Italian film essay

Classic Western Formula:

The Parts: Characters and elements-

1-Sheriff/Marshall/Law man-protagonist=moral good-law and order=NAME=MOST SKILLS

SMARTER=HERO

2-outlaw-antagonist=moral bad-chaos/disorder=NAME=MOST SKILLS

3-women-vulnerable/mothers/prostitutes/ school marms

4-townspeople=scared/weak/ vulnerable/ rely on the sheriff maintenance of order

5-Town:sanctuary/civilization

A.J. Greimas’ “Narrative Path”

All stories are a series of either CONJUNCTIONS (coming together) or DISJUNTIONS (coming apart/separating).

All stories are either trying to free oneself from an initial conjunction or bringing back together something that has separated.

4 basic parts to every story

Manipulation Competence Performance Sanction

Initial action obstacles do or not do judgement

To “want to” “can(‘t) work v outcome worth it?

To “have to” “know how”

Classic Western:

Interaction between the parts and the narrative path:

TOWN=equilibrium/balance

OUTLAW SHOWS UP-DISRUPTS BALANCE

SHERIFF-CALLED TO ACTION=

WOMAN=SHERIFF FALLS FOR A WOMAN

TOWNSPEOPLE: