Captivating Westerns: The Middle East in the American West (Postwestern Horizons)

Tracing the transnational influences of what has been known as a uniquely American genre, “the Western,” Susan Kollin’s __Captivating Westerns__ analyzes key moments in the history of multicultural encounters between the Middle East and the American West. In particular, the book examines how experiences of contact and conflict have played a role in defining the western United States as a crucial American landscape. Kollin interprets the popular Western as a powerful national narrative and presents the cowboy hero as a captivating figure who upholds traditional American notions of freedom and promise, not just in the region but across the globe. __Captivating Westerns__ revisits popular uses of the Western plot and cowboy hero in understanding American global power in the post-9/11 period. Although various attempts to build a case for the war on terror have referenced this quintessential American region, genre, and hero, they have largely overlooked the ways in which these celebrated spaces, icons, and forms, rather than being uniquely American, are instead the result of numerous encounters with and influences from the Middle East. By tracing this history of contact, encounter, and borrowing, this study expands the scope of transnational studies of the cowboy and the Western and in so doing discloses the powerful and productive influence of the Middle East on the American West. Tracing The Transnational Influences Of What Has Been Known As A Uniquely American Genre, The Western, Susan Kollin's Captivating Westerns Analyzes Key Moments In The History Of Multicultural Encounters Between The Middle East And The American West. In Particular, The Book Examines How Experiences Of Contact And Conflict Have Played A Role In Defining The Western United States As A Crucial American Landscape. Kollin Interprets The Popular Western As A Powerful National Narrative And Presents The Cowboy Hero As A Captivating Figure Who Upholds Traditional American Notions Of Freedom And Promise, Not Just In The Region But Across The Globe. Captivating Westerns Revisits Popular Uses Of The Western Plot And Cowboy Hero In Understanding American Global Power In The Post-9/11 Period. Although Various Attempts To Build A Case For The War On Terror Have Referenced This Quintessential American Region, Genre, And Hero, They Have Largely Overlooked The Ways In Which These Celebrated Spaces, Icons, And Forms, Rather Than Being Uniquely American, Are Instead The Result Of Numerous Encounters With And Influences From The Middle East. By Tracing This History Of Contact, Encounter, And Borrowing, This Study Expands The Scope Of Transnational Studies Of The Cowboy And The Western And In So Doing Discloses The Powerful And Productive Influence Of The Middle East On The American West-- Captivating Westerns Examines The Contact And Conflict Between The United States And The Middle East In The Introduction, Production, And Circulation Of The Film And Literary Western, And The Racial Politics Embedded In The Various Versions And Revisions Of The Western Genre-- Introduction: Transnational Cowboys And The Middle East -- I Longed To Be An Arab: The Eastern Origins Of The Western -- From The Moors: The Easts And West Of Willa Cather -- On Savagery And Civilization: Buffalo Bill And The East -- The Persian Peddler And The Egyptian Elixir: Racial Intimacies In Oklahoma! -- Specters Of Loss: Violence And The National Mission In Post-9/11 Westerns -- East Of The Spaghetti Western: Global Travels Of The Genre -- Conclusion: Once Upon A Time In The Middle East. Susan Kollin. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Tracing the transnational influences of what has been known as a uniquely American genre, "the Western," Susan Kollin's Captivating Westerns analyzes key moments in the history of multicultural encounters between the Middle East and the American West. In particular, the book examines how experiences of contact and conflict have played a role in defining the western United States as a crucial American landscape. Kollin interprets the popular Western as a powerful national narrative and presents the cowboy hero as a captivating figure who upholds traditional American notions of freedom and promise, not just in the region but across the globe. Captivating Westerns revisits popular uses of the Western plot and cowboy hero in understanding American global power in the post-9/11 period. Although various attempts to build a case for the war on terror have referenced this quintessential American region, genre, and hero, they have largely overlooked the ways in which these celebrated spaces, icons, and forms, rather than being uniquely American, are instead the result of numerous encounters with and influences from the Middle East. By tracing this history of contact, encounter, and borrowing, this study expands the scope of transnational studies of the cowboy and the Western and in so doing discloses the powerful and productive influence of the Middle East on the American West"-- Provided by publisher Cover 1 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Contents 8 List of Illustrations 10 Acknowledgments 12 Introduction: Transnational Cowboys and the Middle East 18 1. “I Longed to Be an Arab”: The Eastern Originsof the Western 48 2. From the Moors: The Easts and Wests of Willa Cather 80 3. On Savagery and Civilization: Buffalo Bill and the East 104 4. The Persian Peddler and the Egyptian Elixir: Racial Intimacies in Oklahoma! 130 5. Specters of Loss: Violence and the National Missionin Post- 9/11 Westerns 162 6. East of the Spaghetti Western: Global Travelsof the Genre 198 Conclusion: Once Upon a Time in the Middle East 228 Notes 240 Bibliography 264 Index 284 "Captivating Westerns examines the contact and conflict between the United States and the Middle East in the introduction, production, and circulation of the film and literary Western, and the racial politics embedded in the various versions and revisions of the Western genre"-- Provided by publisher