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I love the Cynical Historian (Cypher) channel. This shortish video on the Wild West Myth which he wrote his dissertation on the topic is so fascinating. It is amazing how much in situ mythologizing, marketing, and post-hoc rationalization of the era and the retconning that into our national identity in the following century we have to unwind. I will say that I'd love to read his dissertation on the topic. I'll also say that with me being unable to finish in a timely manner even Asimov's I, Robot because.."Squirrel!"...that probably won't happen... #history #USHistory #CynicalHistorian

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in reply to Hank G ☑️

Having grown up being taught this mythology, it’s interesting to experience it being debunked. I wonder what myths other diasporans grew up with, and how they experience the same thing.
in reply to Hank G ☑️

In LA we grew up with westerns - they were being filmed all around us in the San Fernando Valley - Universal, Republic, Disney, Warner - and the infamous Spahn Ranch (where I used to go horseback riding before it became the Manson hangout.)

But we had our own set of Western characters that were kinda California specific: Vasquez, Murietta, Zorro.

In TV shows and movies I see so many familiar locations, especially Vasquez Rocks and Red Rock Canyon (the one north of Mojave, not the one near Las Vegas.)

I kinda recommend a visit to the Western Film museum (and festival, if they are still doing it) in Lone Pine (by-the-way, it's not far, at least not in California desert distances, from Star Wars Canyon and the Jedi Run, but flights through the canyon are now rather rare due to an F18 not making all of the necessary turns.)

https://museumofwesternfilmhistory.org/

https://youtu.be/LFbfYk2bpi4

in reply to Hank G ☑️

we are all the products of television in our youth, because it was normal with zero alternatives. if you look at each decade, each one had it's own theme, and thus distortion of reality. many books touch on this.

i suspect it takes about 20-30 years to overcome childhood blunders, unless one is lucky enough to have a guide sooner.