Noticing Less-Than-Masculine Traits in Some of our Young Men? Here are a Few of the Best Western Movies Made, Illustrating 'The Art of Manliness'

Do you look around and see that masculinity is getting to be a rarity? Young men seem to be embracing a more effeminate posture, and since ‘everyone gets a trophy’, there is less and less need for our young adult males to become assertive, competitive or masculine.

Few figures in history have had as powerful an impact on American masculinity as the cowboy. Go to a rodeo when you get the chance, and you will see a different part of our American society, where men are men and toughness, resiliency and grit are important.

While the mythologization of the cowboy began all the way back in the late 1800s with dime novels and Wild West shows, it wasn’t until the advent of twentieth century cinema that the cowboy cemented his place as an icon of manliness.

In the same may the myths of the Greeks and the legends of the Vikings espoused certain ideals and inspired men of the past, Western films contain lessons in heroism, epic adventure, and meditations on the line between good and evil.

They form a fun, ponderous, sometimes contradictory, undeniably indelible, and thoroughly American canon on what it means to live with honor and be a tough, gritty, self-reliant man.

With that in mind, here is a list of some of the best Western films. Should these be used as anything other than entertainment? Maybe not, but they give us a look at masculine men, hard working and adopting morals and principles which are sometimes left unsaid in these crazy politically-correct days.

High Noon

3:10 to Yuma

Stagecoach

Open Range

Broken Arrow

The Searchers

My Darling Clementine

Lonesome Dove

McLintock!

Unforgiven

No Country for Old Men

Shane