Western

UNIT 2

WESTERNGENRE

Problématique : How has the Western Genre evolved alongside American society ?

Axe : Voyages, Territoires et Frontières

Objectif 1 - La découverte du thème de la séquence - Un classique comme exemple

What is the type of the document ? What is the title ? Who created it ?

Observe the poster and tell what you see. Describe. Can you think of different caracterics / specificities of Western Films that are represented on the poster ?

Focus on the text and imagine the plot, write ideas in your copybook, just few lines

Make hypothesis on the plot : - It may deal with ............. - The girl may have passed out because......

Identify the two opposing sides on the poster. Help yourself with the "culture spot", and explain what the poster reveals about Hollywood's representation of American identity.

I. An Introduction to the Western genre.

A. A classic of the genre.

The document under study is

I. An Introduction to the Western genre.

A. A classic of the genre.

The document is composed of archetypes (perfect examples) of what a Western Film can contain, that is to say armed men, a damsel in distress, dangerous Native Americans in the bottom right-hand corner, a coach with arrows.

I. An Introduction to the Western genre.

A. A classic of the genre.

"on the last frontier of wickedness" According to the text, men and women may be faced with adversity and vice. It seems as though some kind of journey across the West is taking place during which the characters will meet Native Americans. --> It refers to the Conquest of the West.

I. An Introduction to the Western genre.

A. A classic of the genre.

The two opposing sides are the armed men with hats (Stetson) and the Native Americans, also armed. The film perpetuates the opposition of "evil" Native Americans and "good" settlers but history has shown this opposition to be incorrect. Hollywood has participated in the creation of American identity by promoting the idea that settlers were only protecting themselves and not attacking. But they were the initiators of the conquest of the West and were the ones who invaded the territory of several Native American tribes.

Objectif 2 - Trouver les caractéristiques typiques aux western

Let's study the characterics of the genre !

Watch the trailer of Ford's film and try to pick out elements that must be typical of the western films.

B. Characteristics of the genre

Team work : Find the specificities of the western genre in groups of 3. You have 10 minutes to do so before presenting them to the class.

Charactersand their props

Settingscadre/décor

Story

Groupe 2

Groupe 3

Groupe 1

Characters

a damsel in distress, a damsel who worries stay at home

Native American-Indians

Cowboys / settlers

GamblersOutlaws

Props

- resemble cowboys - smoke - money

- arrows - guns - horses - colorful outfit+ plumes

- revolver or rifle - hat : a Stetson - boots and spurs - horses- Denim

- well-dressed (dress) - good hair - very fragile - stay home while men are out

Settings

- Untamed west VS law and order

- Desert land on the frontier, open landscape, montainous land

- Small new town : small businesses, jail, saloons,

story

Untamed West VS law and order

- American Conquest of the West + gold rush- isolation in the western wilderness

- Tensions between American-Indians and settlers

- Lawmen fighting robberies, bank holdups, crimes

- gunshots - duel at high noon

Objectif 3 - La notion de Manifest Destiny

Let's study a painting

What does it represent ?

Prove your point by analysing the painting in details

I think the painting represents....

Here are some elements you NEED to analyse

Prove your point by analysing the painting.

COrrection

COrrection

C. Manifest Destiny

American Progress - John Gast (1872)

The painting represents the conquest of the west by settlers .Indeed, on the right we can notice the railway road going left as if ready to conquer the western part of the country. Then, settlers and farmers are recognizable by their clothes and coaches, they are also heading to the West. Meanwhile Indians are leaving the territory which is about to be conquered. Moreover, on the top right-hand corner boats, a bridge and civilization enlightened by the sun as if it was the good side in opposition to the dark and smoky side of the wild and untamed West on the left. Finally, a goddess-like woman is flying over the country carrying a book (education) and telegraph wires (civilization), to bring them West. She is called Columbia and is an allegory for the concept of Manifest Destiny : the belief that Americans had the duty and destiny to conquer and civilize the wild West. It is closely linked to notion of American Dream.

American Progress - John Gast (1872)

Now write the title.

Objectif 4 - Extract of Western Literature

II . A Lasting Genre

A. Western Literature

Novel Appaloosa, Robert B. Parker, 2005

Film Appaloosa, Ed Harris, 2008

CORRECTION

CORRECTION

II . A Lasting Genre

A. Western Literature

a) The following elements are characteristic of the western genre: “twenty riders”, “I took out my Colt and fired two shots in the air”, “The riders fanned out across the street”, “You boys best wheel them animals around and shoo”, "holstered", "eight-gauge".. The atmosphere is tense and dangerous.

II . A Lasting Genre

A. Western Literature

b) Some of the descriptions make the passage very cinema- tographic: - the way the riders move around - the narrator’s thoughts could also be a voice-over in a movie scene.

