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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.
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.
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.