The two Western films Johnny Guitar and Two Mules for Sister Sarah featurea strong "other" in the film, in order to inspire the women in America during the times these films were made. In these movies, the "other" is a strong female character that mimics many of the qualities that are often associated with the alpha male cowboy.
In Johnny Guitar, the two main women characters Vienna and Emma both play prominate roles in the film. Vienna uses her sexual appeal to influence the male characters. Vienna and Emma are two forces that constantly clash with each other and mimic traits of the alpha male cowboy. Since the mimic these traits, there can only be one alpha male so they constantly interfere with each other.
In the film Two Mules for Sister Sara, Sara takes on the couragous role and saves Hogan's life on two differnt occassions. She also presents more tactical characteristics by suggesting different ways to attack the French fortress. By occupation Sara is a prostitute but she uses this role to gain a way to influence men. She uses this influence to lie about being a nun.
Both these films feature strong women as the "other" and this reflects the rise of women in American society when these films were made. The earlier film only shows a slight prevelance of women because this was made when steps were just starting to be taken to create gender equality. The later film was made when the fight gender equality was in full effect and the film certianly shows this.
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The two Western films Johnny Guitar and Two Mules for Sister Sarah feature a strong "other" in the film, in order to inspire the women in America during the times these films were made. In these movies, the "other" is a strong female character that mimics many of the qualities that are often associated with the alpha male cowboy. The “other” refers to any character other than the alpha male white cowboy. These films can be viewed as revisionist films that are much different than the tradtitional western film.
ReplyDeleteIn Johnny Guitar, the two main women characters Vienna and Emma both play prominent roles in the film. Vienna uses her sexual appeal to influence the male characters. Vienna and Emma are two forces that constantly clash with each other and mimic traits of the alpha male cowboy. Since the mimic these traits, there can only be one alpha male so they constantly interfere with each other.
In the film Two Mules for Sister Sara, Sara takes on the courageous role and saves Hogan's life on two different occasions. She also presents more tactical characteristics by suggesting different ways to attack the French fortress. By occupation Sara is a prostitute but she uses this role to gain a way to influence men. She uses this influence to lie about being a nun.
Both these films feature strong women as the "other" and this reflects the rise of women in American society when these films were made. The earlier film only shows a slight prevalence of women because this was made when steps were just starting to be taken to create gender equality. The later film was made when the fight gender equality was in full effect and the film certainly shows this.