wragg breaks down the many faces of the western genre. According to the definition presented by america film institute, western films are those that are set in the american west and are. Though no single genre took over following the decline of spaghetti westerns, there was a significant rise in the number of lowbudget italian horror. The western film genre has portrayed much about americas past, glorifying the pastfading values and aspirations of the mythical bygone age of the west. Western, a genre of novels and short stories, motion pictures, and television and. Spaghetti western the good the bad and the ugly, revisionist western 3.
The spaghetti western is a term which refers to a genre of westerns generally starting in the 1960s which were produced by italians but often shot in spain. A western is set in the west and has cowboys and indians. If youve ever seen a western film, you know how integral horses are to the plot, and you know how critical they are to the western heros mobility and success. The most famous example, which we see time and time again, is the great train robbery 1903, which serves as a perfect getaway from silent film into the advent of sound and the rise of the major. Most westerns are set between the american civil war 1865 and the early 1900s. The origins of the dime novel date back to the first half of the nineteenth century. For example the films of roy rogers were set contemporaneously to when they were produced, and one of rogers sidekicks drove a.
The searchers and there will be blood are not comparable films. If you are writing a traditional western, consider the status genre. Mar 28, 2018 the settings in the western genre are often small out of the way towns with few people on the western coast of the united states. One aspect is the core concepts of the genre the features that make the genre what it is as a genre and control the types of stories told in that genre.
Most of the characteristics of western films were part of 19thcentury popular western fiction and were firmly in place before film. Characters interact more with their surroundings than they do with each other. Western genre definition complete list of book genres. There were only a few great silent westerns, although the best ones established some of the archetypes that are part of the genre even today. Western fiction genre definition find me an author. Westerns are primarily set in the american old west between the late eighteenth century and late nineteenth century and tell the stories of cowboys, settlers, and outlaws exploring the western frontier and taming the wild west. Most westerns are set between the end of the american civil war 1865 and the massacre at wounded knee 1890, and often portray. The bravados classic western, full movie, gregory peck, english free full western films duration. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the american old west, hence the name. Ultimate list of film sub genres new york film academy.
In the late 1960s, the concept of genre became a significant part of film theory. Coms western genre, including western writing, western stories, western poetry, western authors, western poems, and western western. Jul 02, 2019 western is a literature, film, and television genre. You can also add a love genre subplot to your story. Films in this category reflect the traditions of the western film genre but are set in the contemporary, even urban, american west or frontiers beyond. Apr 22, 2015 in this episode, we ride along with cowboys and outlaws in the wild west as we explore the western, one of hollywoods oldest and most seminal genres. An important characteristic of the western genre is the setting. Western films created now are not considered classic western, but are instead categorized in the postwestern form. Mar 10, 2016 an analysis of the conventions seen in the western genre. Genre definition paper the science fiction film genre is absolutely the hardest to define. In this episode, we ride along with cowboys and outlaws in the wild west as we explore the western, one of hollywoods oldest and most seminal genres. The genre is not only confined to films, as there are other forms of art that concentrate on the theme, such as painting and literature.
A cultural history of the genre s first halfcentury. Much like the swordandsandal genre before it, the spaghetti western gradually fell out of favor with audiences in italy and abroad. Western genre definition whats the best definition for western genre. Films can be classified into categories according to the codes, conventions and. The earliest westerns silent films without the sound of gunfire, horses. Jun 19, 20 one aspect is the core concepts of the genre the features that make the genre what it is as a genre and control the types of stories told in that genre.
Clint eastwoods unforgiven in 1992 served as both an homage to the western genre, and a bold and honest spin on the genre itself, questioning hypocrisy and moral ambiguity on the american frontier. For example the films of roy rogers were set contemporaneously to when they. What are common themes and characteristics in western movies. Unforgiven was awarded best director, best picture, best supporting actor, and best film editing at the 65th academy awards. Hollywood film genre investigation media 1cmanea senior college powerpoint designed and compiled by kb hammond for manea senior college media 1c 2. The western genre is usually based on the american cowboy hero, and usually involves conflicts with things such as outlaws, bandits, indians, and many other things. History of the western film genre in the twentieth century. Westerns take place in the american west, and are usually set between the 1850s and 1900. There is one thing other than violence that the western genre must have in order for it to be called a western there must be horses, guns and the setting of the story must be a western setting. From the birth of the movies through the classical hollywood era 19201960, the western. Films can be classified into categories according to the codes, conventions and narrative conventions used to. What the concept of plot genre offers is a much clearer description of filmic categories and a useful analytical structure. May 22, 20 american western film western films are truly an american genre.
