It is a common assertion that the history of America is written in its Westerns, but how true is this?

In this guidebook John White discusses the evolution of the Western through history and looks at theoretical and critical approaches to Westerns such as genre analysis, semiotics, representation, ideology, discourse analysis, narrative, realism, auteur and star theory, psychoanalytical theory, postmodernism and audience response. The book includes case studies of 8 key westerns:

• Stagecoach
• My Darling Clementine
• Shane
• The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
• McCabe and Mrs Miller
• Unforgiven
• Brokeback Mountain
• The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Including a chronology of significant events for the Western genre, a glossary and further reading, this introduction to an important genre in film studies is a great guide for students.