Contemporary Western
Subtitle: An American Genre Post 9/11
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
Published: 2019
Language: eng
Number of pages: 192
ISBN-13: 9781474427920
Subjects: Western films
Description: The September 11th attacks in 2001 and the subsequent 'War on Terror' have had a profound effect on American cinema, and the contemporary Western is no exception. In this book, John White explores how films such as Open Range, True Grit and Jane Got a Gun reinforce a conservative myth of America exceptionalism; endorsing the use of extreme force in dealing with enemies and highlighting the importance of defending the homeland. Placing their characters within a dark world of confusion and horror, these films reflect the United States' post-9/11 uncertainties, and the conflict between civilised values and the brutality employed to defend them.