The west has always had a focus on the alpha-male cowboy being the leading figure in the story. When he went out west it would often be alone. But the two films we watched have a focus on the theme of “otherness” referring to the other people the cowboy has a relationship with throughout the film; many times being a female. Usually the other plays a very minor role in the film, but we see the others in these films beginning to take on a more prominent role. This could have to do with the time periods in which the films were made; the 1970s when Two Mules for Sara was made was a time when the women’s movement was gaining momentum. Many women were pushing for equal rights and some even taking more laborious jobs. Johnny Guitar was made in the 1950s and at this point in time there wasn’t as much of an emphasis put on women’s rights. But it was during a time when political feelings were strongly anti-communist.
The film Two Mules for Sara opens up with a women being attacked by three men. We later find out that this woman is Sara and she is saved from her attackers by Hogan, the alpha-male cowboy in the movie. Hogan is a very typically alpha-male cowboy he is a "man on his own and has to take care of himself" and he tells Sara that he never wants to get married because he doesn't want to have to deal with a women. Sara and Hogan end up traveling the west together because Sara (posing as a nun) tells Hogan that the French are looking for her and she needs help getting away. Sara becomes like a sidekick to Hogan. In Tompkins article she discusses that "the central relationships in the Western are conventionally those of the male hero and intimate (sidekick), and the central group is all male" (903). Tompkins talks about how it is often a male who plays the role of the sidekick and when they do the role is feminized. However, in this film Sara acts as Hogan's sidekick. When Hogan is injured by the arrow to the chest she nurses him back to heath. And then goes even further by helping him and the Spanish army defeat the French using herself as bait. So throughout the film Sara proves herself to be very capable of living the man's life in the west and proving to be an equal as a woman.
The second film was Johnny Guitar and this film was played out a little differently than the first. Johnny Guitar, known previously as Johnny Logan, is the alpha-male in the film. But there are two others that play a role in the film Vienna, having a more prominent role, and Emma. Johnny and Vienna had a past together five years ago but Johnny left her to be on his own; a typical alpha-male move. However, when he returns to Vienna's salon they both still have the same feelings for each other; Vienna just doesn’t know if she is ready to let him back into her life that way again. Vienna is a very strong women and well-known by the people of the surrounding town. She is not someone to mess with and even men knew that. The other women in the film Emma, also plays a role as an “other,” she like Vienna is also very strong to her word and she leads a pack of men throughout the movie to go find the Dancing Kid. Both Emma and Vienna at times almost out power the alpha-male in the film. Johnny doesn’t do much of anything until the end of the movie when he saves Vienna from being hung and when she asks why he came back for her he said “because it’s the first chance he had to be a hero.” The two “others” have a showdown at the end of the movie when Emma shots and wounds Vienna then kills the Dancing Kid and as Emma turns around Vienna shots her dead. This just goes to show how the roles of the others in the films, over time changed from a minor role to a more prominent one. As the times in the United States were changing it was reflected in the western films. Women of the time were beginning to play more of a role; standing up for themselves and at some times being more of a presence than the cowboy was in the film.
Johnny Guitar and Two Mules for Sister Sara focus on the theme of “otherness” which refers to the other people the cowboy has a relationship with throughout the film. The other is often a female who takes on a minor role in the film, but in these two films women start to develop more prominent roles. The development of stronger roles also has to do with the time period in which each film was made. Two Mules for Sister Sara is made in the 1970s, a time when the women’s movement is gaining momentum. In 1972 Title IX of the civil rights act is put in place guaranteeing women equal educational opportunities. Women slowly start making strides towards equality with men. Johnny Guitar is made in the 1950s when the ideal women’s role is still as the housewife. However, while the men went off to fight in WWII the women took over factory jobs. They had to take on men’s jobs and were influential in the wars success.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of the film Two Mules for Sister Sara, Sara is being saved by the alpha-male, Hogan. Hogan is the typical alpha-male cowboy; he enjoys being on his own and tells Sara he never wants to get married because he doesn't want to have to deal with a women. Sara, whose is posing as nun, travels with Hogan through the west because she needs his protection from the French. As the movie develops Sara turns into Hogan’s sidekick. In Tompkins article she discusses that "the central relationships in the Western are conventionally those of the male hero and intimate (sidekick), and the central group is all male" (903). When Hogan is shot in the chest and injured with an arrow Sara nurses him back to heath. Not only did she save his life, but she later helps him in the plot against the French army. Sara helps Hogan devise a plan to attack the French garrison and volunteers to be uses as bait. Throughout the film Sara proves that she is capable of living the harsh life of the west and proves herself as useful in helping the men. From a cultural studies standpoint the character of Sara relates to the Virginia Slims cigarette campaign. They developed an ad campaign focusing on slim, confident women holding cigarettes using the slogan “you’ve come a long way, baby.” Sara was pictured smoking throughout the movie portraying a character that was rebelling against the traditional values of the west.
The second film, Johnny Guitar, portrays the role of the other differently than the first. Johnny Guitar, known previously as Johnny Logan, is the alpha-male in the film. However, there are two “others” that also play a role in the film Vienna and Emma. Johnny and Vienna have a past together, but Johnny left her to be on his own and didn’t return for five years. Vienna does not speak of the past when he returns; instead Johnny is the one that confesses his love. Typically the lack of language used is a defining characteristic of the alpha-male and in this case Vienna is the one who doesn’t speak. Vienna is a very strong women and well-known by the people of the surrounding town. The men in the town respect her and do not dare cross her. The other woman in the film, Emma, also plays a role as an “other.” She like Vienna is also very strong to her word and she leads a pack of men throughout the movie to go find the Dancing Kid. Both Emma and Vienna at times out power the alpha-male in the film. Johnny doesn’t do much of anything until the end of the movie when he saves Vienna from the hanging. When she asks why he came back for her he said “because it’s the first chance he had to be a hero.” The women in the film take on a growing role, but in the end succumb to the alpha-male. At the end of the film Vienna’s salon is burning down and she loses everything that made her powerful. She is standing in a white dress, almost as if she is surrendering herself to Johnny.