The Evolution of the Western

Book excerpt: Explore the enduring influence of the Western – the quintessential American film genre – and its essential role in US and world culture. Follow the entire history of the Western, from its roots in the pulp novels of the early 20th century, through the serials of the silent era and the mid-century classics of John Ford and John Wayne, to the recent award-winning revisionist works, like Unforgiven and No Country for Old Men, that provide a more complex and nuanced take on history of the West. Perhaps more than any other pop culture genre, the Western allows us to view how Americans have seen themselves over the last 150 years. Build a foundational understanding of the genre with 5 introductory essays, exploring the development of the Western Mythos in the traditional Western, the heyday of the traditional Western in the post-WWII period, revisionist Westerns and the counterculture, race and identify, and the Western outside of the USA. Close to 100 encyclopedia entries examine one or more movies or television programs and show how their creation and plots demonstrate the overall evolution of the genre. Easily compare films and TV programs – from early genre favorites such as Gunsmoke to more recent releases like Django Unchained – with essential facts boxes accompanying each entry, with information on the director, studio, key actors, and box office receipts.