II . A Lasting Genre

A. Western Literature

c) The narrator repeats the auxiliary do: “I did what he told me,” “I always did,” “Virgil always knew the situation better than you did.” "he always knew" This emphasises how much he listens to Virgil Cole and it can suggest that he admires him.

II . A Lasting Genre

A. Western Literature

d) It was published in 2005, so quite recently. It shows that the western genre lasts in time and is watched and rewatched/ created and recreated.

II . A Lasting Genre

A. Western Literature

Exercice de transposition :

Le document........

POINT GRAMMATICALE

POINT GRAMMATICALE

POINT GRAMMATICALE

POINT GRAMMATICALE

POINT GRAMMATICALE

POINT GRAMMATICALE

Objectif 5 - An overview of the genre - A timeline of some references

II. A lasting genre

b. an overview of the genre

II . A Lasting Genre

B. An overview of the genre

a ) The purpose of the article is to explain America’s “endur- ing love for the western” and how the western has stayed so relevant throughout the past century.

II . A Lasting Genre

B. An overview of the genre

b) The historical events mentioned are the Second World War, when the western became the dominant genre, and the Vietnam War, when anti-heroes became points of reference for Americans who now saw manifest destiny as a form of imperialism against Native Americans.

1955 - 1975

1939 - 1945

Second World War

Vietnam War

II . A Lasting Genre

B. An overview of the genre

c) An inkblot test is a psychological test in which different shapes and colors are presented one by one to someone who is asked to describe what they see. This simile shows that generation after generation, Americans project what they want to see onto western films.

II . A Lasting Genre

B. An overview of the genre

d) This quote shows that the western evolves alongside American society but also that past westerns can be watched and rewatched with different perspectives and by all generations.

II . A Lasting Genre

B. An overview of the genre

One last question : Try do define the notion of "American Exceptionalism".

HOMEWORK

You will be assigned a film quoted in the text. And you will have to make a brief summary of it including the director, title and year of release. Don't forget to mention any atypical element about the film.The aim of it will be to create a timeline of western films together next time.

Timeline of western films

............

............

............

1903

............

............

The Great Train RobberySilent Short Film

Timeline of western films

1964-1971

1974

1970

1903

1969

1971

The Spaghetti Westerns by Sergio LeoneItalian Westerns

Butch and Cassidy The Wild Bunch

The Great Train Robbery

McCabe ans Mrs Miller

Little Big Man

Blazing Saddles

Objectif 6

- to reinvent the genre

What is the type of the document ? What would be the context ?

Do you know him ? If no, what could be his job ? He might be a very atypical dentist. He might be .....

Observe these two quotes related to the previous picture, and tell what it reveals on Lil Nas X's identity.

Imagine what "Old Town Road" may appeal to American people.

- It can deal with ....

Watch and listen to the song, tell what typical elements Lil Nas X brought in his 2019's video.

III . The Western is Everywhere

A. A record-breaking song

Lil Nas X is a contemporary artist who mixes nowadays music with western elements. Hence, he creates very innovative songs and seems to be deeply connected to his southern culture and "countryness" : he is proud to come from Georgia. His song “Old Town Road” is a rap and country song, which is unique. Americans might like the fact that it’s original as it mixes cultures and time periods (rap is a more recent genre and country music is older). It’s also filled with references to the American West (the western film genre, cowboys, etc.).

We may say that he reinvents the western genre in a certain extent.

Look closely, and tell what is special on the picture.

Watch the video, take notes on everything you understand.

Identify the status of this town today and explain what does it represent to Americans and the Youtuber.

Today Bodie is ............ It can represent......... to Americans.

III . The Western is Everywhere

B. Bodie a National Historic western town

Bodie was a boomtown in the 1870s. It died off when gold-mining profits began to disappear. 8'000 to 10'000 people used to live there. Only 5% of the buildings are still here : that it was a booming (florissant) place. Today, Bodie is a National Historic Site and a State Park. The YouTuber has been waiting his whole life to visit, which means that it’s a crucial place for him. Americans more generally might think it’s a part of their history.

We may say that, despite time, western-like cities and the myth living around it are preserved, through ghost stories for instance in Bodie. They sort of found a second life as historical and touristic sites.

PRONUNCIATION

Let's study the script and try to pronounce what the youtuber says the best way possible !

PRONUNCIATION

Let's listen to the recording once again. And highlight every stressed word or syllable.

PRONUNCIATION

Let's spot all the pauses he makes. Write them with a / for a little pause, // for a full pause, so you can be sure to know where to breathe.

Let's watch the ad together

III . The Western is Everywhere

C. A Commercial Genre

a) AT&T’s campaign is original because it finds its inspiration in different film genres. This particular ad combines the Spaghetti Western with a children’s animated film.

