Western

Western is a direction which refers to anything directly opposite anything to the East. Probably not the explanation that you were looking for. It may also refer to any geographical or cultural elements associated with non-Eastern traditions. Eastern culture typically refers to that found in Central and Southeastern Asia, including the Orient. A geographical region that embodies Western culture includes Western Europe and the Americas. Anything that falls under such a category is said to be indicative of Western Civilization, long may it rise and fall.

Western may also refer to a genre of film and television entertainment. Typically, programs that fall into the Western genre take place in the American Southwest during the mid to late 19th century. These include your basic shoot 'em ups as well as the classic Cowboys vs. Indians motif, which were extremely popular during the 1950s and 60s, but eventually began to fizzle out. Many Westerns also showcase fictionalized accounts of notable historical figures such as Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickock. The mid to late 2000s sparked renewed interest in the Western genre with mature content shows such as Deadwood and Hell on Wheels.