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.
Stories are frequently set in arid, desolate environments like isolated ranches, frontier towns, and rugged mountain ranges [25]. Western
Iconic figures like the cowboy, the outlaw, and the lawman embody values of hard work and self-reliance [30]. Historical Reality vs. Romanticism The genre has shifted through three main eras:
The transcontinental railroad was the single greatest contributor to development, opening the region to world markets and even standardizing time zones [10]. and neo-Westerns [36]. Today