Western versus Modern Film Art Comparison - Research Paper Example

 Film Art Comparison (Western v. Modern) Introduction Ever since the demand for movies grew to be so huge, many different genres of movies have emerged. Some are art movies, some light hearted comedies; some give a message and some tell stories and fables. Whatever the genre may be, the movie must have some commercial elements to reach the audiences and receive due credit for the work. Amongst the most well known genres are the western movies and the modern movies. They are very distinct yet similar to each other. One can easily identify which one is which however; this paper will not only seek to highlight the differences and diversity in the two genres but also the similarities in them. Western Films Western films are mostly devoted to telling of stories that pertain to the latter half of the nineteenth century or even earlier. The themes are very much about change and transformation, the change that was brought about when primitive ways were replaced by more civilized, advanced methods (Pitts, 1997). They may be about Civil Wars or important battles. They may even be about the Industrial Revolution and other such milestones in today’s history. Although they pertain to American history alone, these western films have gained popularity worldwide because of the commercial spices added and the perfection attained in recreating history. The popular perception of the western movies is that they always have a storyline that centers on the life of a cowboy or a gun fighter and how he uses the codes of honor and private justice to eradicate all evils around him which usually include a herd of villains and get the love of his life eventually. Western firms are mostly about morality. They seek to give a message to the viewer, it may be a simple message as that of spreading love or it may be a more complicated message like working hard to benefit not the present but the future generations. Isolated and harsh settings are often used such as that of forts, ranches, deserts etc to show how the Native Americans lived (Hyams, 1984). The western films, no matter what message they are intended to portray, always show the complete and true American civilization- one that is full of music, women, gambling, violence and love. Western films include a variety of sub genres. There are the classics such as Godfather trilogy and The Big Country that was released in 1958. There are also the contemporary Western movies that have the same essence in a modernized set up, for example Hud which was released in 1963. Then there are the revivalist Western movies that are intended to pass on some serious message for example Little Big Man which was releast in 1970. There are also science fiction or space Western movies like Wall-E released in 2008 which is one of the best rated movies of the decade. Therefore, though Western movies have some common theme such as that of a classic Western setup of the 1900s, they can be very different and diverse from each other and they can give a variety of different messages to the audience besides being historically informative. Modern Films The concept of film making has changed greatly over the years. Modern Films are based on contemporary issues and are mostly made for commercial success. They are glamorous and fun to watch however they may lack substance. Modern films concentrate more on extravagant shooting sites, good looking and well known cast, nice and easy to hum songs and a juicy story which pertains to today’s audience. These modern films are mostly based on extramarital affairs, teenage breakups and makeups and changing political scenarios (Brodwell, 2006). Modern films need not be particularly funny or useless for that matter. For example, The Proposal released in 2009 was a totally commercial film that had no strong message for the audience. On the other hand the movie Seven Cents concentrated on the very important topic of organ transplantation and the risks involved. Therefore, modern films can be serious or funny. They can have a message to convey or purely commercial. Whatever it is, modern films need to depict the man of today. Modern films are more about the way the world is changing in the future and how man needs to adapt to it. In contrast, Western films are about the history and how evolution has already taken place. These two themes are very distinct from one another but equally important (Thompson, 1999). Modern Films are mostly experimental films that are made by budding writers and directors to give a new direction to the existing cinematography. These modern films are made to address issues that are novel and have not been discussed before. For example, the movie Sand was released in 1986 by Modern Films Production and was the masterpiece of Jim Shuan. It was an experimental piece of work that got so much of worldwide recognition and acclaim that many directors later followed Shuan’s route to success. However, since modern films are unconventional, one cannot be sure how good or how bad it may be. Therefore, most established production houses are reluctant to take up modern films and these get promoted only through film festivals and other international exhibitions. Conclusion No matter the film is modern or western or of any other genre, it is most important for it to appeal the masses and be of a very uncontroversial nature. Besides passing on a message, a film must also entertain. Therefore, one cannot predict whether a modern film or a western film will do better in the commercial world. It is more about the complete package the film gives. In most cases, it is a safe choice to have a bit of both tastes so that it may be appealing to a greater number of people. References Pitts, M. (1997).Western Movies: A TV and Video Guide to 4200 Genre Films. McFarland and Company. Hyams, J. (1984). The life and times of Western Movies. Gallery Books. Bordwell, D. (2006). The way Hollywood tells it: Story and Style in Modern Movies. University of California Press. Thompson, K. (1999). Storytelling in the New Hollywood. Harvard University Press. Read More