Introduction
Western movies are a genre movies usually about the 19th century in the American Old West. They first became popular in the 1930s, slowly gaining more popularity throughout the years. The plot is usually about binary opposites, usually having a "good guy" and a "bad guy". Western films are usually set in deserts and other areas similar to what the American Old West looked like. The towns are usually small and only have a couple of sheriffs. The plot usually leads up to a shootout. Although most of the characters were cowboys, Native Americans, lawmen, outlaws, townsfolk and bounty hunters were also included. (Western (genre), Wikipedia)
Western movies are a genre movies usually about the 19th century in the American Old West. They first became popular in the 1930s, slowly gaining more popularity throughout the years. The plot is usually about binary opposites, usually having a "good guy" and a "bad guy". Western films are usually set in deserts and other areas similar to what the American Old West looked like. The towns are usually small and only have a couple of sheriffs. The plot usually leads up to a shootout. Although most of the characters were cowboys, Native Americans, lawmen, outlaws, townsfolk and bounty hunters were also included. (Western (genre), Wikipedia)
![Picture](/uploads/9/8/3/2/98327638/editor/becoming-bulletproof-still-h-15.jpg?1486982011)
A scene from a western film. You can mainly tell this is from a western film by their clothing and the setting.
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History of Western Films
Western films are one of the oldest American genres. They were most popular from the 1930s to the 1960s. After the 1960s, they started to become less popular. But, in the 1990s and into the 2000s, they started to make a comeback in a modern form, twisting the original concept and plot of a western film. Many western films are based around the Civil War, the Battle of Alamo or the Mexican Revolution. (Western (genre), Wikipedia) The plot of a western film is usually a "bad guy" versus a "good guy", where the "good guy" usually is out to get revenge and take the "bad guy" out. As mentioned before, over the years this plot has been modernised throughout the years because it became a bit repetitive in western films. The repetitiveness bored the audience, which was part of the reason the western genre had such a down fall after the 1960s. It was also spoofed in a few movies. On the other hand, the original of "bad guy" versus "bad guy" influenced other genres. For example, in many superhero movies the plot is "bad guy" versus "good guy". Although many superhero movies are not western, it uses the same premise as a western movie.
Western films are one of the oldest American genres. They were most popular from the 1930s to the 1960s. After the 1960s, they started to become less popular. But, in the 1990s and into the 2000s, they started to make a comeback in a modern form, twisting the original concept and plot of a western film. Many western films are based around the Civil War, the Battle of Alamo or the Mexican Revolution. (Western (genre), Wikipedia) The plot of a western film is usually a "bad guy" versus a "good guy", where the "good guy" usually is out to get revenge and take the "bad guy" out. As mentioned before, over the years this plot has been modernised throughout the years because it became a bit repetitive in western films. The repetitiveness bored the audience, which was part of the reason the western genre had such a down fall after the 1960s. It was also spoofed in a few movies. On the other hand, the original of "bad guy" versus "bad guy" influenced other genres. For example, in many superhero movies the plot is "bad guy" versus "good guy". Although many superhero movies are not western, it uses the same premise as a western movie.
![Picture](/uploads/9/8/3/2/98327638/silverado-1-e1422890545199_orig.jpg)
An example of horses in a western film.
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Iconography
There are many iconic things that appear in western films that help to identify that it is a western film.
There are many iconic things that appear in western films that help to identify that it is a western film.
- Accents, usually most of the characters in a western film have a western, very American accent. They also use cowboy terminology when they speak.
- Costumes, the characters are usually wearing clothing inspired or from the 19th century Old American West.
- Setting, as mentioned above, western films are usually set in places similar to the Old American West, so they are usually set in deserts or in worn out towns.
- Binary Opposites, as mentioned in the introduction, in most western films there are usually binary opposites in western films, the opposites can be good/bad, virtue/evil, lawman/gunslinger, order/anarchy etc.
- Mood, the mood in most western movies usually starts out as hopelessness, where the "good guy" can't get his way. It then progresses into determination, when the "good guy" sets out to defeat the "bad guy". The ending is often happy, where the "good guy" wins.
- Cinematic Style, often western films include many long shots, but also include many close ups.
- Props, one main prop that is used in many western films is horses, since horses were the main source of transportation in the Old American West.
Photo Bibliography:
1. 'Becoming Bulletproof': Film Review." The Hollywood Reporter. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2017. <http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/becoming-bulletproof-film-review-827199>.
2. "9 Favorite Western Film Scores." Film Score Click Track. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2017. <http://filmscoreclicktrack.com/2012/02/9-favorite-western-film-scores/>.
1. 'Becoming Bulletproof': Film Review." The Hollywood Reporter. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2017. <http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/becoming-bulletproof-film-review-827199>.
2. "9 Favorite Western Film Scores." Film Score Click Track. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2017. <http://filmscoreclicktrack.com/2012/02/9-favorite-western-film-scores/>.
All header photos by: Louisa Choi