{"id":10371,"date":"2021-05-31T02:07:46","date_gmt":"2021-05-30T23:07:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mozartcultures.com\/en\/?p=10371"},"modified":"2021-05-31T02:07:46","modified_gmt":"2021-05-30T23:07:46","slug":"classic-movies-the-searchers-1956-and-the-western","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mozartcultures.com\/en\/classic-movies-the-searchers-1956-and-the-western\/","title":{"rendered":"Classic Movies: The Searchers (1956) and The Western"},"content":{"rendered":"

Everybody knows the Western genre, or do they?<\/em><\/p>\n

The Great Train Robbery 1903 may be the first Western movie to be filmed. While the technology and the visual quality were improving over the years, the characteristics of the\u00a0 Western genre stayed the same.<\/p>\n

But what are the characteristics of the Western genre?<\/p>\n

“There are two basic characteristics to all westerns action and simplicity. The standard western story is a\u00a0 continual series of chases, daring rescues, galloping horses, gun battles, and fistfights.”\u00a0 (Elkin, 1950)\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Characteristics of Western Genre<\/h3>\n

With its clear depiction of \u00abgood\u00bb and \u00abbad\u00bb characters, is this narration similar to WW II combat films? Not really and no it is not just about the desert, cowboys, and the Native Americans.<\/span><\/p>\n

Interestingly, as Hollywood makes a comeback to Western films after WW II, the narration is different now. I<\/span>n other words:<\/p>\n

“…<\/span>stress on rugged individualism suggests a devaluation of cooperative and family\u00a0 movements, and emphasis on activity and practical accomplishments devalues intellectuality and a\u00a0 contemplative life; and a primary focus on the solution of a crime devalues romantic relationships.” <\/span><\/i>(Elkin, 1950)<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It is not the history between the groups or even the events that happened in the West. Western is about freedom and about the enemy. The only problem is the evil man or lesser man, such as “Indians”.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Town image in Western. (2012). [Image]. http:\/\/mattsunforgiven.blogspot.com\/2012\/01\/western-genre.html<\/figcaption><\/figure>A constant theme since WW2 in Hollywood is the theme of the villain, evil, and the enemy.\u00a0 A mystical\/forgotten part of American history, The Wild West where anything is possible for a \u00abman\u00bb is the perfect replacement of Germans and Japanese during the war era. The 50s shows the decline of war movies and the rise of Western in the US.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

The West or the Wild West is actually the midwest in today’s United States and it refers to the time of the Gold Rush of the 19th Century.\u00a0 Thus, the impact of travel is a constant in the Western genre. The protagonist is always on the move, either arriving or leaving a town or village.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There is always a villain who is foreign to the way of American life. Mostly native American, but even sometimes a Mexican.<\/p>\n

Other than the portrayal of the groups, the setting is fairly accurate to the 19th Century Midwest. The lawfulness was a big problem at the time and the new town and cities were generally connected through railroads in the middle of big empty lands.<\/p>\n

While this is portrayed as the freedom of the man ego and macho lifestyle, it was a big problem for authorities and the common folk.<\/p>\n

The Western Dichotomies\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n