However, this was just one small part of the genre, and since that was the general mindset of the american people at the time, i think we have to look past that. 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. After all, a mysterious fellow cant ride into town without a horse, and he cant ride off into the sunset either. There is a lot of hating and prejudices in this film that plays off on the dark mood of the times. Its celebrated literary and cinematic forms rationalized the displacement, subordination, conquest and extermination of north americas indigenous populations. Western a popular genre of b movie fare since 1903 classical phase. The western is the richest and most enduring genre of american film. 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. 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. The western genre is devoted to telling stories set primarily in the later half of the 19 th century in the american old west. The western film genre and the american frontier myth the. From lordsburg to big whiskey offers close readings of the definitive american film movement as represented by such leading exponents as john ford, howard hawks, and sam peckinpah. Film genre the western presents three assignments further exploring the western genre, largely as related to the.
This course investigates the western genre in film from the perspective of genre studies, feminist film theory, structural analysis as myth, and film history. While it might not be the box office mainstay it once was, the genre is experiencing a renaissance, something thats telling of the state of. The invention of the western film ranges across literature, visual arts, social history, ideology, and legend to provide, for the first time, an indepth exploration of the early western, from short kinetoscopes of. Film studies as an academic discipline emerged in the twentieth century, decades after the invention of motion pictures. Art house avant guard bmovie biopic blaxploitation cartoons. In other words, film noir or western may be useful terms for conjuring up the traits often associated with a genre, but when it comes to finding avatar at the metaphoric video store, youll have to ask a clerk. Cowboys and gunslingers typically wear stetson hats, neckerchief bandannas, vests, spurs, cowboy boots, and buckskins alternatively dusters. Western movie sub genres unlike the major movie genres weve covered so far, the western genre is more clearly defined as it covers tales from a very specific location and era in time namely the 19th century in the american old west. A cowboy must never shoot first, hit a smaller man, or take unfair advantage. Apply gene autrys cowboy code to your selected western film. Mar 23, 2018 explore the narrative elements of an alltime classic genre.
Western is a genre of fiction which tells stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the american old west, often centering on the life of a nomadic cowboy or gunfighter armed with a revolver and a rifle who rides a horse. Using genre theory in studying hollywood movies film. Porters the great train robbery 1903, which set the pattern for many films that followed. Film studies english 290 introduction to film studies. From lordsburg to big whiskey offers close readings of the definitive american film movement as represented by such leading exponents as john ford, howard hawks, and sam. Genre or type is a core concept in both film production and the history of film. The western film genre and the american frontier myth. The american film institute defines western films as those set in the american west that embody the spirit, the struggle and the demise of the new frontier. The searchers had certainly evolved and developed in the western genre from the preww ii stagecoach. In his consideration of such iconic motifs as the outlaw hero and the lone rider, john saunders traces the development of perennial aspects of the. Genre is sometimes also used to cover series, such as star wars, and films focused on particular characters, like james bond. Though basically an american creation, the western had its counterparts in the gaucho literature of. List of books and articles about western films online.
Cinema verite claymation comedy crime cult documentary. It is sometimes subsumed within media studies and is often compared to. The purity hypothesis and hollywood genre history janet staiger 185 part two. 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. The searchers 03 it used to be the case that westerns were the most common genre in hollywood.
Western narrative genre britannica encyclopedia britannica. Like all genres, however, the western undergoes a transformation wherein its classical period shifts into a postclassical and then into a revisionist period, with other phases in between. 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. What the concept of plot genre offers is a much clearer description of filmic categories and a useful analytical structure.
Stagecoach was made before world war ii and ford certainly makes use o. Master of arts in film studies national university. Over time, westerns have been redefined, reinvented and expanded, dismissed, rediscovered, and spoofed. Stagecoach john ford, 1939 elevates the western to a status solidifies conventional tropes.
Ultimate list of film sub genres student resources. Immerse yourself in the study of movies from theory to history, film genre to directors, and more with the master of arts in film studies. Genres are particularly relevant at the property stage of screenplay readership, as they hold implications for the marketplace potential of a particular feature film. Ultimate list of film sub genres new york film academy. 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. John wayne had a long career appearing in some of the greatest westerns of all time such as stagecoach 1939, red river 1948, the searchers 1956, and true grit 1969, to only name a few. These could be similar narratives, characters, filming techniques, or other formal. Most westerns are set between the american civil war 1865 and the early 1900s. The genre is not only confined to films, as there are. Such previously genredefying films as brokeback mountain, eternal sunshine of. An introduction to genre theory university of washington.
