Breakthrough and Rebirth: The Flux of the American Western from the Perspective of Film Ontology
Abstract
Western film is one of the most complete, longest surviving, and largest genre narrative film types in the development of American film history. It has always been regarded as a unique cultural carrier for interpreting the “American spirit” and the deep collective psychology. This paper conducts an analysis of the American Western film through the lens of film ontology, examining its development and evolution as a case study. It serves as a platform to elucidate both the achievements and constraints inherent in the artistic exploration of the Western genre across various historical periods, particularly in relation to film aesthetics and ideological frameworks. The investigation delves into the underlying factors that have influenced the transformation of narrative characteristics within Western films. Furthermore, it posits the necessity of revitalizing the genre itself, seeking to understand the successes and limitations of Western cinema in the context of the suppressive nature of ideological tools and the progression of artistic ontology. It seeks to go from the suppression of its iterative ideological domination tool to the rebirth of its artistic essence, showing the original power of the movie itself.
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