NEA Big Read: History of Western Film
NEA Big Read: History of Western Film
with Johnny D. Boggs and David Morrell
in partnership with the Center for Contemporary Arts
April 13, 6 p.m.| Zoom, Free
Register for this event HERE
Join acclaimed western authors Johnny D. Boggs and David Morrell in this unique, online discussion on the far-reaching influence of the western film genre on media and culture, exploring the history behind some key features.
Boggs and Morrell will discuss the thematic similarity amongst numerous western films and literature, exploring how the long-lasting genre has figured prominently in our lives. Films include The Magnificent Seven (1960), and Seven Samurai (1954), which is prominently featured in Urrea’s novel, amongst others. In preparation for this virtual event, audiences are encouraged to watch or revisit a list of films at their leisure via streaming platforms or from their local libraries, with the aforementioned highlighted as most pertinent.
Key Films:
The Magnificent Seven (1960): Available from the library on DVD and also on Prime Video, Sling, Hulu, and other streaming services.
Seven Samurai (1954): Available from the library on Kanopy or DVD, also on HBO Max, Google Play, Prime Video, and other streaming services.
Other Influences: The Dirty Dozen (1967), Young Guns (1988), A Bug’s Life (1998)
Mexican Westerns: Vera Cruz (1954), The Professionals (1966), The Wild Bunch (1969)
NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.
This program comes as a partnership with the Center for Contemporary Arts (CCA), as part of the NEA Big Read grant initiative that showcases a diverse range of themes in programming centered around a book. Santa Fe’s selection is Into the Beautiful North by Luis Alberto Urrea.