Shooting (a) Woman - Comparative Study of Gender Roles in American and Italian Western Movies

Comparative Study of Gender Roles in American and Italian Western Movies

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Cultural Studies, Popular Culture
Cover of the book Shooting (a) Woman - Comparative Study of Gender Roles in American and Italian Western Movies by Manuela Beyer, GRIN Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Manuela Beyer ISBN: 9783638026758
Publisher: GRIN Publishing Publication: March 19, 2008
Imprint: GRIN Publishing Language: English
Author: Manuela Beyer
ISBN: 9783638026758
Publisher: GRIN Publishing
Publication: March 19, 2008
Imprint: GRIN Publishing
Language: English

Master's Thesis from the year 2007 in the subject Sociology - Media, Art, Music, grade: 1, University of Dalarna, 64 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: Sergio Leone, the well known Italian Western director, once criticized the woman's role in the Hollywood Western as follows: [T]he woman is imposed on the action, as a star, and is generally destined to be 'had' by the male lead. But she does not exist as a woman. [...] Usually, the woman not only holds up the story, but she has no real character, no reality. She is a symbol. She is there without any reason to be there, simply because one must have a woman [...]. (Leone quoted in Frayling 2006 : 129) This critique of women in the American Western seems to imply that the Italian Leone himself tried to depict women differently in his Western movies: either to let them completely out or to provide them with a real character, with a reason to be in the film. Is his way of depicting women then prototypical for the other Italian Westerns? Is there maybe even a specific Italian way of representing gender roles in Western movies which is different from that of their American counterparts? In general, Western movies have been harshly criticized for their depiction of women. Many authors have argued that the Western in general is a genre that focuses mainly on men and masculinity and leaves only small space with narrow stereotypes for women (see for example Mitchell 1996, Tompkins 1992, French 1997). The research questions are: 1)Is there a difference in the gender depiction in Spaghetti Westerns and Hollywood Westerns? 2)If there is a difference, what are the reasons for this? To answer these questions, different theories of gender in movies are addressed, in order to give an overview of the approaches towards such a topic. Afterwards, the Hollywood and Spaghetti Western in general, as well as the gender depictions in them will be theorized. As a first approach to explain the expected differences, the focus will be on the (visual) cultures of America and Italy. The last point in the theoretical section will deal with the connection between nation and gender because this may well be a crucial variable for the gender depiction in the different Western genres. In the following methodological section, the film analysis that is used to examine movies of the two genres will be explained.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Master's Thesis from the year 2007 in the subject Sociology - Media, Art, Music, grade: 1, University of Dalarna, 64 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: Sergio Leone, the well known Italian Western director, once criticized the woman's role in the Hollywood Western as follows: [T]he woman is imposed on the action, as a star, and is generally destined to be 'had' by the male lead. But she does not exist as a woman. [...] Usually, the woman not only holds up the story, but she has no real character, no reality. She is a symbol. She is there without any reason to be there, simply because one must have a woman [...]. (Leone quoted in Frayling 2006 : 129) This critique of women in the American Western seems to imply that the Italian Leone himself tried to depict women differently in his Western movies: either to let them completely out or to provide them with a real character, with a reason to be in the film. Is his way of depicting women then prototypical for the other Italian Westerns? Is there maybe even a specific Italian way of representing gender roles in Western movies which is different from that of their American counterparts? In general, Western movies have been harshly criticized for their depiction of women. Many authors have argued that the Western in general is a genre that focuses mainly on men and masculinity and leaves only small space with narrow stereotypes for women (see for example Mitchell 1996, Tompkins 1992, French 1997). The research questions are: 1)Is there a difference in the gender depiction in Spaghetti Westerns and Hollywood Westerns? 2)If there is a difference, what are the reasons for this? To answer these questions, different theories of gender in movies are addressed, in order to give an overview of the approaches towards such a topic. Afterwards, the Hollywood and Spaghetti Western in general, as well as the gender depictions in them will be theorized. As a first approach to explain the expected differences, the focus will be on the (visual) cultures of America and Italy. The last point in the theoretical section will deal with the connection between nation and gender because this may well be a crucial variable for the gender depiction in the different Western genres. In the following methodological section, the film analysis that is used to examine movies of the two genres will be explained.

More books from GRIN Publishing

Cover of the book Short Essay on Shakespeare`s 'Sonnet 18' by Manuela Beyer
Cover of the book Crime in Business. Grey market products and EU-legislation by Manuela Beyer
Cover of the book A critical analysis on the reasons of underdevelopment in Africa by Manuela Beyer
Cover of the book Seat theory versus incorporation theory by Manuela Beyer
Cover of the book Marketing and customer orientation of Cisco Systems Inc 2009 by Manuela Beyer
Cover of the book Mr. Knightley and Jane Austen's concept of the gentleman ideal by Manuela Beyer
Cover of the book Optimisation of procurement processes by the example Sanitärtechnik Eisenberg by Manuela Beyer
Cover of the book Energy Conservation in Cambodia and ASEAN by Manuela Beyer
Cover of the book A Description of the System of Estates in England and Germany in the 18th Century on the Basis of German Travel Reports by Manuela Beyer
Cover of the book Political Economy in Southern Rhodesia: Land apportionment as a method for establishing a settlers' economy by Manuela Beyer
Cover of the book Should UK enter the EMU by Manuela Beyer
Cover of the book Roosevelt's attempt to alter the composition of the Supreme Court: by Manuela Beyer
Cover of the book The national question in contemporary Hungarian politics by Manuela Beyer
Cover of the book Coming of Age: Hawaiian Culture in Kirby Wright's Fiction by Manuela Beyer
Cover of the book Affecting Deep Level Change in the Devine Matrix by Manuela Beyer
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy