Why Theory

The Radical Western

Mar 31, 2023
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INSIGHT

Defining the Western by Antagonism

  • A Western is best defined by its central antagonism of law versus lawlessness, not by typical iconography.
  • This approach clarifies genre boundaries and excludes works that mimic visual tropes without exploring the core conflict.
INSIGHT

Shane as Paradigmatic Western

  • Shane exemplifies the archetypal Western hero who comes out of nowhere to restore law and then must vanish.
  • The film subtly erases Native American presence, symbolizing how law establishment often ignores indigenous legacies.
INSIGHT

Collectivity Emerges in McCabe

  • McCabe and Mrs. Miller introduces the idea of collective effort alongside the lone hero archetype.
  • While McCabe fights individually, the town collectively responds to the fire, prefiguring more communal Westerns.
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