Characteristics of the Western Genre

Guns, cowboys and vast deserts. These are just some of the typical characteristics of the Western genre. In films, the mise-en-scène - everything that appears in the frame, like props, the setting, the characters and costumes, makes it very easy for the audience to identify which genre the film belongs to. First of all, the characters of Western films are always cowboys. The distinctive costumes that the characters wear can also tell the audience that the film belongs to the Western genre. Women tend to wear dresses while men usually wear cowboy hats, jeans and boots. Secondly, the props are also one of the features of the Western genre. Weapons like guns and wooden furniture often appear in Westerns. Last but not least, the setting is one of the most important features of Western films. Settings in Western films include vast deserts, mountains, rugged lands and also bars and small towns. In conclusion, the characters (cowboys), the distinctive costumes that they wear, the props and also the settings are what makes a Western film distinguishable.