In the world of film and television there are a lot of stereotypes who have become icons. For instance, we all grew up watching and idolizing someone who was ideally typecasted and considered undesirable until they did something heroic in which they were acknowledged for turning them from an undesirable figure into an idol. For instance there are many stereotypes we know of and the media often uses stereotypes to define characters in which it is easy for people to identify. Stereotyping a particular race or group of people tend to misrepresent who those people really are by creating a spurious representation on how we see and value others. However, deep below the surface we accept the stereotype for what it is due to how often we are exposed to it creating a false belief stigmatizing others. When those stereotypes become icons they conform our beliefs and make us feel that our prejudices are okay.
In Western films there was always one character that stood out to me. The masculine cowboy. For example, when we think of cowboys the first person that comes to mind is John Wayne. He is the face and the exact depiction of the stereotype of a cowboy. To be a cowboy meant that you
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This was a man who had the least bit of masculinity. He couldn't shoot a gun to protect himself at the first sight of danger nor had any knowledge of the Cowboy Way of life. These traits were a reflection of the character of Ransom Stoddard. After learning the truth about the night of the gun brawl Ransom couldn't wrap his head around being labeled as a killer, but due to him being congratulated by the people in the town he ran with the idea of him being called a local hero. Never giving sight nor telling the townspeople the real truth of who was truly the one who shot Liberty Valance, this law abiding citizen lawyer went on to becoming a corrupt politician all while stealing the girl of Tom Doniphan’s