INDIANAPOLIS – Generations of Americans have enjoyed the Westerns that galloped across screens at the movies and on TV. Now visitors can experience a new exhibit at the Eiteljorg Museum that takes an in-depth look at the historic, artistic and cultural significance of Western films and television shows. Opening March 3, The Reel West explores morality, diversity and American identity as depicted in the Western film genre and how Hollywood and Westerns shape our understanding of the world around us.
The Reel West includes film costumes, props, memorabilia, art and images from a century of Westerns — from early silent films to mid-20th century popular movies and TV hits to genre-bending films of recent years. The yearlong exhibit will appeal to casual movie fans, serious film buffs, those who grew up watching iconic Westerns and those new to the genre.
The exhibit will include memorabilia from classic Western icons such as The Lone Ranger, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Clint Eastwood and many others. It will also include memorabilia from modern interpretations on how the West was “won.” Film clips and interactive exhibits will round out the experience.
The Reel West candidly examines how early Westerns romanticized life in the American West and how they overlooked or distorted the roles of women and Native Americans, Latino and LGBT communities. Visitors also will learn about important historical and recent Western films that convey the diversity of the West — some more realistically, some satirically or ironically. Through its key themes, The Reel West explores how Westerns have shaped Americans’ perceptions of their own national identity and how those themes in Westerns have evolved over time.
For more information, admission prices, and more, visit www.eiteljorg.com or call 317-636-9378.
