A Study of the Historical Concept of Cowboy Culture from the Perspectives of Rong Wongsawan in America Amerigu Literature

Abstract

This research aimed to 1) analyze the historical concepts related to cowboy culture through the literature "America, Amerigu" by Rong Wongsawan and 2) examine the history and language use in the writings. The study method uses the process of extracting meanings from articles to analyze their content (context analysis) on literary works, with the aim of achieving interpretations that closely align with reality. To analyze the social and cultural context of American cowboys, the research traces this context from the discovery of the American continent in the 14th century to the development of cowboy culture in the 16th century. The analysis incorporates academic documents and scholarly websites to examine for research purposes. The findings show that the concepts of cowboy culture reflected social shaping by the belief in the idea of the "White Man's Burden." During the period, laws on rights and freedoms were undeveloped, and there were significant social inequalities, oppression, and unfair treatment, which could be categorized into three main social groups: The enslaved group, was captured and sold into the upper class. They endured brutal treatment comparable to that of animals. They were whipped until their bodies were covered in wounds. They used as a labor force to help the British establish the 13 colonies for trade era. Eventually, the Civil War in 1861–1865 led to the abolishment of slavery. Next, the Native American group during the 15^th century was severely affected by land seizures, encroachment on their territory. They were forced displacement by colonial settlers. These actions led to numerous conflicts and wars between Native Americans and colonial groups, resulting in a significant loss of life. Ultimately, Native Americans gained their freedom in 1924, The last group was the Jewish group. Most Jews lived in isolated communities, avoiding interaction with others. American society often labeled this nomadic group, which migrated from Europe during the 15th century, as uneducated, ignorant, and illiterate. Moreover, the study of Rong Wongsawan’s use of language in his literary works revealed that his writing incorporates the creation of characters based on the cowboy identity, which is fictionalized similarly to characters in cowboy films. His works were the mistune of history, lifestyle, and social conditions. The author critiques oppression and inequality in society with the particular focus on marginalized groups such as Native Americans and Jews. The belief in the concept of “The White Man’s Burden” still persisted as a practice in contemporary society. This enables readers to develop understanding, critical reflections, and emotional engagement with past events and human behaviors-both virtuous and unjust-transforming them into valuable lessons for the advancement of contemporary society.