Why did the gangster replace the cowboy ?

[MrCasella]

In the 1920s ?

 

[SVEN]

More gangsters in real life in peoples' experience than cowboys, so easier to relate to. And "cowboy" entertainment films & comics were really more "gunfighter" content than herding cows or ranch life.
Whereas gangsters provided better amusement because killing and violence are what gangsters do.

 

[TheHolySword]

I thought this was a joke setup, was ready for a punchline.

 

[Prism]

I thought this was a joke setup, was ready for a punchline.

same lol

Anyway, it probably had something to do with the west becoming less "wild" and more settled by the time the 20s rolled around, along with gangs becoming more prevalent, I guess.

 

[Pluto]

 

[MrCasella]

More gangsters in real life in peoples' experience than cowboys, so easier to relate to. And "cowboy" entertainment films & comics were really more "gunfighter" content than herding cows or ranch life.
Whereas gangsters provided better amusement because killing and violence are what gangsters do.

But cowboys used to be violent.

 

[EvisceratedJester]

I thought this was a joke setup, was ready for a punchline.

Same. I clicked on this thread expecting there to be a good punchline but instead, all I got was a genuine question.

 

[SVEN]

But cowboys used to be violent.

In a fairly restricted way, using in the main revolvers, rifles and the occasional Gatling gun or cannon. The native americans of course also having recourse to the trusty bow & arrow.
Compare this to automatic weapons, explosives, high speed car chases, acid attacks etc and I'd suggest the vivid, close up violence of film noir and subsequent crime films was easier to relate to for the average city or town dwelling audience.

 

[MrCasella]

In a fairly restricted way, using in the main revolvers, rifles and the occasional Gatling gun or cannon. The native americans of course also having recourse to the trusty bow & arrow.
Compare this to automatic weapons, explosives, high speed car chases, acid attacks etc and I'd suggest the vivid, close up violence of film noir and subsequent crime films was easier to relate to for the average city or town dwelling audience.

Acid attacks ? Mobsters didn't use that.

 

[SVEN]

Acid attacks ? Mobsters didn't use that.

Whatever. Would hot coffee do ? The underlying point, I'd suggest, is that the range of violence in the early Films Noir expanded greatly, as did the moral ambiguity of the anti hero. All of this taking place in settings with which the urban cinema goer could more easily identify with their own surroundings.

 

[Grav]

Mobsters were fresh and current whereas cowboys were becoming old news.

 

[MrCasella]

Mobsters were fresh and current whereas cowboys were becoming old news.

What replaced the mobsters ?

 

[Grav]

The Soviets were the ones for quite a while in the States, then terrorists, and now cartels. There's others as well.

 

[MrCasella]

The Soviets were the ones for quite a while in the States, then terrorists, and now cartels. There's others as well.

Thanks for listing them and what would the others be ? And what's the group now ?

 

[Grav]

I ususally watch older horror movies nowadays so not up on current bad guys.

 

[MrCasella]

I ususally watch older horror movies nowadays so not up on current bad guys.

Most slasher villains are boring.

 

[Grav]

Agree! Now they're pushing even more to the absurd :pooh, crazied cannibals, etc. Global evil billionaires were popping up in the late 90s for a while. Maybe that's the draw of super heros, no need to really think why the bad guy is bad since its fantasy.

 

[MrCasella]

Agree! Now they're pushing even more to the absurd :pooh, crazied cannibals, etc. Global evil billionaires were popping up in the late 90s for a while. Maybe that's the draw of super heros, no need to really think why the bad guy is bad since its fantasy.

Pooh crazed criminals ?

 

[X-sanguinate86]

The founding mythology of america was being challenged by people who didn't fully identify with it. Things maybe also got more "urbancentric" so to speak. I feel like cowboys were still a big thing up until the end of the 70s. There are recent westerns but they will never regain the mass appeal they once had.