I know that this is a strange request, and possibly a strange place to voice my request, but when I think about it, writers seem like th most likely people to ask for help. Basically, I'm wondering if anyone can give me some insights into the workings of the wild west. In literature and film, it's usually depicted in certain ways tht, while not realistic, are now associated with the genre. I want to knwo the symbols, the commonalities, between characters in various wild west works. Everyone knows that bad guys wear black, and good guys are always steely eyes, but what about the details? What are the little things that tell us, before we even know the characters through their actions, that we are dealing with a dark avenger, or with a principled villain? Do good guys wear their gun belts slightly askance? Is blowing wind a good thing for hte hero or a bad thing? Any insight you folks can offer me into the inner workings of the genre would be very valuable. =D