Alt Westerns

This course is cross-listed in Spring 2025 as CMS 4800 and FILM 4800, and it is offered in a 100% online format. The course is open to all majors, and it satisfies elective requirements for CMS and Film Production majors.

Alternative Westerns examines recent film, television, comics, and video games that offer new twists on the “classic” genre Western, telling different stories and incorporating new characters, imagery, and themes. Along the way, we also will learn more about genres in general: their importance, history, and the particular pleasures they offer to audiences.

The basic setup of the course is to watch, play, talk, think, and write about films, television shows, games, and comics. In addition to studying the assigned works, student will choose their own example Western and analyze it using the terms and concepts presented in class. As a final project, you will make a short video that presents your analysis. Your voice and on-screen presence are required elements of the video.

This syllabus includes information about the course, grading, major projects, exams, the class schedule and general class policies. Links to these pages also are located in the header or footer menus that appear on each page of the syllabus. Additional course materials are accessible to enrolled students through D2L.

This syllabus is not complete; check here frequently to make sure that you have the most current information.

Required readings

No textbook is required. Instead, we will read, listen to, and watch a variety of PDF and online resources, all linked through the Content panel in D2L.

Required films, streaming free

The films listed below can be streamed by enrolled students through Swank or Kanopy.

This list is still in process, but it will be locked by the beginning of the semester.

Rango (2011)
Django Unchained (2012)
Nope (2022)
The Searchers (1956)
Red River (1948)
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966)
Meek’s Cutoff (2015)
From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
True Grit (2010)

Required student purchases

The following materials are required and must be purchased by students. The total cost will be around $80.

This list is still in process, but it will be locked by the beginning of the semester.

Netflix subscription ($7/month x 2 months)

The Harder they Fall (full film)
The Walking Dead, 2 episodes
Godless, 2 episodes

Streaming rentals

Westworld (2016), 2 episodes, $8

Video game

Students must play a minimum of four hours of one of the following games. Both games have versions for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. Students also must have access to a console or PC capable of running their chosen game. Used copies may be available for less than the retail price.

Red Dead Redemption ($50 new), or
Red Dead Redemption II ($60 new)

Regarding these required games, please note that

We will not be able to offer students access to free versions
The standalone Red Dead Online will not satisfy course requirements, and
The Switch version of Red Dead Redemption will not work without an elaborate setup to capture the game footage required for one of our major assignments.

Spoiler warning

Unfortunately, we will not be able to avoid spoilers in our discussions of assigned texts.

Required software, hardware, and technical skills

In addition to Desire2Learn and access to a console or gaming PC, the following are necessary for success in this course. The Hub offers training resources to help students master these tools.

ChatGPT: You will create a free OpenAI account and use its AI tool, ChatGPT, for multiple assignments. We will use ChatGPT to study prompt engineering and to produce writing for a variety of venues and purposes.
Adobe Express or equivalent: Students will need a free account on this platform or one like it (e.g. Canva) to complete course assignments. (The Hub offers support for Express but not for other platforms.)
Laptop Computer: CSU requires that all students “have on-demand access to a laptop computer that meets faculty-approved hardware and software requirements for your academic program.”
Webcam and Microphone: You will create audio and video recordings for multiple assignments. If your laptop does not include these capabilities, you will need an external microphone and webcam. (Wikipedia has a useful entry on webcams, which typically include built-in microphones.)
Lockdown Browser: For our D2L quizzes and exams, you are required to use the Respondus Lockdown Browser. You will download and install this on your laptop from within D2L. Please complete this process by taking the Sample Quiz during the first week of class. The Lockdown Browser includes video monitoring, which is one of the reasons you will need a webcam.
YouTube account: You will need a personal YouTube account, where you will post the final project for our class. (You can set your uploaded video to “unlisted,” so it will be visible only to those with the URL.)
Up-to-Date Web Browser: In this media-rich class, using a recent version of Firefox, Chrome, Edge, or Safari is mandatory.
PDF Reader (Adobe Reader): Students must be able to read PDF files.
Media Player: VLC or equivalent: Students must be able to play mp3 and mp4 files. Many software tools will enable this, including VLC, which is available for free download.
Microsoft Word word processing: Students must be able to compose and read documents saved in the Microsoft Word “docx” format. If you use another word processor, use “Save as” to convert the file to docx before submission.
Microsoft Teams: Students must be able to use our class’s MS Team.
Clayton State email: Students must access their CSU email accounts on a regular basis. They must be able to use these accounts to attach and retrieve attached files. They must use only their CSU accounts (not, e.g. a gmail account) to communicate academic information to instructors.

Contact information

My contact information including office hours is collected on separate page.

Vulgarity, profanity, and violence

A note of warning: We are all adults, and we are studying a culture that is sometimes vulgar, profane, and violent. As a result, you may hear or see adult content in the materials assigned for our class. Nothing assigned by me or submitted by other students should exceed the MPAA rating of R. When engaging in class discussions, if you submit material that is Not Safe For Work (NSFW) or other venues and audiences, please note this in your subject line as a convenience to your classmates. Please also be aware that your contributions should conform to the class’s rules regarding Online Etiquette.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion

It is my intent that students from diverse backgrounds and perspectives be well served by this course, that students’ learning needs be addressed, and that the diversity that students bring to this class be viewed as a resource, strength and benefit. It is my intent to present materials and activities that are respectful of diversity along multiple dimensions, including ethnicity, race, gender, sexuality, disability, age, socioeconomic status, and culture. Your suggestions are encouraged and appreciated. Please let me know ways to improve the effectiveness of the course for you personally or for other students or student groups.

Disability Services

Students with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contact the Disability Resource Center, Edgewater Hall, Suite 255; 678-466-5445; disabilityservices@mail.clayton.edu