In the beginning of this school year my First partner and I made a presentation on western films and found out allot, and reinforced our knowledge on the films of this genre.
Western
Common Lighting:
Mostly dark lighting in an atmosphere that is mostly natural and scenic.
Lighting used to convey drama and suspense for the upcoming confrontation and gunfight.
Uses lighting to identify the characteristics of characters ie. bright for the protagonist and dark for the antagonist.
Camera Angle:
Use of panoramic wide shots to establish the location.
In other westerns the use of point of view is used to depict what the protagonist is experiencing.
The use of tracking, panning and crane shots to emphasize the action of the film.
A key feature in westerns is the composition of the shot, so the camera angles try to include as much of the background as possible.
a picture from the presentation.
Camera Movement
Panning shots are used to involve the audience in the environment of the scene and setting.
Quentin Tarantino used quick flashes and cuts between characters to show action and reaction.
Zoom-ins into the character’s facial response shows the depth of the scene.
Mis en Scene
Within the frame of a Western, earthy colors get complimented by the sandy atmosphere of the scene.
Often there are old outhouses, shacks, saloons, and banks all there to represent the American frontier.
Props and wardrobe like guns, rifles, bandanas and etc… build the characters as stereotypes like the Sheriff, bandit, and the classic cowboy.
Animals are almost always present in a western and the trusty horse is a definite in most westerns
Element of Genre
Revenge stories are prevalent in classic westerns. The story of a lone cowboy seeking revenge for they loved being killed is quite common.
Escaping urban expansion and industrialization and the developing of populous cities is seen as the enemy in many westerns.
The fight between the lawfulness and unlawfulness are common themes of westerns as it furthers the motif of “civilized” society versus the perceived “uncivilized” society.
Lawmen, bandits, cowboys, and prospectors are common characters in westerns.
Sounds in Westerns
Diegetic sounds like the wind whistling on the sand set the setting of the scene.
Instrumental scores with high bravado are used to indicate the harshness of the wild west.
Sound motifs used include the rattling of a rattlesnake, the crackling of a whip, and the click and clang of saddles and spurs.
In some westerns you can somewhat hear the abandoness of the scene as it depicts the wilderness of the west.
Positives and Negatives
Positives: The Western genre encompasses the pure will to be free. The American frontier has long been an escape, a new life for those who seek to escape the rustle and bustle of the cities. The Western genre also comprises of suspenseful action sequences that bring the audience closer to the aims of the protagonist.
Negative: Some negatives of the genre are the less than stellar character development or character evolution. Many of the characters stay the same, they have the same directives throughout the film and very little changes in their resolve.
a slide from the presentation on the Mis en Scene , of western films
(other slides were only words)
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