Northern (genre)
The Northern or Northwestern[1] is an American and Canadian genre in literature and film made popular by the writings of Rex Beach and Zane Grey. It is similar to the Western genre but the action occurs in the Canadian North and typically features Mounties instead of, for example, cowboys or sheriffs. The genre was extremely popular in the inter-war years of the 20th century.
In addition to being set in Canada the stories often contrast the American Old West with the Canadian one in several ways. In films such as Pony Soldier and Saskatchewan the North-West Mounted Police display reason, compassion and a sense of fairplay in their dealings with native peoples as opposed to hotheaded American visitors (often criminals), lawmen or the U.S. Army who seem to prefer extermination. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police made the settlers, the First Nations and Métis obey the laws in harmony, peace, and good will. Even the Yukon Gold Rush took place for the stories inspired writers like the American, Jack London, the British Canadian, Robert W. Service, and some authors.
The Western idea of lawlessness set in American towns was not a part of the Canadian Northern, though individual lawbreakers or uprisings by Canadians (Quebec (1951 film)), First Nations tribes or Métis featured in some depictions.
Examples of Northerns
Folklore of Canada (Canadian oral stories)
Poetry
Pulp Magazines
- North West Stories (Originally published in 1925)
- North-West Romances
- Complete Northwest Magazine
- See Also: Scarlet Riders, a collection of pulp stories edited by Don Hutchison
Comics
Books
Photographies
- Northern, a collection of photographies by Anthony Jourdain
Radio
Serials
Television
Movies
References
- "The Scarlet Riders: Action-Packed Mountie Stories from the Fabulous Pulps" edited by Don Hutchison. A collection of Northern stories from the Pulp magazines. (ISBN 0-88962-647-2)
External links