amryn Taylor, a senior English major from Erie, Pa., spent her summer researching how Indigenous people in the American West are portrayed and represented in western media. Taylor was one of 10 students selected for Westminster College’s 10th annual Summer Research Fellowship. Taylor worked with Dr. Trisha Cowen, associate professor of English, on her project, “‘War Was Always Here’: A Study of Brutality and Dispossession in Southwestern American Literature.” 

From classic westerns to contemporary television dramas, images and ideas associated with the American West continue to shape popular culture. But behind many of those portrayals are stories of violence, displacement and dispossession that have often minimized or excluded Indigenous voices—a subject Westminster College senior Kamryn Taylor spent the summer exploring through literature and media. 

Taylor discovered that much of modern media is influenced by classic westerns. Contemporary shows such as “The Walking Dead” and “Breaking Bad” incorporate western imagery, reflecting the lasting influence of the genre. 

Taylor chose this topic because of her interest in western style media and her curiosity about its cultural influence on society.

“I ultimately found that Indigenous voices are not well represented in a lot of American literature. The brutality, displacement and suffering inflicted upon Indigenous peoples in the American Southwest was largely overshadowed in by expansionist mythology that either justified the violence or ignored it entirely,” said Taylor. 

aylor conducted her research under the guidance of Dr. Trisha Cowen, associate professor of English. 

“Dr. Cowen is a helpful, intelligent and kind individual. She offered a wealth of knowledge about my topic and helped with collecting resources, proofreading and much more. I am beyond appreciative of her guidance as my lead on my Honors research board.” said Taylor. 

“Overall, exploring and researching this topic over the summer has shown me that there is a need to dig further into counternarratives regarding the American West and its creation,” said Taylor. 

Taylor is president of Sigma Tau Delta and editor-in-chief of Scrawl, a creative arts magazine produced on campus. She is a member of the All-College Honors Program and Pi Sigma Pi, as well as a peer tutor and student worker. She hopes to continue her education in graduate school and ultimately earn a Ph.D. in her field while continuing her scholarly research. 

Sponsored by the Drinko Center for Undergraduate Research, Summer Research Fellowships at Westminster College allow students to conduct hands-on research and creative projects under the guidance of our experienced faculty mentors.

To learn more about Westminster’s English major, visit www.westminster.edu/english. 

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