Spring 2019

The Neo-Western

Listed in: American Studies, as AMST-224

Formerly listed as: AMST-24

Faculty

Robert T. Hayashi (Section 01)

Description

From the advertising copy and backdrop of truck ads to the democratic rhetoric of politicians, the West as a place of national mythology still permeates American culture.  In this course, we will analyze the evolution of the West as a prominent site of American myth and the contemporary representations of it in literature and film, the Neo-Westerns.  Students will read works by authors such as Annie Proulx, Cormac McCarthy, Sherman Alexi, and Percival Everett, as well as view recent popular films by Ang Lee, Clint Eastwood, and John Sayles.  The course will also include readings in history, as well as other disciplines, to contextualize the creative works and to gauge how the myth of the West compares to its reality and how truly revisionist its most current represenations are.

Limited to 20 students.  Spring semester.  Professor Hayashi.

If Overenrolled: Preference will be given to American Studies majors.

Offerings

2022-23: Not offered
Other years: Offered in Fall 2009, Spring 2011, Spring 2015, Spring 2019, Spring 2020