RIP Stereotypes

The quintessential Hollywood Western story of good vs. evil, Gunsmoke: Gunfighter, R.I.P. provided stereotypes galore.  There were some characteristics that all the cowboys shared in this episode, and then there were differences that were deliberate, in their appearance and intentions, that individually labeled the cowboys either good souls or bad seeds.
Silver screen interpretations of the classic cowboy included a rugged physique, with a face usually adorned with scars received from their last encounter in the harsh environment. Their clothing of leather chaps, hat, kerchief, gun belt and gun, spurs, long sleeve shirt with accompanying vest, and unmistakable pointed-toe boots provided the clues as to their lifestyle, tough and dangerous.  Mysteriously, all cowboys seemed to be able to sustain gunshot wounds without much medical attention, and recover handsomely within days.  The stereotypical cowboy does seem to have a limited education.  They also tend to have a one-track mind set on seeking out their heart’s desire, which can include romance, alcohol, revenge, or robbing banks.  Cowboys do not give much consideration to the consequences of their actions.
“If everything isn’t black and white, I say, ‘why the hell not?’” – John Wayne. 
White, the color of Yang energy, purity, righteousness, and exceptionally chaste morality is the hue of the tall cowboy hat worn by the hero in Dodge City.  The U.S. Marshall, Matt Dillon, wore a large white hat, and was bathed in light colored clothing.  He was exceptionally tall, muscular, with good looks and very white teeth.  His intuitions and eyesight, for exact shooting skills, were as noticeable as his direct connection to God and always making the correct moral decision within seconds.  The gunfighter, who had a good soul hidden under years of a violent lifestyle, was also wearing light colored clothing; his body was muscular, his face handsome and he had very white teeth.  Although initially corrupted by the lure of money, this cowboy recognized the path to happiness was in fighting back moral bankruptcy, and seizing the opportunity to assist the helpless.
Black, the color of Yin energy, evil, and generally all around bad-assness was also the color of the hat worn by the cowboy, set on revenge for time spent in jail courtesy of Marshall Dillon.  His clothing was dusty and disheveled, his face pock-marked, and his breath smelled of the whiskey that was his liquid courage.  Bad cowboy man had a side-kick who was stereotypically portrayed as having a weak character, zero self confidence, no education, but always ready to follow orders even if they came from the devil.  Lurking in saloons, with shifty eyes and fingers on the trigger, these men in black created the ever-present evil always calling to forlorn souls on the trail, in this case the errant gunfighter.
The portrayal of women in this episode of Gunsmoke was classic and can be summed up in two words: pathetic helplessness.  Thank goodness there were cowboys around to tell them what to do every second of their lives or these women would be out aimlessly wandering the hills.  Ethnic women, in this story the Chinese laundry woman, were cast with noticeable American beauty features and singled out as being especially vulnerable, weak and powerless.  At least Miss Kitty, the beautiful saloon pimp with a good heart, had the gumption to order the cowboys around on occasion.
Gunsmoke: Gunfighter R.I.P. was a simple story, filled with the stereotypes popular during that time period.  Unfortunately, the real story of exceptional characters, both male and female, and of all ethnicities rarely got that coveted television time-slot.