Shane's Visual Style and Western Theme Analyzing "Shane" (1953) along with its visual style and Western themes will clearly show what aspects of Western culture are evident in the film . Looking at the visual style, this will show how the mise-en-scène informs the audience that 'Shane' fits into the western genre. First I will analyze the Western themes that are visible in 'Shane'. The entire narrative of “Shane” is the struggle of homeowners against ranchers. In the late 19th century, when "Shane" took place, settlers moved West to settle. The owners were looking for agricultural development, they wanted to earn a living on their land. The farm owner felt that moving to the West would offer them wonder and promise. Loy states, (2001, p.45), "'Shane' shows the arrival of wheat farmers who fenced open fields to protect their crops." “Shane” portrays the ongoing conflict between farm owners and ranchers. The ranchers who occupy the small town and are led by the greedy Mr. Ryker feel that the land taken from the farm owners is their land. Ranchers increasingly terrorize farm owners in the hope that they will disperse from their homes. “Shane” focuses on the Starret family, the father in the film, is always defiant, insisting that the Rykers will not chase him away. The western themes evident in 'Shane' are obviously the typical western setting. There's the dusty border town inhabited by the Rykers. It's not the usual western town, compared to Tonto in "Stagecoach". The town in "Shane" is comparatively desolate and not many buildings have been built, while in "Stagecoach" they have. The void represents a disturbing and dangerous place. Even though the town is so deserted, it still has the main wooden buildings featured in most western movies. There is the saloon, occupied mostly by Ryker and his men, the Grayston general store which is delimited only by the saloon doors, the blacksmiths, where Tory is visiting (before being killed by the gunslinger Wilson) and finally a hotel. From the beginning we are informed that Shane is connected to the wilderness as he descends from the mountains. Mountains are another key Western theme that recurs time and again. The opening scene echoes the final scene, as Shane climbs up the mountain from which he descended. This shows the “individual” leaving the settler “community” into which he was welcomed.