Northern (genre)

Northern, often stylized as "Northern" or sometimes as "Arctic Western," refers to a subgenre of film, television, and literature that transposes the themes and conventions of the Western genre to a setting in the Arctic, subarctic, or other northern regions.

Common characteristics of the Northern genre include:

• Setting: The primary setting is typically a cold, harsh, and sparsely populated northern landscape, often featuring snow, ice, mountains, and remote settlements. This environment plays a crucial role, often acting as a character in itself, shaping the lives and motivations of the inhabitants.

• Themes: Similar to the Western, Northerns often explore themes of survival, isolation, lawlessness, the clash between civilization and the wilderness, and the struggle for resources. Specific themes unique to the North might include the exploitation of indigenous populations, the impact of resource extraction (e.g., gold, oil), and the challenges of adapting to extreme weather conditions.

• Characters: Northern narratives frequently feature rugged individualists, prospectors, fur trappers, Mounties (Royal Canadian Mounted Police), and members of indigenous communities. Characters are often driven by ambition, greed, or a desire to escape their past. The interaction between these groups often forms the central conflict.

• Visuals: The visual style of Northerns typically emphasizes the stark beauty and unforgiving nature of the northern landscape. Snow-covered vistas, frozen rivers, and log cabins are common visual motifs.

• Relationship to the Western: While distinct, the Northern genre draws heavily from the Western tradition. It can be seen as an adaptation of the Western formula to a different geographical and cultural context. The concept of the frontier, a central element of the Western, is also present in the Northern, albeit in a colder, more isolated form.