Western Culture? Or is it?
In a previous column, I asked the question "What makes a Western Western?". This time I shall attempt to address, what makes Western culture "Western'?
We all have seen those dream rooms in "Cowboys and Indians Magazine", full of 'authentic' western furniture. We read about how they collected this from this time period, and picked this up at a western art show, and so on. But my question is, What makes the culture western?
If we look at Western literature, I think to answer is 'taming the wild frontier'. We consider Deer Hunter, The Plainsman, A Light in The Forest, The Last of the Mohicans, or any other 'classic' novel and find a discovery/journey theme. The gunfighter novels, Shane, (any) Louis L'Amour, Zane Grey, or similarly styled author share the theme-Kill or Be Killed. But is this 'Western' culture, or our modern day perception of the fairly recent past.
In terms of lifestyle, what is more accurate, 'The Little House', 'Wagon Train', 'Ponderosa', or 'Zorro' (Early Los Angeles)? I believe, the answer lies in where we live, the time period we are considering, and of course, the economic class we are attracted to. I, as a western Canadian, love depression stories. I revel in the triumph of the human spirit over extreme adversity, and the building of strong family values that still can be found in the older generations while others are drawn to the 'upper' class struggles.
The reality of life in the settlement phase of any culture was often harsh. The Canadian settlement (1870-1910) was marked by famine, death, failure, and bitterly hard work. There were conflicts with the natives, as would be expected, but our forefathers passed on to us a legacy of unfinished projects that might conceivably cost Canada billions of dollars and whole sections of land! The settlement of the United States (1800-1880), was marked by similar conflicts, but with the milder climate in some areas, the loss of human life was lesser.
The song 'When Payday Rolls Around' (Tribute Album-Roy Rogers), may have been characteristic of the traveling cowpuncher. No home, no family, just lots of time and for a short while, lots of money. The business class had close roots to the town life-after all, a bad crop meant you had no money. So, you gave credit when warranted, and received payment when harvest came around. Everybody won. The arrival of interest on accounts (net 30), effectively destroyed that civility. Lawyers were lawyers, doctors were doctors, and newspapermen were newspapermen, each played a part in the development of rural communities.
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