The genre has shifted through three main eras: classic, revisionist, and neo-Westerns [36]. Today, contemporary authors like Cormac McCarthy and Larry McMurtry continue to reinvent the tradition, moving away from simple "white hat vs. black hat" tropes to explore the darker, more unforgiving nature of the frontier.
Iconic figures like the cowboy, the outlaw, and the lawman embody values of hard work and self-reliance [30]. Historical Reality vs. Romanticism Western
Protagonists are often "independent outsiders" who navigate societies governed by morality, love, and law [5]. The genre has shifted through three main eras:
At its heart, the Western explores the tension between civilization and the untamed wilderness. Common themes include: and neo-Westerns [36]. Today