You are here:

Go West

Name: Go West
Director: Buster Keaton
Released: 1925
Duration: 83 min

Representation Score

0.5/10

Minimal

1925

Director

Buster Keaton

Runtime

83 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Go West is a typical product of its era, emphasizing slapstick humor and genre clichés over social commentary. The narrative leans on established Western clichés that uphold traditional social hierarchies. The film does not make intentional efforts to include diverse ethnic perspectives or non-assuming gender matches what was assigned at birth identities. Instead, it focuses on physical comedy and technical innovations characteristic of Buster Keaton's silent comedy style. Overall, the film functions as a period-specific comedy that upholds the cultural norms of the 1920s rather than challenging them.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Go West have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film follows traditional 1920s norms where everyone is assumed to be straight and cisgender. There is no depiction of LGBTQ+ relationships or identities.

How does Go West portray gender?

Limited

Gender roles in the film align with early 20th-century norms. The female character is mainly used as a romantic goal rather than playing a key role in driving the plot.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Go West?

Minimal

The film features a predominantly white cast and setting, lacking diverse ethnic perspectives. It reflects the typical Western genre conventions of the time.

How does Go West represent religion and culture?

Limited

The story emphasizes classic adventure themes and individual resilience. It upholds traditional Western values and frontier settings without questioning existing social structures.

Does Go West include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not depict any visible or invisible disabilities. Physical comedy centers around the protagonist’s agility rather than disability themes.

Present on Screen

Shows foundational silent cinema techniques and physical storytelling through Buster Keaton's innovative slapstick.

Limited or Absent

Could benefit from more diverse ethnic perspectives and intentional inclusion of non-assuming gender matches what was assigned at birth identities.
Reinforces traditional gender roles by treating the female lead as a romantic goal.
Does not address themes of disability or neurodivergence.

Official Synopsis

With little luck at keeping a job in the city a New Yorker tries work in the country and eventually finds his way leading a herd of cattle to the West Coast.

How are these scores produced? →