The Philosophy of the Western

""These essays, and others, connect rewardingly to ongoing discussions of Westerns in a broad context"--Choice Magazine" -- ""These essays make compelling cases"-- Western Historical Quarterly" -- ""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" -- ""The collection is evenly divided between classic and contemporary Westerns, providing a comprehensive overview of the history of the genre" -- Western American Literature" -- ""The authors examine the rise and recent resurgence of the iconic genre of American cinema -- its popularity, its claims on encapsulating American values, and its historical inaccuracies."--Moving Image Archives" -- ""For Western film fams and American scholars alike, The Philosophy of the Western is both enjoyable and enlightening. It will leave you longing to dust off the covers of your favorite Western films and rewatch them with a deeper sense of significance adn newfound appreciation."-- Journal of American Studies Association of Texas" -- ""Anyone interested in the mythic grip that Westerns have had and continue to have on the American imaginary will no doubt find something of interest in this collection."-- Great Plains Quarterly" -- ""A delightful collection, one that goes a long way toward bridging the fields of philosophy and film studies. At once erudite and readable, many of its essays offer solid summaries of philosophic concepts and movements....those familiar with the classic westerns will find the book a painless way to pick up some philosophy."-- American Studies" --

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 Simpsons and Philosophy. She lives in Stratford, Oklahoma. B. Steve Csaki was most recently a visiting professor at Centre College, where he taughtcourses in philosophy, the humanities, and Japanese. He lives in Stratford, Oklahoma.

Introduction Do Not Forsake Me My Darling Civilization and its Discontents Mommas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Pragmatists Two Ways to Yuma Landscapes of Gendered Violence Order Out of the Mud Order Without Law From Dollars to Iron The Dut