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Scope Note:

Fictional work set in the period of American westward expansion. In the name of civilization, the wilderness is conquered and nature subordinated. Key thematic oppositions are between civilization and nature, law and anarchy, settler and nomad, and the new arrivals and the Native American. The hero is a person of integrity and principle, who tames the land, stands alone, faces danger, and is the fastest draw. Although usually set in the western United States from 1865-1900, settings in the Western may extend back to the era of America's colonial period (THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS), or as far geographically as Mexico (THE WILD BUNCH), and into the first half of the 20th century. Many westerns made through the 1950s used a contemporary setting for traditional western narratives, and a few examples of the genre continue to be made, set in modern times (LONELY ARE THE BRAVE; WALKER--TEXAS RANGER). Note: For musical westerns use Musical in conjunction with Western (ANNIE GET YOUR GUN; PAINT YOUR WAGON), but for a Western using a singing hero, such as Gene Autry, use Singing cowboy. Not necessary to also use Historical, since that is implied by Western. For films which use conventions and temporal period of the American west (the frontier, gunslingers, ranching, rugged individualism) but are set in Australia (THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER; RANGLE RIVER; KANGAROO [1952]), add the 655z subfield for Australia (for instance, 655#avz#Western#Feature#Australia). Feature examples: CALAMITY JANE (with Musical; Romance; Biographical); CIMARRON (with Adaptation); THE COVERED WAGON (with Adaptation); DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK (with Adaptation); THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY; THE GUNFIGHTER; HELL'S HINGES; HIGH NOON; THE IRON HORSE (with Adaptation); MY DARLING CLEMENTINE; NORTHWEST PASSAGE (with Adaptation); THE OX-BOW INCIDENT (with Social problem; Adaptation); THE PLAINSMAN; POSSE (with Ethnic); RED RIVER; SHANE; STAGECOACH; TRUE GRIT; UNFORGIVEN. TV examples: THE BIG VALLEY; BONANZA; CHEYENNE; THE CISCO KID; DR. QUINN, MEDICINE WOMAN (with Medical); F-TROOP (with Situation comedy); GUNSMOKE; RAWHIDE; WAGON TRAIN.

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