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Character conflicts
Elements of narrative structure in film
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1. I would describe the Western shootout as a test of reflexes and mental strength. Though it’s obviously a violent act, it’s comparable to a card game in that it depends on a person’s ability to read others and keep cool in a stressful situation. For instance, in George P. Cosmatos’ Tombstone, the focus on the character’s eyes and facial expressions emphasizes the importance of their fortitude and endurance as the men that reveal their anxiety are the ones to lose the quickest. If a character doesn’t have both the skill and the mental toughness for a shootout, then they won’t succeed.
2. Gunfighters and shootouts seem to function as a show of character and a manifestation of conflicting motivations in the West. As I discussed above, shootouts
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I think the Western hero is appealing because of their simplicity. When a character is firmly good or firmly bad, then we know exactly who to root for or root against. Even when that means the story is predictable, it can still be enjoyable and comforting to watch a world where the good guy always wins. Meanwhile, Western antiheros may not be as clear cut as the hero, but they are able to do the things that may not be moral but are still interesting and even satisfying. For example, Ben Wade in James Mangold’s 3:10 to Yuma satisfies the wants of the audience as he turns on his gang at the end of the movie. It’s arguable whether this was the “good” thing to do or not, but regardless, the calm and ruthless way he kills the members of the gang is a bit chilling—and also feels like justice. With characters like this, good and bad guys are no longer as clear, which can at times be uncomfortable, but ultimately much more interesting than typical hero and villain. Furthermore, through morally grey characters, writers can challenge the audience’s notions of morality and raise questions about what’s right and wrong. As the Western progresses, authors seem more interested in these questions and more critical of the genre’s morals, exploring deeper into what it actually means to be a
Many westerns contain some of the same elements. For instance, almost every western ever made involves a sheriff. He is usually the peace-keeper of a small town overrun by outlaws and cowboys, which he eventually chases out of town or kills. Another element of westerns is a gunslinger. A gunslinger is usually a young man who makes his living shooting other men in showdowns, a classic example is Billy the Kid. Railroads are also a recurring image in westerns. Since the railroad was the major mode of transportation in the old west, it is always present in westerns. Finally, westerns always have a villain. The villain, usually a man, dresses very slick and will stop at nothing in his quest for power. In addition, the villain usually has a gang to carry out his dastardly deeds. The gang is usually full of incompetent, but loyal thugs, who would love to destroy a small town just for the pleasure of wanton destruction. The elements of a western are very simple, but easily manipulated into a very interesting plot.
USA has divided into two separated nations because of gun ownership. This issue has been questioned in terms of people’s freedom to buy guns and an indiscriminate use of them. In addition, Americans have claimed that they’ve got strong reasons, which allow them be armed as a matter of civic duty. For ...
One of the most popular and enduring dramas of all time, Sophocles’ Antigone has intrigued and provoked audiences for nearly 2500 years through its heartbreaking story of a tragedy that could have been avoided if it were not for the inalterable wills of its two main characters. Even in light of its absorbing tale, however, it might be said that what keeps us coming back to this great work is that its central theme is one of mankind’s oldest and greatest struggles—the conflict between man’s law and divine law.
Not everyone that goes to the cinema wants to have complex moral dilemmas in every movie they see. With a good and bad side, it is easy to sit back and relax. It is simple, traditional, and fun. Sometimes this is just a result of bad directing and one dimensional characters. According to Brandi Reissenweber, one-dimensional characters are seen only when “one side of their personality comes through.” For this context, a one-dimensional villain would have no redeeming qualities to contrast is evilness. Similarly, a hero would have no flaws and would be the absolute image of good. As Omer Bartov mentions in his “Anti-Hero as Hero” article, “absolute goodness may remain so totally divorced from reality.” But even one dimensional characters are not the full problem. A character could be an elaborate and complex character yet still be portrayed by the director as someone who is evil and always will
All of us can agree that the only Western shootouts that we have ever seen were on the big screen in a Hollywood movie. The very first real Western shootout might just have been between Wild Bill Hickok and Dave Tutt. Hickok shot Tutt dead in Springfield, Missouri right in the market square. No matter what Hollywood movies tell us a real classic western showdown or walkdown occurred only rarely in the American West. Most of the time men were shooting each other in hot heated arguments or drunken brawls.
