Why No Westerns?
12-24-13 | 07:21 PM
#51
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: Why No Westerns?
Westerns also struggle to get made today because they primarily work in historical settings that don't include a lot of minorities, unless they are getting shot at by cowboys. Hollywood detests making entertainment with all-white casts, going so far as to include minorities in historical periods and places when there really wouldn't have been many non-white faces.
Notice how Hollywood basically ignores large swaths of European history these days for new movies and programs? Those now have to be made in Europe or they don't get made at all.
Notice how Hollywood basically ignores large swaths of European history these days for new movies and programs? Those now have to be made in Europe or they don't get made at all.
Thank you try again
12-24-13 | 07:57 PM
#52
Suspended
Re: Why No Westerns?
My dad, who was born in the 40s, but has always had the artistic taste of a man born in 1893, was raving to me the other night about his recent trip to Vegas where he saw a "vaudeville-style" show. Then he spent ten minutes explaining why "America's Got Talent" is really just a modern take on vaudeville.
12-24-13 | 08:02 PM
#53
Suspended
Re: Why No Westerns?
Yeah, I mentioned Justified in the op but forgot Longmire. I still regard them as 'semi-westerns' (there were a lot of these even back in the heyday of the the tv western genre), though they feature the strong individual protagonist, rural settings, etc. Heck, even "Vegas" tried to cowboy up with Dennis Quaid as the Winchester-toting, horseback-riding sheriff facing off against casino boss Michael Chiklis.
Just wonder if the genre is dead and buried on tv. Even when a 'straight western' (set in the 1800's) is attempted, they usually do some anti-hero take (Hell on Wheels...which I really like...is a good example).
I hear a lot of people (mainly middle-aged and up) decrying the lack of "morality-based' programming (including westerns & pioneer sagas such as Daniel Boone). A lot of them say their kids really like watching the DVDs and reruns of older shows, but maybe they're just a captive audience. Usually the kids prefer video-game or sci-fi/fantasy-based stuff, in my experience selling DVDs to the public.
We do see some young 20's couples who are into Gunsmoke and the westerns, but they're a minority. The advertising and demographic reminder posted above makes a lot of sense and maybe answers my question.
I guess vampires have replaced the western heroes. Sigh. I kind of miss the old evil vampires that just needed a good stakin'. Back then, the only good vamp was a dead vamp.
Good times.
Just wonder if the genre is dead and buried on tv. Even when a 'straight western' (set in the 1800's) is attempted, they usually do some anti-hero take (Hell on Wheels...which I really like...is a good example).
I hear a lot of people (mainly middle-aged and up) decrying the lack of "morality-based' programming (including westerns & pioneer sagas such as Daniel Boone). A lot of them say their kids really like watching the DVDs and reruns of older shows, but maybe they're just a captive audience. Usually the kids prefer video-game or sci-fi/fantasy-based stuff, in my experience selling DVDs to the public.
We do see some young 20's couples who are into Gunsmoke and the westerns, but they're a minority. The advertising and demographic reminder posted above makes a lot of sense and maybe answers my question.
I guess vampires have replaced the western heroes. Sigh. I kind of miss the old evil vampires that just needed a good stakin'. Back then, the only good vamp was a dead vamp.
Good times.
As for the western genre it had its heyday during the Cold War, when the national consciousness was focused on America as a world power. The western is the apotheosis of the narrative of America as the master of the world. It's the epitome of Americans taming the wilderness, which is what the Cold War was all about (America bringing the Third World into the sphere of capitalism). As that narrative faded into detente and rapprochement, the importance of that period in history to our national identity faded.
12-24-13 | 08:13 PM
#54
Suspended
Re: Why No Westerns?
As it was explained to me in excruciating detail the other night, the essence of vaudeville are acts that are amusing for a few minutes but are nowhere near entertaining enough to sustain an entire bill on their own. Which is, as I understand it, what most of the AGT acts are. The judging aspect is not vaudevillian at all, but the individual acts are very much in the tradition of vaudeville.
12-24-13 | 08:15 PM
#55
Suspended
Re: Why No Westerns?
Westerns also struggle to get made today because they primarily work in historical settings that don't include a lot of minorities, unless they are getting shot at by cowboys. Hollywood detests making entertainment with all-white casts, going so far as to include minorities in historical periods and places when there really wouldn't have been many non-white faces.
Notice how Hollywood basically ignores large swaths of European history these days for new movies and programs? Those now have to be made in Europe or they don't get made at all.
Notice how Hollywood basically ignores large swaths of European history these days for new movies and programs? Those now have to be made in Europe or they don't get made at all.
12-24-13 | 08:46 PM
#56
12-26-13 | 12:53 PM
#57
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Why No Westerns?
I'd actually like to see a western with a Game of Thrones type approach... follow opposing factions/stories concurrently: the lawmen, a gang of bandits, an Indian tribe, etc. I'd love to see a more complex approach to the Cowboys vs Indians conflict that avoids the heroes vs savages stereotypes of the old days but also avoids the overly PC 'Native Americans are always noble, sympathetic characters' cliche that seems to dominate since Dances with Wolves. Surely there had to be complex individuals on both sides of the conflict.
12-26-13 | 03:44 PM
#58
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: Why No Westerns?
I'm a fan of the genre, and never understood why it doesn't catch on with modern day audiences. A big budget western can look gorgeous on the big screen, blow you out of your seat with epic loud gun battles and classic villians. The video game Red Dead Redemption showed that there are many exciting elements storywise with westerns.
The genre did enjoy a brief revival and popularity in the late 80s. The movie, Young Guns, was popular and ABC kinda riffed off it and created The Young Riders tv show. It had a great production values and solid storylines. I still remember Josh Brolin mainly from this show. CBS also produced the excellent Guns of Paradise which sadly has never seen the light of day on dvd.
True Grit with Jeff Bridge was a rare success, and proved that the genre wasn't completely dead.
The genre did enjoy a brief revival and popularity in the late 80s. The movie, Young Guns, was popular and ABC kinda riffed off it and created The Young Riders tv show. It had a great production values and solid storylines. I still remember Josh Brolin mainly from this show. CBS also produced the excellent Guns of Paradise which sadly has never seen the light of day on dvd.
True Grit with Jeff Bridge was a rare success, and proved that the genre wasn't completely dead.
12-29-13 | 01:40 AM
#59
DVD Talk Hero
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From: Not necessarily Formerly known as Solid Snake
Re: Why No Westerns?
I'd actually like to see a western with a Game of Thrones type approach... follow opposing factions/stories concurrently: the lawmen, a gang of bandits, an Indian tribe, etc. I'd love to see a more complex approach to the Cowboys vs Indians conflict that avoids the heroes vs savages stereotypes of the old days but also avoids the overly PC 'Native Americans are always noble, sympathetic characters' cliche that seems to dominate since Dances with Wolves. Surely there had to be complex individuals on both sides of the conflict.
