Popularity of Westerns

  • Westerns remain popular in contemporary cinema as evidenced by box office success.
  • Notable remakes:
    • 3:10 to Yuma
    • True Grit
    • Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
    • Appaloosa
  • Contemporary westerns:
    • Brokeback Mountain
    • No Country for Old Men
  • Influence of westerns on popular culture:
    • The Star Wars franchise combines western and European opera elements.
    • Series such as The Mandalorian and Andor exemplify modern western themes set in extraterrestrial contexts.

Recent Developments in Western Cinema

  • Numerous westerns were released as recently as 2019:
    • No Man's Land
    • Deadwood
    • Never Grow Old
    • Hell on the Border
    • Eminence Hill
    • The Outsider
    • American Crime Stories

Themes Explored in Westerns

  1. Outlaws and Lawmen

    • Iconic depiction of the battle between outlaws (bad men) and lawmen.
    • The Great Train Robbery (1903) is often cited as the first western film.
    • Notable villains, such as Liberty Valance from The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), leave a lasting impact on the genre.

  2. Representation of Native Americans

    • Initially depicted as obstacles to progress and civilization.
    • Over time, more nuanced, three-dimensional representations emerged (e.g., Will Sampson in The Outlaw Josie Wales).

  3. Symbols of Progress and Civilization

    • The covered wagon symbolizes the movement of settlers westward:
      • Relayed in films like Covered Wagon (1923), which demonstrated struggles in transcontinental migrations.
    • The railroad represents progress and conflict:
      • John Ford’s The Iron Horse (1924) depicts the first transcontinental railroad construction.

  4. Cowboys and Cattle Drives

    • Central themes in films like Red River (1948) and Lonesome Dove (1989).
    • Portrayed as heroic yet complicated figures, often facing moral dilemmas.

  5. Law and Order

    • Lawmen strive to bring order to the chaos of the frontier:
      • The TV series Gunsmoke (1955-1975) is a notable example.

Archetypes and Character Types

  • Three Major Types:
    1. Settlers - Idealized representations of community and family.
    2. Savages - Depicted as either Native Americans or outlaws hindering progress.
    3. Mediators - Characters like Shane (from Shane) who bridge the gap between the two primary factions, often embodying complex moral values.

Cultural Impact and Myths

  • Westerns create a mythic representation of the American West that often diverges from historical facts.
  • Myth vs. History:
    • Myth: Popular understanding ungrounded in fact, often romanticized.
    • History: Based on rigorous investigation and evidence.
  • Myths serve societal purposes, acting as an “alibi” for historical actions perceived as cruel or unjust.
    • The western genre is a key lens for exploring these discrepancies, illustrating the difference between imagined ideals and factual history.

Iconic Cinematic Techniques

  • Use of mise en scene:
    • Setting, character costumes, and props (e.g., firearms, wagons) reinforce the western’s authenticity.
  • Monument Valley often used as a quintessential backdrop in western films, especially by John Ford.

Historical Narratives and Themes

  • The Virginian (1903) establishes foundational themes of westerns: the transition from lawlessness to civilization, the role of violence in nurturing order, and the dichotomy between civilized settlers and savage outlaws.