The Western Genre

The Wild West era was a period in American history from roughly 1865 to 1895, characterised by westward expansion, cattle ranching, and the conflicts that arose from settlement. It was a time of both rapid growth and lawlessness, with events including the Great Western Migration, cowboy culture, Native American conflicts, and the actions of outlaws and lawmen.

The Western genre in literature really hit its stride from the late 19th to the mid-20th century. The romanticised version often shown in fiction is a fictionalised, stylised version of this complex and violent period. It created national myths about rugged individualism, manifest destiny, and the classic struggle between civilisation and the wilderness.

Its main themes are about journey, justice, and finding redemption, often featuring icons like the lone gunslinger or the stoic sheriff.

BROWSE TITLES

Sexism, Violence, and the Bad Stuff

But the old-school Western story is often criticised for its heavy misogyny and sexism. Female characters were frequently stuck in passive roles (think the 'schoolmarm' or the 'prostitute'), mostly existing as prizes, moral compasses, or victims whose main job was to push the male hero's plot forward. They rarely had their own power or complicated inner lives.

Likewise, the genre loved to romanticise violence, relying on gunfights as the ultimate—and necessary—way to solve problems. While it explored themes of lawlessness, the hero's quick, lethal solution was usually presented as a moral duty, rather than a sign that social systems had failed.

How to Read Westerns Today

You should approach the Western genre with a balanced view, enjoying its particular literary style, while giving its problematic parts due consideration.

Appreciate the Core Story

Think of the Western as a foundational American myth that explores themes that never get old:

The Fight for Order: The clash between civilisation and the wild (law vs. lawlessness, the group vs. the individual) is central and still relevant to our modern world.

The Heroes and Villains: Characters like the solitary hero and the bad guy give us clear ways to think about courage, morality, and justice.

A Sense of Place: Soak up the vivid descriptions of the frontier. The harsh landscape is practically a character itself, representing both huge opportunity and complete indifference.

Read Smartly and Contextually

It’s crucial to remember that classic Westerns were products of their time, loaded with biases you can now identify:

Recognise Sexism: Notice when female characters lack agency. Ask yourself what stories they aren't being allowed to tell.

Question the Violence: Don't just accept the violence as somehow noble. Analyse why the hero uses it and what the true cost is, instead of just taking it as the only path to justice.

Acknowledge Who Was Left Out: Be aware that the genre has historically ignored or completely misrepresented the experiences of Indigenous peoples and other marginalised groups. The whole 'settlement' story often covered up genocide and land theft.

But most importantly, acknowledge that this style of writing is ‘fantasy’ written in a certain age and setting (authors in Australia during the 1960s to 1990s), about another earlier age and setting (people in the ‘Wild West’ of America during the 1860s to 1890s).

How historically accurate any Western stories are is certainly debatable, but please don’t ‘over-analyse’ everything you read to the point where it is no longer enjoyable.