The Philosophy of the Western

Front Cover

WESTERN edited by Jennifer L. McMahon and B. Steve Csaki tHe pHilosopHy OF the T here are few film and television genres that capture the hearts of audiences like the western. While not always true to the past, westerns are tied to, and expressive of, the history of the United States. As such, they serve to both reflect and inform the American psyche. Indeed, the western is arguably the most iconic and influential genre in American cinema. Through characters like Shane, William Munny, and Al Swearengen, western films and TV shows continue to captivate viewers. The Philosophy of the Western features a variety of essays that consider the philosophical significance of westerns. From classic films such as Fort Apache (1948) and The Wild Bunch (1969) to contemporary films and TV shows such as 3:10 to Yuma (2007), No Country for Old Men (2007), and Deadwood (2004–2006), The Philosophy of the Western uses ancient and modern philosophical frameworks to analyze the underlying themes of the genre. Editors Jennifer L. McMahon and B. Steve Csaki have assembled a group of noted scholars to investigate questions of identity, ethics, (continued on back flap) McMahon and Csaki tHe pHilosopHy OF the WESTERN kentucky tHe pHilosopHy OF the WESTERN edited by Jennifer L. McMahon and B. Steve Csaki (continued from front flap) gender, animal rights, and other topics depicted in western narratives. Drawing from philosophers as varied as Aristotle, Spinoza, William James, and JeanPaul Sartre, The Philosophy of the Western examines themes that are central to the genre: individual freedom versus community; the encroachment of industry and development on the natural world; and the epistemological and ethical implications of the classic “lone rider” of the West. The philosophies of John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau figure prominently in discussions of human relationships and of the necessary conditions for social and political order in the West. The result is a wide-reaching study of fundamental questions about morality, identity, and social organization. The Philosophy of the Western offers a detailed analysis of the origins and continuing influence of a quintessentially American form of art and entertainment. Jennifer L. McMahon, associate professor and chair of the English and Languages Department at East Central University, is a contributor to The Philosophy of TV Noir, The Philosophy of Martin Scorsese, and The Philosophy of Science Fiction Film. B. Steve Csaki was most recently a visiting professor at Centre College, where he taught courses in philosophy, the humanities, and Japanese. PHILOSOPHY/FILM “The writing is accessible to nonspecialists and should be of interest to general readers who enjoy thinking about philosophy, film, or westerns.” —Karen D. Hoffman, Hood College 9 780813 125916 90000 THE PHILOSOPHY OF POPULAR CULTURE Series Editor: Mark T. Conard THE university press of kentucky The Philosophy of theWestern The Philosophy of Popular Culture The books published in the Philosophy of Popular Culture series will illuminate and explore philosophical themes and ideas that occur in popular culture. The goal of this series is to demonstrate how philosophical inquiry has been reinvigorated by increased scholarly interest in the intersection of popular culture and philosophy, as well as to explore through philosophical analysis beloved modes of entertainment, such as movies, TV shows, and music. Philosophical concepts will be made accessible to the general reader through examples in popular culture. This series seeks to publish both established and emerging scholars who will engage a major area of popular culture for philosophical interpretation and examine the philosophical underpinnings of its themes. Eschewing ephemeral trends of philosophical and cultural theory, authors will establish and elaborate on connections between traditional philosophical ideas from important thinkers and the ever-expanding world of popular culture. Series Editor Mark T. Conard, Marymount Manhattan College, NY Books in the Series The Philosophy of Stanley Kubrick, edited by Jerold J. Abrams Football and Philosophy, edited by Michael W. Austin Tennis and Philosophy, edited by David Baggett The Philosophy of the Coen Brothers, edited by Mark T. Conard The Philosophy of Film Noir, edited by Mark T. Conard The Philosophy of Martin Scorsese, edited by Mark T. Conard The Philosophy of Neo-Noir, edited by Mark T. Conard The Philosophy of Horror, edited by Thomas Fahy The Philosophy of The X-Files, edited by Dean A. Kowalski Steven Spielberg and Philosophy, edited by Dean A. Kowalski The Philosophy of Science Fiction Film, edited by Steven M. Sanders The Philosophy of TV Noir, edited...