Cowboy Classics: The Roots of the American Western in the Epic Tradition

Cowboy Classics looks at the remarkably intimate connection between Western film and Greek and Roman epic, each of which focuses on a mythic-historical period from the past where our societal notions of what constitutes heroism, masculinity, and honour were first forged. Through her insightful analysis of Red River, High Noon, Shane, The Searchers and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence, Kirsten Day illustrates the parallels between these seemingly disparate yet closely related genres, allowing us to see each through a new lens while gaining insight into the persistence of these concepts in our world today.