The film theorist robert stam argues that subject matter is the weakest criterion for generic grouping because it fails to take into account. The western and film studies westerns movie, cinema, role. Descriptions will ideally include examples and links to short films or scenes. Mar 29, 2020 genre is sometimes also used to cover series, such as star wars, and films focused on particular characters, like james bond. This discourse aims to examine the advantages and limitations of using genre theory in studying hollywood film. List of books and articles about western films online research. The term genre was used to organize films according to type since the earliest days of cinema.
The history of film study guide genre and the western. Using genre theory in studying hollywood movies film studies. The western as noted above, the western film genre is based on a specific time and place. This was primarily a semantic and structuralist approach to understanding how similar films. This course introduces students to the basics of film analysis, cinematic formal elements, genre, and narrative structure and helps students develop the skills to recognize, analyze, describe and enjoy film as an art and entertainment form. Serious criticism of the western film began in the 1950s with appreciative essays by robert warshow and andre bazin, both of whom identified the genre as. Scott simmons pioneering study silhouettes the genres evolution. Hollywood hollywoodland had only been around making films since 1910. More myth than history, it is both formula film and a source of great innovation. 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. Film genre study module description module coordinator dr mikel j koven m.
Ranging across literature, visual arts, social history, ideology and legend, this study provides an indepth exploration of the early western film, from short kinetoscopes of the 1890s through the classic features of the 1940s. 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 western film genre has portrayed much about americas past, glorifying the pastfading values and aspirations of the mythical bygone age of the west. The perceived genre of a film can change over time. The history of the western film genre film studies essay. A more technologicallyadvanced race playing the films antagonist is common to the sub genre.
A genre is a loose set of formal, tonal, or thematic conventions used for categorizing narrative works of art, including screenplays. He must never go back on his word or a trust confided in him. Explore the narrative elements of an alltime classic genre. Between the 1930s and the mid1960s the western was the dominant. Also, the movie that will be examined are western genre which is shane steven 1953 directed by george stevens and the searcher ford 1956 directed by john ford. He must always tell the truth he must be gentle with children, the elderly, and animals. Genres are particularly relevant at the property stage of.
Genres play a key role in how moviegoers perceive and rate films, and is likely to determine a films production values and. A film genre isnt its theme or topic, but there may be overlap. Youll learn the critical vocabulary, tools, and research techniques to. 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. Also, the movie that will be examined are western genre which is shane steven 1953. Primarily action films at heart, these early efforts. Master of fine arts in creative writing mar 26, 2011 western film is a genre that revolves around stories primarily set in the late 19th century in the american old west. The invention of the western film ranges across literature, visual arts, social history, ideology, and legend to provide, for the first time, an indepth exploration of the early western, from short kinetoscopes of the 1890s through classic features of the 1940s. The term western, used to describe a narrative film genre, appears to have originated with a july 1912 article in motion picture world magazine. Genre theory film studies 2270 introduction to film studies. Commercial feature films which, through repetition and variation, tell familiar. 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. 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. Commercial feature films which, through repetition and variation, tell familiar stories with familiar characters in familiar situations.
The western and film studies serious criticism of the western film began in the 1950s with appreciative essays by robert warshow and andre bazin, both of whom identified the genre as, in bazins phrase, the american film par excellence. However, this was just one small part of the genre, and since that was. John ford also had been exposed to the explosion of other genres after world war ii like the italian neorealism movement and film noir. May 04, 2011 genre cycles genres are neither static nor fixed. 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 system of classification derived from the practice and method of collaboratively creating and managing tags to annotate and categorize content. A cultural history of the genre s first halfcentury. Film studies is an academic discipline that deals with various theoretical, historical, and critical approaches to films. Outlining a fundamental problem of genre identification in relation to films, andrew tu.
Descriptions of the film genres will range from 7501,000 words. Film genre guidelines is a generic handout for noting genre characteristics. Some western films did have really interesting plots. Stagecoach was also the breakout film for western icon john wayne, who is probably the most iconic western star ever. The western film 1f94 introduction to film studies dr. Conventions, repetitions, and variations a brief taxonomy of two film genresthe western and the horror film genre. In addition to formal analysis of films formal properties, film studies also looks at aspects external to the actual film, which can, in turn, inform our reading of it.
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