Westerns

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  • Westerns - Messages and Values
    • Women
      • Stagecoach
        • Sexism was very strong throughout the 30s, which is heavily seen in Stagecoach
        • Dallas is a prime example as she is only one of the two roles that seemed to be portrayed in the film, a prostitute or a wife.
        • Dallas, to Ringo is only seen fit to marry when she holds Lucy's baby after she gives birth, as well as doing other domesticated roles she was given by the men.
        • Typical of the time as women were seen less able than men, restricted to the house and roles within.
      • True Grit
        • Highly contrasts the image of domesticated women due to heavy feminist influence.
        • Mattie, the young independent women in the lead, has the most active role in the film, reinforcing women's power but demolishing the sexist view.
        • It is in fact Mattie who employs Rooster and challenges the traditionally male role and seeks revenge for the man who killed her father, killing him in a scene toward the end of the film.
    • Racism
      • True Grit
        • Due to higher morals of 2010 audience, racism is not accepted but ridiculed as it was so common in earlier films.
        • Scene where 3 men are to be hanged, 2 of them white and the lat a Native American.
          • Both men are given opportunity to say last words where Native American doesn't, parodying films like Stagecoach where they had no lines.
        • Shows the evolution of the audience that they can now laugh at the ridiculousness of the racism.
      • Stagecoach
        • The 30s was a highly racist time, very much portayed throughout Stagecoach.
        • Scene where the Apaches are on the hill awaiting to ride into battle when terrifying music plays.
          • The film very much portrays the Native Americans and savages as they have no lines and are out for blood.
        • The film fails to show the Native Americans as human, showing the racist attitude of the time.
    • Heroism
      • Stagecoach
        • Ringo in the films shows the simplistic attitude towards heroism.
          • He is presented in the light of a 'perfect' western hero; a role model to the audience.
          • Shows no fear or doubt in his actions
        • In the final shootout scene, Ringo single-handedly takes on the three Plummer brothers, with no injuries, suggesting he is invincible.
      • True Grit
        • Rooster, however, is portrayed in a much more complex manner as he doesn't look or act like a stereotypical hero.
        • Rooster is very morally conflicted and experiences doubts and even fear, making appear more human and relatable to a 2010 audience.
        • Unlike Ringo in the final scene, Rooster ultimately needs help and is wounded.
          • Showing he is not invincible and in fact dies at the end of the film, proving he is human and not an infallible fictional character.
    • Patriarchal Society
      • Stagecoach
        • Patriarchal society was very much celebrated during the 30s, seen all throughout the film, due to Marshal Wilcox
          • Marshal Wilcox is very much the father figure on the Stagecoach and his authority is never questioned.
        • Toward the end of the film, Marshal Wilcox realises Ringo and marries him to Dallas, no questions asked.
          • Shows that the men in higher power were never wrong and to never be doubted.
      • True Grit
        • Throughout this film, the patriarchal society is very much ridiculed as men in power are patronised often.
        • La Beouf is a prime example of this as right from when he is introduced, he is belittled by Mattie in her bedroom
          • She mocks his appearance and abilities, immediately setting him up to be criticised.
        • Due to feminist influence, women are very much more in power and take an active role in the film, criticising the patriarchal power.
    • View of the West
      • Stagecoach
        • Romanticised view as it doesn't portray the true brutality of the West as the film was just after the war, people needed a positive image of America to rely on.
        • End scene where Ringo and Dallas ride into the sunrise, implying hope and freedom that the West promised, where as the truth wasn't so simple.
      • True Grit
        • Revisionist view as it isn't sugar coated to celebrate the West but a very much honest recount of the West.
        • This shows the West didn't always end with happy endings and in fact had consequences.
        • The end scene where an older Mattie, with one arm, stands over Rooster's grave with grey skies above.
    • Violence
      • Stagecoach
        • Due to the Hays Code, there was strict censorship on the amount of violence the film could in fact show.
        • During the Apaches attack on the stagecoach, when they get shot and fall off their horses, they disappear from the scene and have no visible injuries when they are shot.
        • There is a deliberate effort to disguise the true reality of the West.
      • True Grit
        • Far more graphic due to the changes of censorship but also the evolution of the audience's taste.
        • Audience expects to see more realistic view of the West as the truth about the brutality has come to the public eye.
        • After the final shootout scene, a man is shot and smashes his head on a rock.  As Mattie and Rooster ride off, they see the dead bodies and ,unlike Stagecoach, see the consequences of violence, death.
    • Conclusion/ Other examples
      • These messages and values are also reflected during other  films of the era.
        • My Darling Clemientine (1946)
          • Celebrates multiple negative aspects of the West.
            • Patriarchal power reinforced by the simplistic view of a hero.
          • John Wayne stars again as Wyatt Earp who is invincible and never afraid.
          • Girls are defined as 'good' or 'bad' if they are sexual.
        • Wyatt Earp (1994)
          • 50 years later and things change as the audiences change in morals clearly comes through.
          • Women are complex and multilayered, who assert their authority towards men.
          • Tolerance toward violence as it adds realism but deliberate effort to avoid racist language.
    • Introduction
      • Stagecoach
        • Reflects values and messages of 1939.
        • Period of time meant this film had prefrence for simplistic heroism, typical of the era.
        • Violence is heavily restricted on screen due to the Hays code but shows tolerance to racism.
        • Patriarchal power celebrated meaning the attitude toward women was very sexist.
        • Overall romanticized view.
      • True Grit
        • Takes on completely different approach as reflects messages and values of 2010.
        • Audience are more able to understand complex characters due to evolution of cinema.
        • Undermines and criticises patriarchal power and women are empowered due to the feminist movement.
        • Less censorship means more violence, focusing on the consequences and racism is taboo.
        • Much more revisionist as shows the brutality of the West.

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