“Dark Spaghetti”
Spaghetti Westerns are an interesting sub genre because they provide a window into what the genre would be like from the point of view of an Italian producer. This differs from a American Western, because instead of focusing on the “All American,” “white knight,” we get something real. When collaborating with the professor I have come to the realization that these producers are somewhat imitating what they think is the most important parts of the genre. What they believe makes up a spaghetti western. I will be exploring why these Italian producers have chosen to emphasize a new approach to the role of the protagonist, and how this actually resembles a closer view to how the western expansion actually was. I will also show why these producers choose to present these undefined character roles as they do, not only with humor to bring a more family orientated feel, however providing something more gritty and real. For example, in the recent Spaghetti Western, Django Unchained, we are provided a very raunchy real experience. The protagonist is turns into a character that we more or less want to be the protagonist instead of someone declaring he is. In some regards to the Western movies as a whole, I have found that these producers are providing a way for a culture to be able to relate to the movies, but yet subtly poking fun at how the American culture likes to dramatize the origins of our country, by providing a more realistic view of the time period. Instead of heroes and villains being so clear cut, the hero is always winning and making the Western times seem so daring and adventurous, these producers provide a different view. This leads me to question, what was more accurate to the actual Western Expansion? How are these producers subtly making fun of an entire country, and yet still providing a more accurate version of what the Western times were like? Are these producers the real reason why anyone has a more accurate view of the Western Expansion, compared to the skewed view from traditional Western movies?