By: Garrett Rouse

Department Of History

Abstract

Over the past century, the cowboy has become a near mythic figure in American popular culture. From his distinctive hat to his signature six-shooter, and even on to his gruff demeanor, the cowboy has left a mark on the American media landscape. As the country moves into the 21st century the traditional narratives of the cowboy have started to be critiqued, changed, and co-opted by groups beyond the traditional. From music groups like the Village People, to box office hits like Django Unchained, the archetypical cowboy is being updated to mesh more with a modern audience that is more diverse, and more accepting, than before. Through this change the cowboy, and those that revere him, have had to contend with, and have pushed back on the evolution he has undergone. In this new world does the cowboy still retain his place?

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