| Kommentar |
We all know these images: bank-robbing outlaws, Indians on horseback lined up on a nearby ridge, a gunslinger shootout at noon, a lone cowboy riding off into the sunset, majestic mountain vistas, desert skylines, and expansive prairies. Yet, in their familiarity and attractiveness, these visions often obfuscate the profoundly significant and, at times, controversial cultural work they perform. In this seminar, we will examine the lucrative, often contentious, and (perhaps) surprisingly contemporaneous genre, known broadly as "the Western," considering what it has and continues to comprise and its various functions. In the first half of the semester, we will trace the genre's formation and conventions by closely reading the work of literary artists like Owen Wister and a selection of films. Following, we will explore the Western's continuing legacy and role in shaping American culture, where students will take over selecting the texts and conducting the seminar sessions' explorations and discussions. |
| Literatur |
Students are expected to obtain a copy of Owen Wister's novel, The Virginian. Any edition will do.
All other seminar materials will be made available via Moodle, showing, check-out.
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