Representations of the Old West in 21st Century Film and Television

In a land that leaves no more territory to be conquered, cultivating frontier culture as a means of entertainment may appear futile. Seeking a thrill, recapturing the adventurous character of the pioneers' travels is hardly ever entirely achieved by rodeo rallies, poker tournaments, or naked cowboys strolling up and down Times Square to the tourists' amusement. Any sense of excitement or discomfort we may derive from tales of the Old West rely heavily on how those stories are told, for we cannot possibly experience the same, and the many years that separate our present generations from the days of westward colonization make these events difficult to relate to.

Yet, from Los Angeles writing rooms facing the Pacific Ocean, creative minds are forever trying to make the distance appear smaller, trying to shed different lights on the most widespread representations and bringing their own take to mainstream screens across the world, be it on television or in theaters. In recent months and years, such endeavors have multiplied in a surprising variety of genres ranging from science fiction to satire. These new productions have little interest in bearing witness to the contemporary times, but rather attach themselves to breathing new life into history: now revisiting past episodes, now working elements of the well-known myths into fresh fictional stories. Although the effort is laudable, response from audiences and critics is not always unanimous, and one is entitled to ask oneself: how should the 21st century representations of the frontier in film and television be perceived?