Recent political strife and doubt about our nation’s future can cause uniquely American ideas and experiences to leave a bitter taste. But solace in what makes America a unique nation can be found in one of its most popular genres of media: the Western.
From films to novels, the Western has remained a dominant stylistic choice for telling stories of the American ethos. Westerns have the ability to take a well-known region of the United States and relay a narrative that widely applies to our world today. The imagined American West created by filmmakers and authors reminds us of the great myths and ideals our country still cherishes today.
But what makes a Western unique? What characteristics have allowed this style of media to endure and express our nation’s core values? The most crucial feature of a Western story is undeniably, its setting.
The American West “embodied unspoiled nature, an environment where men could free themselves from the constraints of civilization, overcome alienation, achieve wholeness and commune with nature.” The wildness and physical demand of the West appeals to American values of self-determination, ownership of labor and the search for new beginnings.
The brutality of the American West is also idealized in the Western genre, frequently displaying saloon shoot-outs, stampedes and environmental disasters. The unforgiving nature of the Western’s world serves to highlight the unconquerable American spirit and the right of every individual to pursue their own goals and aspirations they couldn’t achieve in society.
The West caused settlers to become beholden to a trying and brutal system they believed would result in their independence, romanticizing the meaning and importance of freedom without realizing how much more dependence the west would require of them.
As an individual heads into the wilderness of the western U.S., the pieces of civilization they bring with them become all the more important. This interplay of dependence and independence, wilderness and civilization, law and lawlessness, tyranny and freedom; these are the tensions on which the American ethos balances.
This is the beauty of the Western. The desire for individuality while grappling with how advancements and new movements can restrict our liberties is a wholly American contradiction that a Western can capture eloquently.
However, it must be noted that the mythologized world of the Western can frequently push the roles of people of color and women to the side, refusing to highlight the critical roles these groups played in the historical period. Westerns taking place in the late 19th century often vilify Native Americans as well, and typically lack historical contexts of the atrocities American settlers inflicted upon Native peoples.
These are truths of American history, and should be discussed alongside idealized stories of American values.
With this in mind, here are five Western films and novels that I believe capture an image of a universal and admired America.
“Lonesome Dove” by Larry McMurtry: A captivating and personable story of a group of retired Texas rangers who decide to complete a cattle drive from south Texas to Montana. I’d be lying if I said this book wasn’t my inspiration for writing this article. “Lonesome Dove” has something for everyone, shoot outs, unrequited love, humor, journeys of self forgiveness, you name it. This “there and back again” tale is also unique for a Western as it features three main female characters, each with distinct personalities and aspirations.
“Hell or High Water” by David Mackenzie: This modern Western film follows two brothers who turn to bank robberies as their means to save their family’s farm in west Texas. Starring Chris Pine and Jeff Bridges, “Hell or High Water” will leave you questioning whether family ties justify leading an outlaw life.
“No Country For Old Men” by Ethan and Joel Coen: This 2007 Western noir from the Coen brothers follows Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) as he attempts to secure a hefty sum of cash found at a failed cartel deal, while being chased by a sociopathic hitman (Javier Bardem). The film and book both contain an excellent commentary on the state of violence in the modern world, and argue that it's never truly changed.
“In a Narrow Grave” by Larry McMurtry: A collection of short stories and essays, “In a Narrow Grave” captures a native Texan’s outlook on the disappearance of the American frontier. It’s raw, emotional and extremely introspective, you almost get the sense that McMurtry is laying his heart and identity with the west bear for all to see.
“Once Upon a Time in the West” by Sergio Leone: Choosing my favorite Western among Sergio Leone’s filmography was about as hard as I imagine it is for a parent to pick their favorite child, but this film narrowly takes the cake. It’s everything a golden age Western film should be: bold and big. A grandiose Western that still succeeds in capturing individuality and humanity.
Paul O’Gorman is a sophomore studying history. Do you agree that narratives of cowboys and the American West can remind us of our nation’s values? Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com
