Westerns are set in the American West between 1850 and 1900 and are known for action and adventure. The genre is characterized by the wild frontier and law and order, with cowboys, conflict between settlers and Indians, and lawmen in small towns. The setting is an open landscape with isolated farms and small towns, and the cowboys are hired for cattle driving. The genre features heroes who are brave, masculine, and skilled in various areas, including handling horses and using a lasso.
Westerns take place in the American West and are usually set between 1850 and 1900. There are many different characteristics of the western genre, as the genre itself is very distinct. Broadly speaking, these features could be grouped into two main themes: the wild frontier and law and order. Therefore, works created in this style are usually known for action and adventure. Some of the more well-known elements that make up westerns include cowboys, conflict between settlers and Indians, and lawmen in a small frontier new town.
An important feature of the western genre is the setting. Westerns take place in the wild frontier, an open landscape of mountain ranges, rugged lands and vast plains. Settlers build isolated farms or live in small towns, often boasting a main road; the main businesses of these small towns include a jail, a stable and saloons. The settlers are just as distinct as the setting, the men wearing boots, spurs and Stetsons. Other prevalent images of the West include the wearing of bandanas, jeans and Colt 45s.
An icon associated with the genre is the cowboy. This person is a farmhand whose work revolves around livestock. Basically, ranchers hired cowboys for cattle driving, which is the process of moving cattle from one area to another. Since much of the area between the towns was still unsettled, cattle racing was a dangerous enterprise. This was because even though the settlers were new to the West, Native American Indians lived in this area during the time period and tensions between settlers and Indians were high.
The wild frontier is filled with hostile environments, with conflict between settlers and Indians and the ongoing struggle between lawmen and outlaws. Lawmen protect cities from outlaws who might commit crimes, such as bank robberies, stagecoach robberies, or train robberies. While abiding by the law, guns often come into play, with shootouts and showdowns being a common occurrence in the fight between the good guys and the bad guys.
The importance of law and order in a wild frontier brings out the concept of heroes. In addition to the local lawmen, the heroes are often cowboys, marshals or skilled gunslingers. They are usually brave, masculine, and tough, as well as being honorable, upright, and adherents of a moral code. Additionally, heroes are often skilled in a variety of skills, including handling horses, shooting a pistol, and using a lasso. Some have a trusted sidekick and may even have a favorite horse.
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