The Philosophy of the Western (Philosophy Of Popular Culture)

The western is arguably the most iconic and influential genre in American cinema. The solitude of the lone rider, the loyalty of his horse, and the unspoken code of the West render the genre popular yet lead it to offer a view of America's history that is sometimes inaccurate. For many, the western embodies America and its values. In recent years, scholars had declared the western genre dead, but a steady resurgence of western themes in literature, film, and television has reestablished the genre as one of the most important. In The Philosophy of the Western, editors Jennifer L. McMahon and B. Steve Csaki examine philosophical themes in the western genre. Investigating subjects of nature, ethics, identity, gender, environmentalism, and animal rights, the essays draw from a wide range of westerns including the recent popular and critical successes Unforgiven (1992), All the Pretty Horses (2000), 3:10 to Yuma (2007), and No Country for Old Men (2007), as well as literature and television serials such as Deadwood. The Philosophy of the Western reveals the influence of the western on the American psyche, filling a void in the current scholarship of the genre. Pt. 1. The cowboy way: the essence of the western hero. "Do not forsake me, oh, my darling": loneliness and solitude in westerns / Shai Biderman Civilization and its discontents: the self-sufficient western hero / Douglas J. Den Uyl Mommas, don't let your babies grow up to be pragmatists / B. Steve Csaki Two ways to Yuma: Locke, liberalism, and western masculinity in 3:10 to Yuma / Stephen J. Mexal Landscapes of gendered violence: male love and anxiety on the railroad / Lindsey Collins Pt. 2. The code of the West: the cowboy and society. "Order out of the mud": Deadwood and the state of nature / Paul A. Cantor Order without law: The Magnificent Seven, East and West / Aeon J. Skoble From dollars to iron: the currency of Clint Eastwood's westerns / David L. McNaron The duty of reason: Kantian ethics in High Noon / Daw-Nay Evans Pt. 3. Outlaws: challenging conventions of the western. The cost of the code: ethical consequences in High Noon and the Ox-Bow Incident / Ken Hada "Back off to what?" The search for meaning in The Wild Bunch / Richard Gaughran No Country for Old Men: the decline of ethics and the west(ern) / William J. Devlin The northwestern: McCabe and Mrs. Miller / George McKnight Pt. 4. On the fringe: the encounter with the other Savage nations: Native Americans and the western / Michael Valdez Moses Regeneration through stories and song: the view from the other side of the west in Smoke Signals / Richard Gilmore Go west, young woman! "Hegel's dialectic and women's identities in western films / Gary Heba and Robin Murphy Beating a live horse: the elevation and degradation of horses in westerns / Jennifer L. McMahon. Essays about how stories of the Old West reflect#8212;and affect#8212;our beliefs and values. The solitude of the lone rider, the loyalty of his horse, and the unspoken code of the West#8212;for many, Western movies embody America and its values, though the view of the country's history they present isn't always accurate. In recent years, scholars had declared the genre dead, but a steady resurgence of western themes in literature, film, and television has reestablished its importance and influence. In The Philosophy of the Western , editors Jennifer L. McMahon and B. Steve Csaki examine philosophical themes in the western genre. Investigating subjects of nature, ethics, identity, gender, environmentalism, and animal rights, the essays in this volume draw from a wide range of westerns including the more recent popular and critical successes Unforgiven , All the Pretty Horses , 3:10 to Yuma , and No Country for Old Men , as well as literature and television serials such as Deadwood . The Philosophy of the Western reveals the powerful role of the western in the American psyche There are few genres that capture the hearts of their audiences like the Western. While they are not always true to it, Westerns are tied to, and expressive of, the history of the United States. As such, they serve both to reflect and inform the American psyche. Indeed, the Western is arguably the most iconic and influential genre in American cinema. Through characters like Shane and William Munny, it continues to captivate audience's imaginations. The Philosophy of the Western features a variety of essays that consider the philosophical significance of Westerns. From classic films such as Fort Apache (1948) and The Wild Bunch (1969) to contemporary films and TV shows such as 3:10 to Yuma (2007), No Country for Old Men (2007), and Deadwood (2004-6), The Philosophy of the Western uses modern philosophical thought to analyze the underlying thematic framework of the genre. Editors Jennifer L. McMahon and B. Steve Csaki gather noted contributors to investigate, among other things, identity, ethics, gender, and animal rights within the western Title Page Copyright Contents INTRODUCTION Part 1: THE COWBOY WAY “DO NOT FORSAKE ME, OH, MY DARLING” CIVILIZATION AND ITS DISCONTENTS MOMMAS, DON’T LET YOUR BABIES GROW UP TO BE PRAGMATISTS TWO WAYS TO YUMA LANDSCAPES OF GENDERED VIOLENCE Part 2: THE CODE OF THE WEST “ORDER OUT OF THE MUD” ORDER WITHOUT LAW FROM DOLLARS TO IRON THE DUTY OF REASON Part 3: OUTLAWS THE COST OF THE CODE “BACK OFF TO WHAT?” NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN THE NORTHWESTERN Part 4: ON THE FRINGE SAVAGE NATIONS REGENERATION THROUGH STORIES AND SONG GO WEST, YOUNG WOMAN! BEATING A LIVE HORSE SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTORS INDEX Back Cover "'The Philosophy of the Western' features a variety of essays that consider the philosophical significance of westerns. From classic films such as Fort Apache (1948) and The Wild Bunch (1969) to contemporary films and TV shows such as 3:10 to Yuma (2007), and Deadwood (2004-2006), 'The Philosophy of the Western' uses ancient and modern philosophical frameworks to analyze the underlying themes of the genre."--Jacket Presenting the most humorous, enlightening, and touching moments of a remarkable fifty-year career, Kentucky Lawyer provides an authoritative and enjoyable portrayal of the legal profession. Mac Swinford, a legend of the Kentucky bar and bench, tackles t