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.