Twilight of the Old West: Difference between revisions

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The [[Twilight of the Old West]] is a trope invoked by stories depicting the changes that took place in Western North America and Mexico during the closing days of the [[Wild West]] and the beginning days of the [[New Old West]]. This is roughly the period between 1890 (the year the U.S. Census Bureau announced the closing of the frontier and the Wounded Knee Massacre occurred thereby marking the end of the "Indian Wars") and 1920 (which marked the official end of the Mexican Revolution when guerilla/bandit forces operated along the US/Mexican border).

The '''Twilight of the Old West''' is a trope invoked by stories depicting the changes that took place in Western North America and Mexico during the closing days of the [[Wild West]] and the beginning days of the [[New Old West]]. This is roughly the period between 1890 (the year the U.S. Census Bureau announced the closing of the frontier and the Wounded Knee Massacre occurred thereby marking the end of the "Indian Wars") and 1920 (which marked the official end of the Mexican Revolution when guerilla/bandit forces operated along the US/Mexican border).

In stories set during the [[Twilight of the Old West]], there will still be many elements of the [[Wild West]] present like cowboys, gunfighters, outlaws, bank and train robberies, saloons, and cattle drives but, as you get deeper into the 20th century, they'll gradually disappear. Probably the most noticeable is the shift away from horses as a mode of transportation in favor of automobiles. The replacement of gas and oil lights in favor of electricity follows close behind as a sign of change as do the appearances of new inventions like telephones, motion pictures, phonographs, and airplanes.

In stories set during the '''Twilight of the Old West''', there will still be many elements of the [[Wild West]] present like cowboys, gunfighters, outlaws, bank and train robberies, saloons, and cattle drives but, as you get deeper into the 20th century, they'll gradually disappear. Probably the most noticeable is the shift away from horses as a mode of transportation in favor of automobiles. The replacement of gas and oil lights in favor of electricity follows close behind as a sign of change as do the appearances of new inventions like telephones, motion pictures, phonographs, and airplanes.

While technological changes play a major role, the [[Twilight of the Old West]] mainly deals with changes in society and how they affect those who still feel tied to the "old ways" of the [[Wild West]]. For example, bringing justice to an area now means criminals are dealt with by sheriffs, police, judges, and jails rather than vigilante justice. Also, [[Cattle Drive|cattle drives]] become more infrequent and smaller with the end of the open range.

While technological changes play a major role, the '''Twilight of the Old West''' mainly deals with changes in society and how they affect those who still feel tied to the "old ways" of the [[Wild West]]. For example, bringing justice to an area now means criminals are dealt with by sheriffs, police, judges, and jails rather than vigilante justice. Also, [[Cattle Drive|cattle drives]] become more infrequent and smaller with the end of the open range.

Compare [[Riding Into the Sunset]].

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* ''[[Film/The Ballad Of Cable Hogue|The Ballad Of Cable Hogue]]'' depicts a failed prospector during the closing of the frontier. Cable Hogue discovers a well in the desert and founds a town at the site. When an automobile appears on the road and drives past without stopping, Cable recognizes that as a sign that the frontier is closing, so he decides to pack up and move to civilization.

* ''[[Big Jake]]'' takes place in 1909. It featured a posse of Texas Rangers chasing outlaws in automobiles but ultimately the bad guys are defeated using old school gunfighting.

* ''[[Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid]]'' is set between the years 1898 and ~~1908--a~~ time when such "new" inventions like motion pictures are present. The abrupt transition from the [[Wild West]] to the Modern Age is illustrated in a cut scene from the movie when Butch and Sundance visit a nickelodeon and see a filmed dramatization of one of their train robberies ... [[Foreshadowing|in which they're shot to death]].

* ''[[Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid]]'' is set between the years 1898 and 1908—a time when such "new" inventions like motion pictures are present. The abrupt transition from the [[Wild West]] to the Modern Age is illustrated in a cut scene from the movie when Butch and Sundance visit a nickelodeon and see a filmed dramatization of one of their train robberies ... [[Foreshadowing|in which they're shot to death]].

* Though still set squarely in the Old West, ''[[The Last Samurai]]'' shows a time when - for some people, at least - that time was already starting to die out. The hero, no longer needed as an Indian fighter in his own land, is offered employment oversees fighting a different kind of "savage".

* ''[[McCabe and Mrs. Miller]]'' may, upon first glance, appear to take place early in the era of the [[Wild West]]. However, the appearance of a vacuum cleaner and [[William McKinley]] presidential posters indicate it's actually around 1900 and times are changing.