The genre of western films, or simply westerns, generally exploits and develops topics about americas old west in the second half of the 19th century. Horror films feature a monster that threatens humans, often as punishment for folly. Books in the western genre are made up of stories that take place in the american old west. According to the definition presented by america film institute, western. List of books and articles about western films online. Most of the characteristics of western films were part of 19thcentury popular western fiction and were firmly in place before film became a popular art form.
Characteristics of the western genre by chelsea wortman on. Mar 18, 2020 looking back to the very earliest days of silent film, the classic western genre has long been synonymous with the mainstream cinema experience. Characteristics of a typical western 506 words 123 help me. Such previously genre defying films as brokeback mountain, eternal sunshine of the spotless mind, and memento are instantly recognizable according to their plot genres the first two are romances, the third a detective story. Some westerns are set as early as the battle of the alamo in 1836.
They usually had another euro cofinancier usually spain and they would use an international cast usually italians and spaniards and maybe an american to sell the film in different. Unforgiven, the treasure of sierra madre and even no country for old men. Primarily action films at heart, these early efforts contained copious if bloodless gunplay but often reinforced stereotypes of american indians as savages or were otherwise rather. For the western, this might mean the idea of the frontier as an unpeopled or underpeopled area being settled by hardy pioneers, the idea of man vs. Genres are used to identify types of films, and outside of science fiction this is a fairly simple process. The american west as symbol and myth 1950 suggested that the emerging field of american studies. Such previously genredefying films as brokeback mountain, eternal sunshine of the spotless mind, and memento are instantly recognizable according to their plot genres the first two are romances, the third a detective story. The western was among the first film genres, growing in status alongside the development of hollywoods studio production system. The 3 golden rules of writing a western standout books. Although dead man is a western, it brings in many elements from the comedy and the thriller. There are the precivil war westerns which started with louis and clark or daniel boone and davey crockett.
The western film genre and the american frontier myth the. The good, the bad and the ugly of the western film genre. There are dozens of different themes which have developed in the over one hundred years since the first western was made. Though basically an american creation, the western had its counterparts in the gaucho literature of. But your protagonist might have an internal worldview genre instead.
These stories romanticised american history and the settling of the far west. Military scifi places a heavy emphasis on the journey of a soldier or platoon that is part of a future military and the battles in which they find themselves. The term western, used to describe a narrative film genre, appears to have originated with a july 1912 article in motion picture world magazine. Location and plot common locations included ranches, small towns, saloons, and railways characteristics of the western genre common plots included. Characteristics of western films characteristics of western films characteristics of western films introduction films and movies have long been used for the expression of ideas, feelings and traditions and the same have also been utilized as a means to preserve and record history. In a culture industry fueled by formula, no genre has been more important to hollywood than the western. No other genre quite captures isolation as well as the western, not all films but in the ones it does it becomes a character in its own right. But the decline of the westernthe genre that dominated cinemas first halfcenturybegan long before the marvel era. The western film genre often portrays the conquest of the wilderness and the.
Most are commonly set in some sort of wild, natural landscape thats hard to survive in. Characteristics of western movies like all the other genres of movies, western moves have their own characteristics and specifications that differentiate them from all the other types and also present their specific characteristics. Other conflicts included in the western genre include societal conflicts and problems during expansion or travel. The western film genre and the american frontier myth. More myth than history, it is both formula film and a source of great innovation. Jan 16, 2017 there are dozens of different themes which have developed in the over one hundred years since the first western was made. While critics argue about the characteristics of every film genre. An analysis of the conventions seen in the western genre. In a way it is forced for the western genre to include horse in movies because it was a.
A more technologicallyadvanced race playing the films antagonist is common to the sub genre. The role of the western film genre in industry competition. Western movies history film genres and hollywood youtube. Like other forms of popular media, film relies on the concept of genre in order to establish an audience and work within a particular narrative framework. Jun 17, 2014 but the decline of the westernthe genre that dominated cinemas first halfcenturybegan long before the marvel era. While it might not be the box office mainstay it once was, the genre is.
The western began as a uniquely american genre of film, extoling the heroic virtues of cowboys and settlers pioneering the western frontier in the 1800s. Elements of western, comedy and thriller in jarmuschs film dead man released in 1995, the film dead man is set in the west in the latter half of the 19th century. A gangster film centers on large scale urban crime. Settlers build isolated homesteads or live in small towns, which often boast a main street. May 03, 2020 an important characteristic of the western genre is the setting.
The term genre was used to organize films according to type since the earliest days of cinema. Westerns take place in the untamed frontier, an open landscape of mountain ranges, rugged lands and vast plains. The western is often paired with the internal genre of morality. These genre film cycles occur because of the overuse of predictability. A science fiction film features technology beyond the reach of contemporary science. Mar 26, 2011 western film is a genre that revolves around stories primarily set in the late 19th century in the american old west.
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