Tumbleweeds is a Western film oriented blog, where I seek to contextualize the Western film for the times in which it was released, as well as each film’s individual place within the greater pastiche. I avoid specifying “American-Western” as I will also be watching films considered Westerns from all world cinema.

This idea that I have is that Westerns are less of a genre with consistent themes and style, and more of a pastiche for various filmmakers to analyze and criticize American values, traditions and history. As such, the year in which these films were released often reflect a certain sentiment, whether it be modernist angst towards the innovation of technologies, anti-war sentiments, deconstruction of historical myth or anything in between.

Admittedly, this blog also serves the purpose of allowing me to explore the vast history of the Western for my own selfish reasons. I’ve always felt that I grew up on Western cinema and television but have come to realize that I’m missing out on so many of the classics. I will choose to write on a single feature, a double or even a triple feature if the need for it arises. Additionally, I will try to avoid any sort of critical discussion of these films, and judging whether I enjoyed them or not. Nevertheless, I hope you enjoy my musings and theorizing on the Western film.