The Significance of the Western Myth in Modern America

Seminar paper from the year 2010 in the subject American Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: 2,0, University of Paderborn (Institut fr Anglistik/Amerikanistik), course: Pro-Seminar 'The American Frontier', language: English, abstract: In this term paper I'm going to answer the question if the Western Myth and the idea of an
American Frontier are still current topics in modern day America.
The glorified myth of a frontier moving faster and faster into the unknown is deeply rooted in
the heads of the American people, since the first settlers moved westwards, over hundred-fifty
years ago.
It had an enormous impact on America's history and on its national identity. But can this idea
of a frontier still be found today, or is it just a historically important, but today mostly
unappealing episode in recent history books?
Furthermore, I will try to find an answer where hints and connections to the myth of the Old
West - with its cowboys, lonesome riders and sheriffs - can be found in modern American
culture. Are those images of the wild, deserted West still topical and influential, and if so,
where. In which parts of life and culture can they be found, or are the Old West and the
Western Myth just outdated?
I'm going to carry out my researches about this topic with the help of the books 'The
American frontier - Go West, young man' by Prof. Dr. Michael Porsche,
'The frontier in American History' by Frederick Jackson Turner, 'The Wild West: Myth and
History' by Alexander Emmerich and several internet sources to illustrate and prove my
theses.
At the end of this term paper I hope to be able to point out, in which parts of everyday life in
modern America references to the myth of the Wild West and the American Frontier can be
found and which significance they have.