There are many central conflicts in old westerns. The battle between good and evil is the most common. Others include man vs. man, east vs. west, human vs. nature, or in the Matrix’s case, man vs. machine.
Actually that came from another characteristic of a western, the conflict between settlers and Indians, after being raised with the Indians for three years he had killed several settlers. Then after he had left the Indians side to join the white mans army he killed many more Indians, that's how he had crafted his skills as a gunman and survivalist. It even is shown in the story that he has been killing for years, when he kills the first two Indians, he has a fast and accurate shooting style. Also he has the background to know were others may be hiding such as in a bush, or
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said,“Shallow men believe in luck or in circumstance. Strong men believe in cause and effect.” The need for firearms did not come into existence overnight instead, the military has demanded dreadful weapon for so long. firearms have been in existence for more than a thousand years, not only have they affected the warfare but also the society in general. They have amended the armies around the world and have provoked an era of warfare at reduced cost.
Through the centuries guns have had many different purposes such as, for hunting, sporting events, and personal protection. Governments all around the world have used guns for military use and law enforcement. Today, more than one million youth participate in shooting events and affiliations with programs such as, 4-H club, the Boy ...
Violence across the nation has become an overwhelming, terrifying problem. One rising issue within the nation today is violent video games. Video games that show acts of violence can take a toll on those who play it and encourage those same acts inside of their everyday life. However, another issue that does not only affect the people involved and an entire community, but the whole country is gun violence. In Rebecca J. Rosen’s article “Violence is Contagious”, she compares violence to a disease, as it spreads quickly and infects humans of the nation. Violent video games and gun violence are directly related with each other.
In “The Thematic Paradigm,” Robert Ray explains how there are two vastly different heroes: the outlaw hero and the official hero. The official hero has common values and traditional beliefs. The outlaw hero has a clear view of right and wrong but unlike the official hero, works above the law. Ray explains how the role of an outlaw hero has many traits. The morals of these heroes can be compared clearly. Films that contain official heroes and outlaw heroes are effective because they promise viewer’s strength, power, intelligence, and authority whether you are above the law or below it.
Since ancient Greek times, the stories of heroes seemed to take the world by storm. Tales of these half-human half- gods intrigued many people and endured for centuries. This mythology has created one of the most successful movie genres in the world, making millions of dollars in box offices and sales in merchandise. The popularity of heroes did not go away over time, but rather it increased to a point where they are placed on a pedestal. Their stories and movies not only discuss important attributes people should have, but reflect the type of “savior” needed to fix the societal problems we face. The causes of their popularity are quite simple, people love entertainment and their ability to relate to the character. However, upon closer examination
It seems that in today’s society, one of the many hot topics to talk about is gun control. As one hears news about mass shooting, hunting, homicides and terrorism, many believe that a stricter gun control law should be put into place, while others think that going against gun control is the best choice. All these things on guns that people here now a days impact the way they see others and society. Given this, gun control can be placed and explained in the three major theoretical perspectives in sociology: symbolic interactionism, functional analysis, and the conflict theory.
If you said the words Wild West to someone, no doubt they would picture a mustached man sitting at a card game in an old saloon surrounded by cowboys and prostitutes. A player opposite him would be hiding an extra card up his sleeve, and soon enough he would be called on it and face off in the city square. Both players would step back and there’d be a long moment before the cheater moved for his hip holster, however he wouldn’t be fast enough. The gamer would draw his revolver and shoot the cheater dead between the eyes. Nonchalantly, the cowboys and prostitutes would go back to their drinks like it didn’t happen.
When it comes to the topic of school shootings, most of us readily agree that every time you hear about one, it is almost not even shocking anymore. It is definitely tragic and we seem not to understand why it happens, but it is nothing out of the ordinary because it happens so often. What is causing all these frequent shootings? That is the question we must answer to reduce shootings, or even terminate them completely. Although, there are some strong theories and opinions to why these shooting occur; violent video games. In the articles "Frag Him" by Mike Jaccarino and "Shooting in The Dark" by Benedict Carey, these authors express their feelings on how violent video games correlate with these aggression that could eventually lead to horrific tragedies. Each author have similar and different thoughts regarding this serious matter.