When you think of a Western, you might think of Clint Eastwood inA Few Dollars MoreorSam Elliott inTombstone, depending on the year you were born. Or, you might think of John Wayne inThe Trail Beyondif you’re a fan of more traditional Westerns. If you’re into more modern storytelling, perhaps your mind takes you toThe Harder They Fall, a Western that features a predominantly Black cast that looks ridiculously cool while riding horses. Whatever the case might be, the Western genre will always have a place on the big screen.
Now more than ever, there has been a resurgence of cowboys on screen, as well as a redefining of what a cowboy is and what they can be. With modern shows such asYellowstone, Outer Range,1883,and all the other installments, they are revitalizing the Western genre. By doing so, more people now have the opportunity to get into what it means to be part of cowboy culture, as well as ranch life. The genre isn’t exclusive, although it might help if you’re familiar with some old Western movies. Instead, it’s inviting for whoever wants to join in.With the Netflix movieThe Harder They Fall, we get to see something that wasn’t common for the genre in previous decades; Black cowboys. It’s truly exciting to see where this genre goes as it delves deeper into more modern views and stories.
The Romanticization of Cowboys
One of the reasons Westerns will always be relevant and popular is because of how appealing the lifestyle is portrayed. Filmmakers and show runners do a great job of making the audience wish they could live a day like the characters in their favorite movies and shows, even if that means having a list of chores as a ranch hand. There’s something about watching a bunch of cowboys work together to herd cattle that might make people experience FOMO in the weirdest of ways. InYellowstone,all the charactersgo through some major life eventin almost every single season, and yet, we love it every single time.
Yellowstoneis a great representation of cowboys being romanticized, solely because of the character Rip Wheeler. He’s the fan-favorite of the successful series, even though it wasn’t intentional. People can’t get enough of him. He’s extremely loyal, protective, often violent, and soft toward the love of his life, Beth Dutton. Fans of the show want someone like Rip in their lives, and honestly, can we blame them?
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The Nostalgia of a Western
Westerns can be very nostalgic for people who grew up on them as children, or who grew up on a ranch and want to compare their experiences. Something that often pops up in a modern Western show or movie is the hard work that goes into making a ranch run and operate smoothly. It’s not easy or light work, and the Amazon Prime showOuter Rangebalances what it’s like to live on a family ranch that doesn’t necessarily have the funds to survive, but certainly has the heart.Outer Rangebalances real-life instancesand supernatural themes that make the show interesting and fresh to viewers. It’s nostalgic in a way that makes you long for ranch life, but also eerie in a way that makes you not want to be involved in that at all.
Older Westerns often have a showdown between two characters, with the scene filled with tension and close shots of the eyes of each individual. Now, in modern Westerns, more often than not, the showdown lasts several episodes and isn’t resolved until half of the group is dead. Fans of older Westerns can find enjoyment in that,especially inOuter Range, where the Abbott family often faces off with the Tillersons. It’s a good old-fashioned conflict where the Tillersons want land that the Abbott family owns, but the Abbotts aren’t too keen on giving it up (for sinister reasons).
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Evolution of Cowboys Through Film
In the fifth installment ofThe Purgefranchise, an argument arises between the two main characters about what a “real” cowboy should look like. Juan, the cowboy, states that Dylan often doesn’t see him as a real cowboy because he isn’t white, but in reality, cowboys come in all shapes and sizes. There isn’t a specific race that the role of a cowboy falls into, and throughout media and its evolution, different types of modern Westerns have been popping up.Jordan Peele’sNopeis a prime exampleof having a modern cowboy in the role of O.J. Even though it’s a horror-thriller, there are plenty of Western themes that fill the movie, such as O.J.’s dedication to his late father’s property and livelihood.
O.J. is a great cowboy; you can see it in the way he takes care of his horses, and he also doesn’t abandon them when things get dicey. He’s a modern cowboy; he doesn’t wear the traditional garb that one might see in other shows and movies, instead swapping them out for hoodies and jeans. In the end, O.J. proves to be one of the best riders, as he leads Jean Jacket away from the ranch while also protecting his horse by shielding its eyes with a fly mask. Not only is he brave, but this entire movie is a great example of a cowboy not needing to be white or traditional.
