This research paper explores the myths and realities in the depiction of the American West in popular culture, with a focus on the representation of Native Americans. It aims to confirm or reject the thesis that despite significant changes in attitudes and depictions from early literary works to contemporary revisionist attempts, certain myths and plot elements persist. The paper includes a preliminary consideration of the mythicization of the American West and its reflection in popular culture, particularly film. It culminates in an analysis of two Western genre films, John Ford’s "Stagecoach" (1939) and Tommy Lee Jones’ "The Homesman" (2014), to evaluate whether enduring genre conventions and myths about Native Americans remain prevalent.
Diese Lektürearbeit untersucht die Mythen und Realitäten in der Darstellung des amerikanischen Westens in der Populärkultur, mit einem besonderen Fokus auf die Repräsentation der indigenen Völker. Ziel ist es, die These zu bestätigen oder zu widerlegen, dass trotz signifikanter Veränderungen in den Einstellungen und Darstellungen von frühen literarischen Werken bis hin zu zeitgenössischen revisionistischen Ansätzen bestimmte Mythen und Handlungselemente weiterhin bestehen. Die Arbeit beinhaltet eine vorläufige Betrachtung der Mythisierung des amerikanischen Westens und deren Reflexion in der Populärkultur, insbesondere im Film. Sie gipfelt in einer Analyse von zwei Filmen des Western-Genres, John Fords "Stagecoach" (1939) und Tommy Lee Jones' "The Homesman" (2014), um zu bewerten, ob weiterhin bestehende Genre-Konventionen und Mythen über indigene Völker vorherrschen.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Preliminary Considerations
- 2.1 The Significance of the Myth of the West
- 2.2 Reflection of Myths and Realities in Popular Culture
- 2.3 Attitudes Towards Native Americans
- 3 Analysis of Stagecoach (1939) and The Homesman (2014)
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This research paper investigates the myths and realities in the depiction of the American West in popular culture, focusing on the representation of Native Americans. The central thesis is that while attitudes and depictions have changed, certain myths and plot elements persist. The paper analyzes John Ford's Stagecoach (1939) and Tommy Lee Jones' The Homesman (2014) to explore this thesis.
- The mythologization of the American West and the creation of stereotypes.
- The reflection of Western myths and realities in popular culture, particularly film.
- The evolution of attitudes towards and depictions of Native Americans in popular narratives.
- The persistence of genre conventions and myths in Western films.
- The comparison of classic and revisionist Western films to assess the enduring impact of myths.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the research paper's central question: how have myths and realities surrounding the American West, particularly concerning Native Americans, evolved in popular culture? It establishes a thesis arguing that while depictions have changed, certain myths and narrative elements persist. The methodology is outlined, focusing on analyzing John Ford's Stagecoach (1939) and Tommy Lee Jones' The Homesman (2014) to test this thesis. The introduction also highlights the discrepancy between popular perceptions and scholarly interpretations of the West, setting the stage for a critical examination of these contrasting perspectives.
2.1 The Significance of the Myth of the West: This section explores the enduring power and significance of the American West myth for many US Americans. It examines how the myth functions as a national symbol and touchstone for national identity, despite varied interpretations. The chapter contrasts scholarly critiques of the West's mythologization (which often highlight problematic racial and gender aspects) with the persistent popularity of idealized narratives. Key figures like Frederick Jackson Turner and Patricia Nelson Limerick are discussed, representing differing perspectives on the frontier myth and its historical accuracy. The section concludes by highlighting the significant divergence between scholarly and popular understandings of the West, setting the groundwork for the film analyses that follow.
2.2 Reflection of Myths and Realities in Popular Culture: This section delves into how myths and realities of the American West are reflected in popular culture, especially film. It examines the early formulas used in depicting the West and the persistence of genre conventions. The chapter explores how the myths discussed in the previous section translated into concrete narrative formulas and explains why these narratives proved enduringly popular. This lays the foundation for the analysis of specific films in the next section by highlighting the evolution and persistence of particular genre conventions.
2.3 Attitudes Towards Native Americans: This section focuses on how attitudes towards and the representation of Native Americans evolved in popular narratives, from dime novels and Wild West shows to Hollywood productions. The chapter investigates whether and why changes in representation occurred and why they were widely accepted. The analysis identifies persistent myths and stereotypes, which will be used in the subsequent film analysis to examine their presence in Stagecoach and The Homesman.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
American West, myth, reality, popular culture, film, Native Americans, representation, stereotypes, genre conventions, revisionist Westerns, Frederick Jackson Turner, Patricia Nelson Limerick, Stagecoach, The Homesman, historical interpretations, national identity.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the main topic of this research paper?
This research paper investigates the myths and realities surrounding the depiction of the American West in popular culture, with a particular focus on the representation of Native Americans. It analyzes how these depictions have evolved over time and examines the persistence of certain myths and stereotypes.
What films are analyzed in this research paper?
The paper analyzes John Ford's Stagecoach (1939) and Tommy Lee Jones' The Homesman (2014) as case studies to explore the evolution of Western myths and the representation of Native Americans in film.
What are the key themes explored in the research paper?
Key themes include the mythologization of the American West, the reflection of Western myths and realities in popular culture (especially film), the evolution of attitudes towards and depictions of Native Americans, the persistence of genre conventions and myths in Western films, and a comparison of classic and revisionist Western films to assess the enduring impact of myths.
What is the central thesis of the research paper?
The central thesis is that while attitudes and depictions of the American West and Native Americans have changed over time, certain myths and plot elements persist in popular culture, particularly in Western films.
How does the paper approach the analysis of the chosen films?
The paper uses a comparative analysis of Stagecoach and The Homesman to examine how the myths and realities of the American West are represented in classic and more revisionist Western films. It explores the evolution of these representations and the persistence of certain stereotypes.
What is the significance of the "Myth of the West"?
The paper explores the enduring power and significance of the American West myth as a national symbol and touchstone for national identity. It contrasts scholarly critiques of this myth (often highlighting problematic racial and gender aspects) with its persistent popularity in idealized narratives. Key figures like Frederick Jackson Turner and Patricia Nelson Limerick are discussed, representing differing perspectives.
How are attitudes towards Native Americans addressed?
The research examines how attitudes towards and the representation of Native Americans have evolved in popular narratives, from dime novels and Wild West shows to Hollywood productions. It investigates the persistence of myths and stereotypes and how these are reflected in the chosen films.
What is the structure of the research paper?
The paper is structured into chapters covering an introduction, preliminary considerations (including the significance of the Western myth, reflection of myths in popular culture, and attitudes towards Native Americans), and an analysis of Stagecoach and The Homesman. Each chapter offers a summary.
What keywords are associated with this research?
Keywords include: American West, myth, reality, popular culture, film, Native Americans, representation, stereotypes, genre conventions, revisionist Westerns, Frederick Jackson Turner, Patricia Nelson Limerick, Stagecoach, The Homesman, historical interpretations, national identity.
What is the intended audience of this research preview?
This preview is intended for academic use, supporting the analysis of themes in a structured and professional manner.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Anonym (Autor:in), 2020, Change and Persistence in the Representations of Native Americans in Popular Narratives of the American West, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1488098
