Across advertising and popular media, seemingly everyone is grabbing their fringe, denim and Stetson boots, in a wholehearted embrace of the American West. It’s cowboys – and they’re “everywhere,” said Emily Keegin, a photo director for both magazines and brands. “It’s more pervasive than I think I’ve ever seen a trope in recent history.” Long associated with a hardworking, old-school, rugged American masculinity, the cowboy’s current popularity could be a reflection of our national politics — conservatives, including members of the Trump administration, have embraced cowboy hats and similar imagery. But today’s prevailing cowboy image also highlights how cultural myths...