The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018) | How Woke Is It?

Our VerdictNot Woke

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs2018

In a free society the right to critique art is essential and protected speech. These reviews reflect personal opinions and not statements of fact.

What We Think

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is refreshingly non-woke. It’s an old-school, genre-savvy Western anthology that mostly sidesteps the usual modern boxes Hollywood tries to tick. If anything, it’s a rare example of storytelling not held hostage by current ideological trends.

Score Breakdown

Compromised:Narrative Integrity

Not Woke

What is this?

The film prioritizes storytelling and unique character development over modern identity politics. There is little evidence of forced representation or characters defined solely by identity factors. Narrative choices appear driven by genre conventions and the Coen brothers’ dark humor rather than adherence to ideological fads.

Compromised:Cultural Foundations

Not Woke

What is this?

Western tropes, themes of morality, and explorations of fate and justice are front and center. Masculinity, religion, and family are presented authentically, without subversion or mockery. Traditional cultural motifs remain intact, with little sign of revisionism to appease modern sensibilities.

Compromised:Ideological Monoculture

Not Woke

What is this?

There is a notable presence of varied worldviews and complex moral landscapes. The quirky anthology structure allows exploration of different types of characters, with no obvious ideological uniformity or across-the-board villainization of dissenting perspectives.

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Disclaimer: In a free society the right to critique art is essential and protected as a form of free speech and freedom of expression. The reviews and commentary on this site represent personal opinions and interpretations. They are not statements of fact and should not be taken as factual claims about any individual, company, or creative work.