The Eternal Outsider

This book analyses American Western films of the
1945-65 period in light of French existentialist
ideas about the outsider figure. It begins by
examining processes of cultural exchange between the
United States and France before going on to compare
outsider-ness as configured by both western and
existentialist outsider figures. While individualism
emerges as their main commonality, the book goes
further, by applying key existentialist concepts to
the western hero: autonomy, alienation, absurdity.
This enables the creative interpretation of western
representations and narratives. Meanwhile, the
western hero becomes a complex figure whose outsider
status raises important questions about what it
means to be an insider. The book will be of
particular interest to those studying within the
field of film, philosophy and media and cultural
studies, as well as anyone with an interdisciplinary
interest in the arts and humanities.

Autorentext
Ruth Griffin studied for her BA in Philosophy at The University
of York. She went on to complete an MA in Cinema Studies at
Nottingham Trent University before being awarded a doctorate in
film and philosophy in 2005. Dr Griffin now holds the post of
Lecturer in Philosophy at Nottingham Trent University.

Klappentext
This book analyses American Western films of the 1945-65 period in light of French existentialist ideas about the outsider figure. It begins by examining processes of cultural exchange between the United States and France before going on to compare outsider-ness as configured by both western and existentialist outsider figures. While individualism emerges as their main commonality, the book goes further, by applying key existentialist concepts to the western hero: autonomy, alienation, absurdity. This enables the creative interpretation of western representations and narratives. Meanwhile, the western hero becomes a complex figure whose outsider status raises important questions about what it means to be an insider. The book will be of particular interest to those studying within the field of film, philosophy and media and cultural studies, as well as anyone with an interdisciplinary interest in the arts and humanities.