The Eschatology of the Rifleman
Despite the fact that Newton Minow, chairman of the FCC in 1961 called the newly exploited medium of television “a vast wasteland,” as we know today that wasteland has turned into something completely different than what Newton saw back then. However, growing up in the 1950s meant being able to choose from a plethora of TV programming that not only reflected the current social conditions, they also spoke deeply of the morals, ethics, religiosity and the humanity of man. Okay, they can be seen by some, through the lense of 21st century mores as nothing more than simplistic and shallow tales of struggle, pain and victory, yet there lies within much to ponder and much to learn of how man’s perspective on life doesn’t really change, and what those lessons really mean. The Rifleman, aired between 1958 and 1963 and starring Chuck Conners and Johnny Crawford, embodies the historic philosophical and religious bedrock of what Western, but more importantly American values and morals many people held dear. The Western in TV lore was meant to impart important lessons on life, glamorized for sure to attract the widest viewing audience yet in the end, the Western gave us the simple and timely tale of struggle, redemption, sacrifice and hope that humans have always wrestled with, yet in a form easily identifiable and digestible. The Rifleman, in my opinion has all the elements that make it not just a true TV classic, but also a philosophical and spiritual exodus that reinforces what makes man a noble animal.
What about The Rifleman strikes a deep chord with our inner honor? Why was the relationship between Lucas and his son Mark so deep and loving, and how did Lucas overcome his obstacles as a single father? What philosophical and theological underpinnings are at work here, both with Lucas and Mark but also between Lucas, Mark and the folks of North Fork? I will attempt to answer these questions and give a deeper perspective on the lessons presented, whether they encompass understanding and acceptance, or a blast from the Rifleman’s Winchester.
IDS 499, Capstone
Mick Bollenbaugh
L203
10:30 – 11:00 AM