III . The Western is Everywhere

C. A Commercial Genre

b) Dougal Wilson found his inspiration in films by John Ford and Sergio Leone.

III . The Western is Everywhere

C. A Commercial Genre

c) The aim of this commercial is to surprise its viewers with a genre-bending ad. More importantly, its aim is to promote AT&T, which reveals that advertisers believe the western genre is still relevant to Americans today.

III . The Western is Everywhere

The western genre had a huge impact on the American society since that more than a century after The Great Train Robbery was released, the genre still exists through different aspects of art. We can mention the music industry, advertising, or even youtube videos on ghost towns which attract tourists.

Point Grammatical

Pick up the verb on line 3 : ……………………………… What tense is it ? ………………………………………….

Point Grammatical

Point Grammatical

Point Grammatical

Point Grammatical

Point Grammatical

Point Grammatical

Point Grammatical

Objectif 7

- diversity in the genre

What is the story about? Make hypotheses.

It may deal with ....

Invent a title. The best title wins a bonus point.

Who is the author ?

What is the title ?

Do you know the story ?

Let's read an extract.

IV. An Eclectic Genre

A. End of 19th century cowboys

a) The characters are Jack Twist and Ennis del Mar. The former comes from Lightning Flat, near the Montana border; the latter comes from Sage, near the Utah border. They’re both high-school dropouts with difficult upbringings (éducation). They meet in 1963 because they are going to work together in Brokeback Mountain.

IV. An Eclectic Genre

A. End of 19th century cowboys

b) Ennis was an ophan after the death of his parents and brought up by his older brother and sister. He had to drop out of high school because he didn’t have enough money to fix his truck.

IV. An Eclectic Genre

A. End of 19th century cowboys

IV. An Eclectic Genre

A. Cowboys of the end of the 19th century

c) Compare : (common points) Both passages are set in the American West; there are cattle (bétails)/horses, riders (armed men in Appaloosa, cowboys in Brokeback Mountain). Contrast : (differences) In Appaloosa, we know nothing of the reasons that led the characters to their situation while we know many details about the characters’ background in “Brokeback Mountain”; there is no place for love in Appaloosa; there are no gunplay or imminent threat in “Brokeback Mountain”; the passages are set in different time periods (end of 19th century vs. 1960s).

Point de Grammaire

Point de Grammaire

Point de Grammaire

Point de Grammaire

Let's watch the trailer of a Disney+ TV show and comment on it.

Did you spot some western specificities ?

What about now?

IV. An Eclectic Genre

B. A Space Western

a) Read the review and tell why The Mandalorian may be considered as belonging to the western genre.

The Mandalorian can be considered as a western because of its landscape, its “frontier bar”, the speeder bikes (in the place of horses), and the presence of indigenous people one must negociate with. There is also a vigilante who takes a young man under his wing in one episode. There are many visual references to classic westerns.

IV. An Eclectic Genre

B. A Space Western

b) Pick out words or expressions that helped the author to refer to references.

Words from the lexical field of reference include :

-“leaned heavily on” -“callbacks” -“it touches upon” -“inspirations” - “recalls”

-“is inspired by” -“is taking all of these influences and synthesizing them”

The STUDY Of a western film

THE SEARCHERS -

Let's Recap

The Searchers

The Edwards' Family+ Marty

Let's Recap

The Searchers

Settlers sensing a problem coming : a Comanche's attack Took Lucy and Debbie

Let's Recap

The Searchers

A group of men settlers - search+ idea of discovering the West / new territory

Let's Recap

The Searchers

Time flies and only Marty & Ethan keep on searching...Laurie + Marty = love affaire

Let's Recap

The Searchers

During his journey Marty accidently buys himself an Am-Indian wife thinking he was buying a blanket : Look

Let's Recap

The Searchers

Laurie heard the news and is tired of waiting for Marty to come back from his journey accross the territory that lasts for years now.Decides to marry someone else

Let's Recap

The Searchers

Eventually they find Debbie something like 14 years later she disappeared. She was one of the wives of the Comanche : Scar

Let's Recap

The Searchers

At first : Ethan (her uncle and last relative (bloodly-linked)) wants to kill her bc alienated by the war, and sees her as a Comanche now. But changes his minf and help saving her at last.

Let's Recap

The Searchers

After all things finishes well since Marty fight for Laurie to win her back

Let's Recap

The Searchers

And the characters go back to their home, (safe place), all together to live in peace

Let's Recap

The Searchers

Including Mose that finally can enjoy his peaceful life in a rocking chair

Let's Recap

The Searchers

Only Ethan decides to stay out in the arid and dangerous nature : unsafe place Ready to "Ride Away" as the non-diegetic song playing recommands him to do