The Westward Movement, The Frontier Spirit And American Western Movies

Ever since its advent in the late1890s, movies have been playing an integral part in the formation andevolvement of the American culture which, among cultures of all countries in the world, is exerting themost powerful influences across the globe. Western movies, as a separate and unique genre in the art ofmotion picture has a history dating back as early as when the filming industry itself came into being, asa result, western movies can be utilized by scholars, researchers, teachers and students as a goodmedium for the study of the American culture and society. Owing to the fact that most western moviesare devoted to telling stories set primarily in the Old West, alternatively the Wild West in the latter halfof the19th century when the westward expansion from the original colonial settlements was in fullswing, quintessential elements can be drawn from the tales of conquest and survival of those Americanfrontier pioneers to understand what contributes to making who American people are and what Americais-the American spirit. According to an online survey conducted by sparxoo.com involving Americanelite citizens from all walks of life, five traits rose above all else as the core attributes as an idealAmerica-Independence, Opportunity, Innovation, Diversity and Generosity. All of theseaforementioned traits as well as the other characters summarized by other critiques and scholars such asAdventurousness, Egoism, Openness and Freedom can be boiled down to the frontier spirit of Americathat plays an essential role in constructing the American culture. The subject that this thesis intends todeal with is to peer through various typical American western movies in order to shed some light onhow the American frontier spirit is reflected in these movies by the film makers including directors,screenwriters, actors and actresses.