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

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Literature part

2.1. Some Introductory Notes about Gender

2.2. Gender and Movies

2.2.1. What is Feminist Film Theory?

2.2.2. The Male Gaze and Following Approaches

2.2.3. Cinema as Mediator of Patriarchal Ideology

2.3. Westerns and their Gender Roles

2.3.1. The Western – Background and Definition

2.3.2. The Western – The Male Genre

2.3.3. The Western – What Roles Do Women Play?

2.4. Differences in the (Visual) Culture of Italy and the USA

2.4.1. Hollywood versus European Visual Culture

2.4.2. What is “American” about the Hollywood Western?

2.4.3. How “Italian” is the Italian Western?

2.5. The Western, the Nation, and Gender

3. Method Part

3.1. Film Analysis

3.2. Sampling

3.3. Method Critique

4. Empirical Part

4.1. Hollywood Westerns

4.1.1. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence

4.1.2. El Dorado

4.1.3. The Professionals

4.1.4. The War Wagon

4.2. Spaghetti Westerns

4.2.1. For a Fistful of Dollars

4.2.2. The Big Gundown

4.2.3. A Bullet for the General

4.2.4. Once upon a Time in the West

4.3. Comparison

5. Conclusion

6. Sources

6.1. Bibliography

6.2. Filmography

Objectives & Research Themes

This thesis investigates potential differences in gender depiction between classic Hollywood Westerns and the Italian subgenre known as Spaghetti Westerns. The primary research questions explore whether such differences exist and, if so, what cultural, historical, or structural reasons account for them, focusing on the hypothesis that the Hollywood Western’s deep connection to American national mythology results in more rigid and stereotypical gender roles compared to the Italian variants.

• Gender representation in classical cinema
• Patriarchal ideology within genre conventions
• The link between national identity and gender construction
• Qualitative comparative film analysis of selected Westerns

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Summary of Chapters

1. Introduction: Presents the research problem, motivation, and questions regarding gender depiction in different Western subgenres.

2. Literature part: Defines gender, reviews feminist film theory, explores patriarchal ideology, and discusses the cultural and historical construction of the Western genre and its relation to national identity.

3. Method Part: Explains the qualitative content analysis approach, sampling criteria for the eight selected films, and addresses the methodological challenges of film analysis.

4. Empirical Part: Conducts a detailed analysis of four Hollywood and four Spaghetti Westerns, followed by a comparative assessment of gendered language, stereotypes, and plot roles.

5. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, noting that while no universal difference exists, there are diverging tendencies where Italian Westerns occasionally allow for more independent female roles.

Keywords

Western, Spaghetti Western, Gender Roles, Feminist Film Theory, Patriarchal Ideology, Masculinity, Femininity, Film Analysis, Cultural Studies, National Identity, Stereotypes, Film History, Representation, Narrative Structure, Visual Culture

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core subject of this thesis?

The thesis examines and compares gender roles and representations in classic Hollywood Westerns versus Italian Spaghetti Westerns to identify potential stylistic and ideological differences.

What are the central thematic fields?

The work focuses on film studies, sociology of gender, political sociology, and the intersection of national identity with genre-specific narrative conventions.

What is the primary research question?

The research asks if there is a discernible difference in how gender is depicted between Spaghetti Westerns and Hollywood Westerns, and seeks to uncover the underlying cultural or ideological reasons for these differences.

Which scientific methodology is applied?

The author employs a qualitative content analysis combined with semiotic interpretation, examining manifest and latent contents, including filmic devices like camera angles, lighting, and movement.

What topics are covered in the main analysis?

The empirical section analyzes eight specific films, evaluating them through categories such as the male/female gaze, gendered language, behavioral stereotypes, plot influence, and formal filmic techniques.

Which keywords best characterize this research?

The research is best characterized by terms such as Western genre, gender representation, patriarchal ideology, national identity, and cross-cultural media analysis.

How does the "myth of the nation" influence gender in Hollywood Westerns?

The author argues that the Hollywood Western is closely tied to the American nation-building myth, which necessitates traditional, binary gender roles where men act as protectors and women represent civilization and domesticity.

Why might Spaghetti Westerns offer different gender depictions?

Because Spaghetti Westerns were produced outside the American national context, they did not have the same obligation to uphold the "American" patriarchal national myth, allowing directors more creative freedom to deviate from traditional stereotypes.