French Literature Reviews - 2026

Western(s)
Art and Visual Culture

Jean-Louis Leutrat, Suzanne Liandrat-Guigues

Western(s)

Editions Klincksieck

Collection: 50 Questions

2007

ISBN: 2252036400
192 pages
15.00 €

Publisher's Description:

Westerns continue to be produced in the United States—less so than in the past and more for television than for cinema—demonstrating that the genre remains very much alive, rather than dead as has often been claimed. Not only are Westerns still being made at the beginning of the 21st century, but this contemporary body of work, though different in nature from that of the past, is thoroughly compelling. For all these reasons, and because the Western is paradoxically little known in France today (few books have been published on the subject over the last twenty years), it seemed necessary to revisit the genre to recall its past—its entire past—and to highlight its present. The Western is not limited to a few long-gone iconic figures (actors, directors, etc.), nor to the relatively brief episode of the Italian Western, which is why the authors focus primarily on the American Western.

The western has long held a central position in the study of popular cinema, traditionally associated with American myth-making, landscape representation, and the exploration of national identity. Although production patterns have shifted over the decades from large-scale theatrical releases to television and contemporary streaming formats, the genre continues to adapt and engage modern audiences. Critical engagement with the western often involves tracing its historical evolution, examining recurring iconographic elements, and analyzing how filmmakers reinterpret established codes to reflect changing social and cultural perspectives. Readers interested in film history and genre studies may find it relevant to consider how cinematic traditions are sustained and re-evaluated over time.