I will examine three movies which certainly changed the public and common image of Texas. In my term paper I will pursue the following questions: Which different views and pictures of Texas are explained in the three films? How are these images transmitted? Which images are found in all three movies, are there different or even conflicting images in the movies? Do the different images connect with historical changes, or just with the different, artistic perspectives of the directors?
What does make Texas unique amongst the fifty United States? Of course, every State has its own characteristic feature. Louisiana is known for its Cajun culture, while in Florida everybody is wearing Bermuda shorts. But almost everyone seems to have some idea about Texas. When hearing the word Texas many people are thinking of: the dry and dusty desert, the hot sun and a cloudless, blue sky, blunt and backward people, lonely cowboys with their harmonica sitting near the bonfire, the Texan slang, great oil spills, or Tex-Mex fast-food, steaks, and big cars - in the Lone Star State everything seems to be bigger. But where do these partly very vague, partly very specific and appropriate views and images of Texas come from? Of course, one cannot name perfectly the sources of a general awareness. Nevertheless, great movies do have the power to change and reshape people’s views, and this surely has happened with Texas’ image.
Table of Contents
I) Introduction
II) The images of Texas –as evolving from three examples
1. Movie 1: “Red River”
1.1 Content, plot, main characters
1.2 Texas and the Texans in “Red River”
2. Movie 2: “Giant”
2.1 Content, plot, main characters
2.2 Texas and the Texans in “Giant”
3. Movie 3: “Paris, Texas”
3.1 Content, plot, main characters
3.2 Texas and the Texans in “Paris, Texas”
4. Discussion
4.1 Different pictures of Texas in different historical, social and cultural back-grounds: Common grounds and differences found in the three movies
4.2 Different pictures of Texas
4.3 Different pictures of Texas land
4.4 The image of Texas as home
4.5 The Texans’ toughness as important part of their character
4.6 The importance of the soundtracks in the movies and their influence
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Research Themes
This academic paper examines how the public and common image of Texas has been shaped and reshaped through three distinct cinematic portrayals, analyzing the interplay between historical context, artistic perspective, and the perception of the American Dream.
- Comparative analysis of cinematic depictions of the Texas landscape.
- The evolution of the "Texan" character archetype across different historical eras.
- The role of industrialization and social change in modifying the image of Texas.
- The influence of non-diegetic elements, specifically sound and music, on the filmic mood.
- The concept of "home" and "paradise" as thematic constructs in film.
Excerpt from the publication
1.2 Texas and the Texans in “Red River”
Texas is depicted as a rough, uncivilized, and untouched land. In the movie, we mainly see Texas as a country of wide, long rivers between large plains with fresh, lush grass between undulating hills, a few rocks heading here and there. Nowhere is there any sign of man. Everything is calm, peaceful and seems to be in the right place (13:08-14:18).
This is Texas when Tom Dunson, Groot and Matthew Garth arrive. It is the perfect place to start from scratch and achieve their dreams (14:02). These men’s dreams are simple. They dream of a huge cattle flock, each animal bearing the branding sign of the Red River Cattle. The cattle will have enough food to thrive (18:36).
Tom Dunson, the main character, is a stubborn and very ambitious man. He is determined to enforce his aims persistently and strong-willed - even if this requires the use of brute force, violence or emotional sacrifice (Grob: Filmgenres Western). Right in the beginning, just two minutes after he declared an area his own, he gets into conflict with two locals (15:45). They defend this very patch of land on behalf of their boss, Mr. Gibbs, who claims the land to be his. Dunson ignores their intent and simply shoots and kills one of the men. After that, he starts to work (16:48).
Summary of Chapters
I) Introduction: Defines the research objectives regarding the cinematic representation of Texas and introduces the three selected films.
II) The images of Texas –as evolving from three examples: Examines the plot and character development in three specific films: "Red River", "Giant", and "Paris, Texas".
1. Movie 1: “Red River”: Details the pioneer era portrayal, focusing on Tom Dunson’s character and the ruggedness of the landscape.
1.1 Content, plot, main characters: Provides a narrative summary of the film and its central characters.
1.2 Texas and the Texans in “Red River”: Explores the conceptualization of Texas as a land of opportunity and the specific toughness required by those who claim it.
2. Movie 2: “Giant”: Focuses on the transition to an industrialized era and its impact on traditional ranching families.
2.1 Content, plot, main characters: Outlines the narrative of the Benedict family saga and Jett Rink.
2.2 Texas and the Texans in “Giant”: Analyzes the clash between traditional values and the emerging oil-wealth culture.
3. Movie 3: “Paris, Texas”: Investigates the post-modern and more critical perspective of the state as presented by Wim Wenders.
3.1 Content, plot, main characters: Describes the journey of Travis Henderson and his search for reconciliation.
3.2 Texas and the Texans in “Paris, Texas”: Highlights the desolation and disillusionment in the portrayal of character and place.
4. Discussion: Synthesizes the findings by comparing the three films across historical and thematic lines.
4.1 Different pictures of Texas in different historical, social and cultural back-grounds: Common grounds and differences found in the three movies: Contrasts the cinematic eras from pioneer glory to post-modern decline.
4.2 Different pictures of Texas: Discusses the significance of visual framing in creating a mythical dimension.
4.3 Different pictures of Texas land: Analyzes the shifting perception of land from opportunity to empty disillusionment.
4.4 The image of Texas as home: Examines the subjective meaning of Texas in the minds of the various protagonists.
4.5 The Texans’ toughness as important part of their character: Reviews the evolution and erosion of the "tough Texan" archetype.
4.6 The importance of the soundtracks in the movies and their influence: Explores how music and silence frame the atmospheric truth of each film.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes how these films collectively represent the transformation of the American Dream through the lens of Texas.
Keywords
Texas, Red River, Giant, Paris Texas, Wim Wenders, Howard Hawks, George Stevens, Pioneer Spirit, Manifest Destiny, American Dream, Soundtrack, Cinema, Landscape, Character Archetype, Ranching.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this academic work?
This paper focuses on how the state of Texas is represented in cinema and how these portrayals have changed over time across three iconic American and international films.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
Key themes include the pioneer spirit, the impact of industrialization/oil discovery, evolving gender roles, racial dynamics, and the concept of "home" as an ideal or illusion.
What is the central research question?
The paper asks which images of Texas are presented, how they are transmitted, and whether these portraits reflect historical shifts or merely the artistic perspectives of different directors.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The research uses a comparative film analysis approach, evaluating the narratives, visual representations, and soundtracks of the selected movies to identify historical and thematic commonalities.
What does the main body address?
It provides a detailed breakdown of each film—Red River, Giant, and Paris, Texas—followed by a thematic discussion comparing landscape, character toughness, and the use of sound.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Keywords include Texas, cinema, American Dream, Manifest Destiny, landscape, and specific directors like Wenders, Hawks, and Stevens.
How is the "Texan" character depicted in the early vs. late films?
Early films like "Red River" celebrate the tough, resilient pioneer, whereas later depictions in "Paris, Texas" present a more hollow, isolated, and disillusioned version of that character.
Does the role of music change across these films?
Yes, the paper discusses how massive, orchestral scores in the earlier "Hollywood" films build an epic myth of Texas, while the sparse, melancholic soundtrack in "Paris, Texas" emphasizes internal emptiness.
What is the significance of "Manifest Destiny" to the analysis?
It acts as a historical framework used to explain the drive of early characters like Tom Dunson, and its absence or degradation is used to highlight the disillusionment found in later narratives.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Sophie Emilie Beha (Autor:in), 2015, The image of Texas evolving in film. From "Red River" to "Paris, Texas", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1435968
