AMS 1939 - THE WESTERN IN AMERICAN CULTURE

credits: 3.0
This course explores what is perhaps the most widely recognized genre in American culture-The Western-through a consideration of popular fiction, television, movies, and art. Among the texts we will study: novels by Zane Grey and Owen Wister, the films of John Ford and Clint Eastwood, the art of Frederic Remington and Charles Russell. We will trace the development of the genre from its classic through its revisionist phases, paying particular attention to the way in which the Western has both shaped and reflected certain ideas about American identity, gender roles, and race relations. Objectives: A) Identify and describe the key themes in the Western genre; B) Compare and contrast the variety of traditions within the genre; C) Interpret a variety of texts as expressions of the genre. Method of Instruction: Lecture and discussion. Method of Evaluation: Reading quizzes and in-class writing; weekly film reviews; three 5-6 page essays. Meets *WEP Distribution Requirement.