Western genre films are typically set in the late 1800s to early 1900s American Old West, featuring remote towns with saloons and desert landscapes. The narratives usually focus on themes of culture vs. nature, community vs. individuality, and involve gunfights and chases. Iconography includes cowboy hats, guns, horses and sheriff badges. Main characters are often cowboys seeking justice or revenge who come into conflict with villains or sheriffs in the male-dominated towns. The films have a sepia-toned, orange look and use close-ups and low camera angles during gunfight scenes.

1. Western Genre

2. Lacey’s Repertoire of Elements
• Setting
• Narrative
• Iconography
• Characters
• Style

3. Setting
• Western films generally are set around the
late 1800’s, early 1900’s.
• Typically set in American Old West in a dusty
lonely desert.
• Remote towns with saloons or bars are
common.

4. Narrative
• They are often set around themes such as:
• East vs. West
• Culture vs. Nature
• Community vs. Individuality
• Settlers vs. Indians
• Train vs. Horse
• The narrative also usually focuses around revenge, defense,
rescue or honour and reputation and involves gunfights and
horse or train chases.

5. Iconography
• In western films we typically expect to see cowboy
hats, guns, horses, dusty lonely roads, sheriff badges,
jails etc.
• The landscape is made up of deserts, mountains,
rivers and valleys.
• Towns are made up of old wooden, traditional
buildings.

6. Characters
• The main character of a western film is usually the
hero and, like most of the characters, is a cowboy.
• They are often a person from outside the community
and are driven by justice or revenge.
• Villains and Sheriffs also appear frequently in
western films, but not usually as the main character.
• Predominantly male characters.

7. Style
• Western films have a yellowy, orange look to them,
known as a sepia effect.
• They also use many close ups of people and objects,
especially in gun fight scenes. For example, close ups
of the characters eyes and guns may be used.
• Low angle shots are common as well to show a
characters status and authority.