The Western

Video / 90 Min / Conversations with Bill Kristol

Conversation with Bill Kristol

SYNOPSIS

What is a Western? How and when did The Western emerge as an art form? Paul Cantor shares his perspective.

RELATED BOOK

View on Bill Kristol Conversations Website

View Transcript

Other Conversations

Featured

Popular Culture

Can TV Be High Art

Popular Culture

If Shakespeare were alive today, would he write for television? Cantor and Kristol discuss the medium of TV. Paul Cantor explains what can we learn about contemporary America from our popular TV shows. Conversation

Popular Culture

Shakespeare

Shakespeare & Politics

Shakespeare

Kristol and Cantor discuss how Shakespeare used plays set in ancient Rome to explore themes such as republicanism, political greatness, and tyranny. Conversation

Shakespeare

Fiction

Literature and Liberty

Fiction

Paul Cantor discusses works of literature that can teach us about liberty. Conversation

Fiction

Shakespeare

Shakespeare's Roman Plays

Shakespeare

Cantor explains why we should study Shakespeare’s Roman plays, and interprets Coriolanus. Paul Cantor analyzes Julius Caesar, and the impact of philosophy on Roman politics. Conversation

Shakespeare

The Canon, From Greek Tragedy to Television

Popular Culture

Cantor explains why great art is usually popular in its time, and why today’s best television shows will have enduring cultural value. How do media such as Greek tragedy and TV evolve from simple beginnings to become venues for great art? Conversation

Popular Culture

American Dream

Popular Culture

Considering the American Dream, Cantor reflects on why “a country which promises freedom can’t guarantee that freedom won’t be misused.” Conversation

Popular Culture

Shakespeare

Shakespeare Authorship Question

Shakespeare

Paul Cantor explains and debunks the prominent arguments suggesting that Shakespeare could not have written his plays. Cantor and Kristol discuss what the “Shakespeare Authorship Question” reveals about our own ideas about literary genius. Conversation

Shakespeare