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February 1993

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Film and TV Studies Discussion List <[log in to unmask]>
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Wed, 17 Feb 1993 11:34:39 EST
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*
*     O.K., I'll bite - how different are American and European
*     Westerns and how does "theory" apply to Westerns??
*     Gary Parsons
*
 
I saw something interesting on guns and how they figure into our society.
They compared American westerns with Canadian Mounty movies. The heroes in
westerns were the ones who killed the bad guys, but the heroes in the mounty
movies were the men who brought peace through some diplomatic effort (as they
don't carry guns.)
 
Having never seen a European western, I don't know if they follow the
Canadian perspective or not. I bet a lot these days just mimic the american
ones for the purpose of making money (American culture sells, even if only so
people can cluck at how morally bankrupt we are), but maybe older ones, and
nonmainstream ones, have their own style.
 
I would imagine "theory" in Westerns applies in a lot of cases to what I
mentioned: the portrayal of good and evil, the nature of conflict, the nature
of resolution, whether the sidekick could sing, if there was a loveable dog
or chimp in the movie, whether there was a crusty old 49'er who was always
getting drunk in the tavern, uh...guess I'm losing credibility about here.
 
M o "I love Jimmy Stewart, but he sucked at westerns" R
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