History Main / AmericansAreCowboys

* A frequent complaint from American intellectual types about their European (and particularly French) opposite numbers is this bizarre identification of the cowboy as one of the most important things in the American psyche. One episode of ''ThisAmericanLife'' (can't remember which) includes a bit where a visitor to Germany goes into the phenomenon (and why it's stupid) in detail.

* The late Mexican composer of songs for children, Francisco Gabilondo Soler ''Cri-Cri'', in his song "El Ratón Vaquero" (The Cowboy Mouse), which also has GratuitousEnglish in its lyrics.

This is a case of SmallReferencePools, or when people want to absolutely hammer in that this character is '''AMERICAN'''. While several other countries had their own rural periods, the WildWest is distinctly American in the eyes of other countries ([[DidNotDoTheResearch except that it also heavily involved Mexico...and Canada had much the same thing]], [[DisSimile without the Mexicans]]). Thus, putting a cowboy hat and a poncho on someone will instantly identify them as an American, [[ChineseGirl much as how putting a qipao or cheongsam on a girl will instantly identify them as Chinese]].

* The term ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowboy_diplomacy cowboy diplomacy]]'', sometimes used by critics of certain aspects of US foreign policy.

This is a case of SmallReferencePools, or when people want to absolutely hammer in that this character is '''AMERICAN'''. While several other countries had their own rural periods, the WildWest is distinctly American in the eyes of other countries ([[DidNotDoTheResearch except that it also heavily involved Mexico]]). Thus, putting a cowboy hat and a poncho on someone will instantly identify them as an American, [[ChineseGirl much as how putting a qipao or cheongsam on a girl will instantly identify them as Chinese]].

* There's also a second layer to this trope: In America, Everybody West of the Mississippi is a Cowboy.

* There's also a second layer to this trope: In America, AllTexansAreCowboys.
** It's really more like Everybody Crammed In Between California And Louisiana Is A Cowboy.

This is a case of SmallReferencePools, or when people want to absolutely hammer in that this character is '''AMERICAN'''. While several other countries had their own rural periods, the WildWest is distinctly American in the eyes of other coutries ([[DidNotDoTheResearch except that it also heavily involved Mexico]]). Thus, putting a cowboy hat and a poncho on someone will instantly identify them as an American, [[ChineseGirl much as how putting a qipao or cheongsam on a girl will instantly identify them as Chinese]].

* In ''{{Camelot 3000}}'', the American president dresses like a cowboy and packs a pair of six-shooters.

* RonaldReagan and GeorgeWBush promoted a cowboy image. Neither one ever really worked with cattle, though the former [[ButIPlayOneOnTV had acted in Westerns]] and latter had been governor of Texas. Even so, you can find plenty of photo ops where they wear cowboy hats and act like they are ranch guys.

* In [[http://images.oneofakindantiques.com/2464_szyk_caricatures_6.jpg one]] of Arthur Szyk's Anti-Fascist propaganda posters, America is depicted as a Gary Cooper-ish being stabbed in the back by a YellowPeril ImperialJapan.

* The BigBad of the first ''Film/DieHard'' film mocks John [=McClane=] as being a "cowboy" [[strike: towards the end of the film]] several times thoughout the movie, hence [=McClane=]'s "Yippie Ki Yay" CatchPhrase.

* The BigBad of the first ''Film/DieHard'' film mocks John [=McClane=] as being a "cowboy" towards the end of the film, hence [=McClane=]'s "Yippie Ki Yay" CatchPhrase.

* The BigBad of the first ''DieHard'' film mocks John Mc Clane as being a "cowboy" towards the end of the film, hence Mc Clane's "Yippie Ki Yay" CatchPhrase.