Tag Archives: Cormac McCarthy

Myth of the West: Failed Utopia

This article, the culmination of my reflections on the myth of the West, deconstructs the utopian dream of the Western frontier, exploring its evolution from Manifest Destiny to Silicon Valley. Through historical analysis, literary critiques, and a look at Hollywood’s portrayal of the West, it examines how the promise of freedom and opportunity often fell short, revealing the complexities of the Western ideal. For me, this myth resonates deeply, intertwined with personal influences like Celtic romanticism, family legacies, and cross-cultural inspirations from Kurosawa.

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Exploring the Wilderness: A Comparative Study of Warlock by Oakley Hall, Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy, Sorcerer, and Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me by Richard Fariña

This article delves into the uncharted territories of human survival, morality, and existential dread through a comparative analysis of Warlock by Oakley Hall, Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy, the film Sorcerer, and Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me by Richard Fariña. Although set in vastly different landscapes and eras—from the lawless American West to the countercultural 1960s and the brutal South American jungle—these works converge on themes of rebellion, chaos, and the limits of human endurance. Through shared influences and resonant themes, this article unravels how each narrative confronts the human struggle for meaning in worlds that seem determined to thwart it.

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