The Hollywood Western

COURSE NOTES

Professor’s Notes

As a student, there were only a handful of Westerns that I came to admire. As an instructor, I found myself growing to more fully appreciate the richness of the genre and its unique place in American culture. I now count about a dozen Westerns among a long list of films I feel that everyone needs to experience in their lifetime.

—Steven DeRosa

Course Details

This course is dedicated to one of the first and most representative American film genres. There will be an examination of
the aesthetic, psychological, gender and symbolic implications of this genre with an introduction to major texts, directors and
stars central to its creation and evolution.
The Western was among the first genres to take root in the new film medium, and its “death” and “rebirth” have been declared
innumerable times since. With the goal of understanding the Western’s persistent influence on American filmmaking and
society, this course will trace the development of the genre, examine key works and auteurs, analyze depictions of American History, and discuss prevalent issues related to the genre such as the representation of women and racial minorities.

Stagecoach (1939)

Red River (1948)

The Searchers (1957)

High Noon (1952)

Shane (1953)

My Darling Clementine (1946)

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1967)

Johnny Guitar (1954)

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McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971)

Unforgiven (1992)

Note: Although these titles have been used in previous semesters, substitutions are likely to occur.

 

The American Western, Stephen McVeigh (Edinburgh University Press, 2007).

Additional readings will be posted on Blackboard

Approximately every week, you will be required to carefully read a book chapter or article. About every third week, you will complete a
worksheet/in-class writing assignment/or Blackboard discussion related to the reading material, the screenings, and discussions. Due dates will be posted as each of these assignments is given. 

There will also be two objective exams, participation in a presentation project, and two paper assignments due throughout the semester. Be sure to get the readings well in advance and read them carefully—the worksheets, exams and paper assignments will require you to refer to these readings! You will receive detailed guidelines and grading rubrics for each of the longer assignments.

Grading will be determined as follows:
• Worksheets: 15%
• Two Exams (15% each): 30%
• Two papers (15% each): 30%
• Presentation project (each student will participate in the creation of a presentation project on a topic to be chosen by the fourth session): 15%
• Class participation (preparedness, speaking in class, attendance): 10% 

In order to complete this course successfully, you must demonstrate:
• A familiarity with the origins, growth, and variations of the Western,
• An awareness of the cinematic grammar and techniques unique to the Western,
• A familiarity with the range of cinematic talent which has produced Westerns,
• An ability to discuss the Western in the appropriate critical discourses, both orally and in essays,
• The capability of conducting research on topics related to the Western using both traditional and modern electronic sources.

Successful completion of the assignments will require that you hone a variety of skills including:
• The development of an idea from initial inspiration into a coherent, well-reasoned written argument;
• Critical reading skills that can be employed in any field of study;
• Basic research skills that can be employed in any field of study;
• An ability to think, speak and write critically about visual texts.

Examining a National Identity

Student Testimonials

“Professor DeRosa is a fantastic professor and is incredibly passionate for the subject which is infectious. He is simply one of if not my favorite Professors in my four years at Mercy. When I look back at my time at Mercy College his classes and his wisdom and knowledge for film will be one of my highlights.”

Student, Spring 2019

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