Sunday, February 7, 2016

Dean Winchester- Modern Cowboy?

Throughout this week's assignments I couldn't stop trying to think of a perfect example of a modern cowboy, and my mind kept coming back to the first thought I had, Dean Winchester from the long-running television show from the CW network, Supernatural. Before I make my case, lets look at the definition of a cowboy that was provided in the mini-lecture:
1) Idealized Man/Romantic Notion
2) A man who brings order (to uncivilized places)
3) A man who escapes order (gets away from civilization)
And the types of cowboys mentioned are:
-Adventure seekers and Explorers
-Visitors and Wanderers

For those that have never heard of Supernatural, it is (at its base) a show about two brothers, Sam and Dean, that drive around the country and hunt monsters. To avoid making this blog post an explanation about the 11 season history of the show and talk about why everyone should watch it, I am going to leave the show at that description for now. Because I want to tell you all about Dean Winchester.

Dean Winchester has lived his whole life virtually off the grid and has drove around the country with his father since he was a child hunting monsters. His brother, Sam, doesn't fit the definition of a cowboy as much because he always craved normalcy, and went off to college as soon as he had the chance. Dean always accepted the way his life was and didn't see anything wrong with it. 

A Man Who Brings Order (to uncivilized places)
Dean's version of an uncivilized place could be found in someone's living room- he hunts monsters that intend on (and usually succeed in) hurting/killing people. Sometimes they are ghosts, sometimes demons, and sometimes a type of monster that only exists in storybooks. He is a protector of all humans, and he doesn't even get the recognition most of the time. 

A Man Who Escapes Order (gets away from civilization)
Dean has always lived off the grid, pretty much jumping between living in his car and living in run down motels in whatever town they find themselves hunting in all over the country. Dean doesn't have friends, just family and other hunters that he occasionally would communicate with, and he was basically always alone; hunting could be considered a lonely job, being the only ones that know the truth about whats out there. They live by their own rules, and often break the law in order to save people. 

So is he a cowboy? 
I absolutely consider him a cowboy! Particularly in the first few seasons, as things get rather complicated as the show goes on (as it is wont to do). Ignoring the technical definition, even just looking at him you would think of him as a cowboy. He is a rugged man from down south (Kansas) that even travels the country on his trusty steed: a 1967 Chevy Impala.
All he is missing is the hat, and he would be a full-blown cowboy. (which, incidentally, they played off of in an episode called "Frontierland" in season 6)


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