Includes bibliographical references (pages 245-265) and index.
Contents:
The western in the borderlands -- The roots of the Mexican western -- The rise and fall of the mantinee idol -- The myth and the tragic gunfighter in film and music -- Spaghetti con chili -- Comic book indians, race, and nationalism -- El solitario and the cult of Santa Muerte -- Go west, Cantinflas. Introduction: The western in the Borderlands -- The roots of the Mexican western -- The rise and fall of the matinee idol -- The myth of the tragic gunfighter in film and music -- Spaghetti con Chili -- Comic book Indians, race, and nationalism -- El Solitario and the cult of Santa Muerte -- Conclusion: Go west, Cantinflas.
Summary:
"Few genres were as popular and as enduring in twentieth-century Mexico as Westerns. Christopher Conway's lavishly illustrated Heroes of the Borderlands tells the surprising story of the Mexican Western for the first time, exploring how Mexican authors and artists reimagined US film and comic book Westerns to address Mexican politics and culture. Broad in scope, accessible in style, and multidisciplinary, this study examines a variety of Western films and comics, defines their political messaging, and shows how popular Mexican music reinforced their themes. Conway shows how the Mexican Western responds to historical and cultural topics like the trauma of the Conquest, mestizaje, misogyny, the Cult of Santa Muerte, and anti-Americanism. Full of memorable movie stills, posters, lobby cards, comic book covers, and period advertising, Heroes of the Borderlands redefines our understanding of Mexican popular culture by uncovering a vibrant genre that has been hiding in plain sight"-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.