Westerns and Social Commentary

Throughout history Americans have had a fascination with unexplored, uncharted, and untamed territory. Never has this been so pronounced as with the American west.
Stories of bravery, new peoples, cultures, and strange new lands have enchanted Americans for nearly two centuries. This attraction is strikingly prominent in the film history of the west. Yet, despite it's early and lasting popularity, the Western has not until recent years attracted the attention of interpretive critics. Many critics viewed Westerns as an escapist, immature medium. …