Echoes of the Western in Chloe Zhao’s Movies

master's thesis

• Title (croatian): Odjeci vesterna u filmovima Chloe Zhao
• Author: Marta Marochini
• Mentor: Sven Cvek (mentor)
• Committee member: Jelena Šesnić (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Sven Cvek (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Hrvoje Tutek (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of English language and literature); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2024-07-03, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Philology; Anglistics

Abstract

The Western is seen as the quintessential American movie genre. Since its birth in the early 20th century, it has undergone numerous transformations, reflecting the changing social and political conditions in the USA. Chloe Zhao is a Chinese filmmaker who wanted to put a new spin on the genre that many consider to be outdated, and to and create a new Western fit for 21st century America. Her movies Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015), The Rider (2018), and Nomadland (2020) fall into the category of post-Westerns, as they push the boundaries of the genre by presenting its traditional elements from Zhao’s perspective as a foreigner and a woman, while also retaining a high degree of objectivity. Her movies are both a way to pay homage to the longstanding tradition of the Western and to question their negative aspects. The thesis is an overview of Zhao’s interventions into the classical formula of the genre. It covers her impression of the new inner frontier that marks the border between urban, progressive America and the rural Heartland, and of the problems and identities of people who live there. Next up, it explains the importance of mythical landscapes of the Western USA - a signature feature of the genre, and the meaning that they still have for many Americans, as well as the connections between the past, the present and the future.

Abstract (croatian)

Vestern je prema mnogima filmski žanr koji odražava samu srž Amerike. Od njegova nastanka početkom 20. stoljeća pa do danas, prošao je kroz brojne faze prateći promjene u američkom društvu i politici. Chloe Zhao je kineska redateljica koja je htjela dati svoj doprinos žanru koji neki smatraju zastarjelim, i tako stvoriti novi vestern za 21. stoljeće. Njeni filmovi Pjesme koje su me naučila braća (2015.), Jahač (2018.) i Zemlja nomada (2020.) su post-vesterni u kojima preispituje granice žanra i njegove tradicionalne elemente prikazuje iz perspektive žene i strankinje. Zhao istovremeno odaje počast dugoj tradiciji vesterna, ali i upućuje na njegove loše strane. Ovaj rad je analiza uporabe elemenata vesterna njenim filmovima, a to su pitanje nove granice koja dijeli urbanu, progresivnu Ameriku od ruralnih dijelova zemlje, krajolik Zapada SAD-a kao jedan od glavnih karakteristika žanra te njegovo značenje i važnost za američki identitet, identitet stanovnika tog područja, te odnos prošlosti, sadašnjosti i budućnosti.

• Keywords: Western; Contemporary Western; Chloe Zhao; Contemporary American Cinema
• Keywords (croatian): vestern; suvremeni vestern; Chloe Zhao; suvremeni američki film
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:131:863319
• Study programme: Title: English Language and Literature (double major); specializations in: Linguistics, Literature and Culture, Translation; Course: Literature and Culture; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra engleskog jezika i književnosti (magistar/magistra engleskog jezika i književnosti)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Access restricted to students and staff of home institution
• Created on: 2024-07-04 10:37:50