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The evolution of the cowboy myth
From hero to antihero : the cowboy myth and society
The cowboy is one of the most iconic figures in American culture. Originally seen as a symbol of freedom, bravery, and individualism, the cowboy myth shaped the American imagination during the 20th century, especially through the cinema and in songs. In classic westerns, the cowboy was usually a white, strong, silent man, fighting for justice in a wild and dangerous land. This figure reflected traditional values of masculinity, patriotism, and the idea of conquering the frontier.
However, in the 21st century, society has changed and so has the cowboy. New generations have started to question this ideal : what voices were left out of the original myth ? What stories were never told ? As a result, artists and filmmakers began to deconstruct the cowboy image, showing more complex, diverse, and critical perspectives.
Finally the myth is no longer just about the Wild West. It has become a way to explore current issues like racism, violence, gender, and power. The cowboy still rides, but now he asks questions or sometimes, his alter ego, the cowgirl does.
From John Wayne to Tarantino : rewriting the Western
In the 1950s and 60s, John Wayne became the face of the classic cowboy. Directed by John Ford, he played strong, patriotic men defending law and order. Films like Stagecoach and The Searchers created a clear image of the cowboy as a white saviour in a wild land, most of the time ignoring, even despising and stereotyping Native Americans and other minorities.
But starting in the 1990s, filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino and the Coen brothers began to challenge these ideas. In Django Unchained (2012), Tarantino created a new kind of cowboy : Django, a formerly enslaved Black man who takes revenge on slave owners. The film combines western style with historical justice and gives the cowboy myth a radical twist.
Similarly, the Coen brothers’ films such as No Country for Old Men (2007) and True Grit (2010) explore violence, morality, and failure. Their cowboys are often lost, old, or morally confused, far from the clean-cut heroes of the past. These films break the myth and reflect a more modern, uncertain world.
In both cases, the cowboy becomes a tool for storytelling innovation. By keeping the form but changing the meaning, modern filmmakers create space for new ideas, new identities, and new voices that allow minorities to be showed differently on screens.
