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The essays in Western Places, American Myths are the work of a dozen scholars from several disciplines, all examining the West as both an actual region and as an enduring element of American culture, demonstrating how today's West is the result of a long and continuous process, a constant reinvention and redefining of place. Topics addressed include: - the role of the West in the development of the scholarly discipline of historical geography - the changing role of the ranch and the rancher in Western culture and economy - the role of the West in the development of the National Park System - the impact of conflicting systems of land tenure and concepts of space on Western developments - the role of Mormon theology and culture in shaping settlement patterns and the economy - the mainstreaming of Hispanic popular culture - the changing role of Native Americans in regional politics and development - the impact of Western realities on traditional gender roles - the evolution of gambling in the West - ghost towns as an element of the West's past and present image - the ways that Western films both reflect and shape the myth of the region - the visual power of the West's mythic and perceived spiritual qualities On its own, each essay in this collection makes a powerful contribution to our understanding of the modern West. As a collection, the essays offer a provocative and engaging commentary on the complexity, vitality, tensions, and ceaseless change that characterize this vast and myth-haunted region.