This is not really an exposé, but I’ve got the graphic all made up so I figured I’d use it.

Today, I wish to speak of a peculiar cinematic force known as the Astronaut Cowboy.  This has recently been brought to mind after seeing a mini-serial known as Stingray Sam about a week ago at the International Film Series in Boulder.  It’s a fun little piece that’s a Science Fiction serial mixed with the singing cowboy tradition and intercut with plenty of photo montages, and it’s much more fun than his other Astronaut Cowboy film The American Astronaut.

However, the Astronaut Cowboy character does not end there.  One of the most striking things about Joss Whedon’s Firefly series was how seamlessly it incorporated both the conventions of the Spaceship crew sub-genre of Science Fiction and the Western, what with the continual references to the Civil War (a different The Civil War), raiders, the endless void of space, the journey west (or rather, away from the center of the system), etc.  That’s also available for free watching on the internet, and I highly recommend it.

There’s also a more “realistic” Astronaut Cowboy movie in Space Cowboys, where Clint Eastwood and Tommy Lee Jones have to go into space to repair a Russian Satellite!  And it doesn’t really have much to do with Cowboys but… but it has the title Space Cowboys.

In fact, the astronaut cowboy has recently infiltrated into my subconscious, appearing in a dream of mine.  This black Space Cowboy was the only person who could help save me from a haunted house (because I think he was also a wizard.  He may also have been played by Tracy Morgan).  Also, directly after meeting the astronaut, this cat came up to me and mewed at me:

www.katebeaton.com

That sounds like a success if ever there was one.  And hey! I’ve also got another piece with an Astronaut Cowboy in it.  Remember Teh Cld Wr? My movie on IMdB? Well I do. And I’ve posted it here. BECAUSE I CAN. Now watch, and God Bless you Captain Spacecraft!