Western Basics
What type of character is commonly associated with Westerns?
A cowboy/outlaw/lawman
What activity does the dude regularly participate in?
Bowling
Explain how the bowling alley functions similarly to a Western town/saloon.
It's a central place where characters meet, interact, argue, and become involved in the story's conflicts.
Who directed The Big Lebowski?
Joel and Ethan Coen
What replaces the traditional Western frontier?
Los Angeles
What is the “frontier” in Western stories?
The unsettled or developing edge of society
How is the dude different from a traditional western hero?
He is laid back and avoids the tough-cowboy image. (multiple answers correct)
Who is one of the dudes closest friends and bowling partners?
Walter
Who is the 3rd member of The Dude and Walters bowling team?
Donny
What traditional Western character does The Dude resemble?
The cowboy
Name one common theme in Westerns.
Justice, independence, survival, conflict, etc.
What makes the dude similar to a western protagonist?
He's an outsider that gets pulled into a conflict.
What does Walter bring with him to the bowling alley that causes a problem during a match?
A gun
What problem pulls The Dude into the main story?
A kidnapping/ransom situation
How does the movie modernize the Western?
It puts Western themes and character types into contemporary Los Angeles. (multiple right answers)
T or F.
A story can use western conventions without being set in the old west.
True
Why can the dude be seen as a modern version of the wandering cowboy?
He moves through different social worlds/enviornments while becoming involved in conflicts around him. (multiple right answers)
What object belonging to The Dude becomes an important part of the beginning of the story? (what set off the movie events)
His rug
What genre does The Big Lebowski parody while also borrowing its conventions?
The Western
What is the biggest way "The Big Lebowski" changes the traditional Western?
It turns the serious Western hero and frontier story into a modern comedy.
What setting is traditionally associated with the Western genre?
The American West/frontier
What is The Dude's real name?
Jeffrey Lebowski
What does The Dude like to drink?
White russians
What year was The Big Lebowski released?
1998
What replaces the horse for The Dude?
His car