After World War II: Westerns portray average American townsfolks as just this side of barbarian
Submitted by: ePluribus Media on Sun, 04/20/2008 - 07:54
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In his ePluribus Media Journal article How the West Was Changed: Degradation of the Townspeople After World War II in the American Western analyzing the Western film genre, Professor Aaron Barlow notes the demonization of the average American townie.
As a quick preview of his thought-provoking dissection:
On the other side of the coin, by contrast, the answer is that small-town Americans had fallen out of favor by 1960, out of favor with the “New York and Hollywood elite” (whose negative attitude continues today, with some calling the rest of the country the “flyover”). Filmmakers could no longer see a way of making the white townsfolk seem worthy of protection without being accused of a naïve and, eventually, racist viewpoint. For many, the McCarthy era of blacklists and low-level persecution, among other things (including the growing civil rights struggle), had soured the “everyday” American, though most continued to maintained their protective posture in terms of America and the world.
It's a short step from movie stereotype to popular "common wisdom." Read Barlow's piece and tell us if you agree with his analysis.
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Ronald Reagan
Why no mention of Ronald Reagan in your piece on the Western and HUAC? As a member of the board of directors of the Screen Actors Guild, and a paid informant of the FBI, much of the damage done by the HUAC in Hollywood was under his promotion and direction.
A very good friend of mine's father was on the original blacklist. Not only did he never work in Hollwyood again, he never could get a job anywhere in Los Angeles. The mark was permanent. He couldn't just go to a local department store and get a job selling shoes. He. Never. Worked. Again. Period.
He raised a lovely family and was a kind man. The irony of course is that he was exactly the type of American one would hope to know. He just happened to be an anti-capitalist.
There's an excellent book on the Hollywood blacklist--which of course I can't find right now. I'll come back and post the title as soon as I find it.
There's also a second book I highly recommend, "Hollywood's Other Blacklist: Union Struggles in the Studio System"
the union struggles and blacklist were my familly's story
It was really ugly on the ground as I mentioned in a comment, because of inter-jurisdictional battles at the end of the big Hollywood strike. The AFL unions settled before the CIO did.
My uncle spent some time in jail for his activities on the picket line--probably just till they got everyone bailed out and he took home two soup spoons from the jail. One was my families treasured "jail" spoon.
Chickensh!t Townspeople
What was really funny was all of the movies where the townspeople could be intimidated by some gang of outlaws when in actuality a lot of those men would have fought in the Civil War. Like they are going to put up with some crap from some gang. LOL
Hollywood mostly feeds us stupid BS about how they want us to think. To a certain extent Gene Roddenberry did that with Star Trek.
um
Has anyone read any books about the border town violence ...
in the lead up to the civil war? It's a relevant backdrop to the ficitional cowboys and Indians plot.
By the way I read a wonderful history, "Sitting Bull" coming out soon. Very different story of Custers last stand and the lives and apsirations of the Native Americans living in the area whose land was expropriated by U.S. troops.
Review?
Will you be writing a review of the book? I'd be curious to read your thoughts on it.
That's an interesting idea
I found the account of Sitting Bull fascinating. Absolutely the opposite of anyone's steriotypical picture. A teaser... He was a polygamist (accepted in his culture), compassionate on many occasions, a thoughtful strategist and tactition in defense of his people (although the odds were too great for him to suceed.) I strongly suggest that you read the book.