Unraveling the Symbolism of 'Yellowstone's Iconic Cowboy Hats'

The Big Picture

In traditional Westerns, the hero wears a light-colored hat while the villains wear dark hats, but the characters in Yellowstone challenge this trope.

In Yellowstone, the characters defy the traditional notions of being strictly good or evil. Protagonists like Rip Wheeler and John Dutton challenge this by wearing dark hats, despite their complexity and status as heroes. The hat color in Yellowstone symbolizes the characters' self-perception and moral ambivalence. Rip, for instance, dons a dark hat as a reflection of his ongoing battle with his own dark side.

Have you ever observed the diverse array of hats with varying colors in classic Westerns and the distinct characters who don them? Perhaps you've taken notice of the prevailing pattern of contrasting light and dark tones in these narratives. However, in Taylor Sheridan's popular Paramount series Yellowstone, this conventional trope was subverted by a multitude of characters who defy easy categorization as either good or evil. While Yellowstone was not the first Western to challenge the traditional appearance of cowboy hats in the genre, it stands out as one of the most notable modern examples that merits further exploration.

Countless genre conventions have been associated with Westerns throughout the years, but few are as iconic and enduring as the idea of hats with different colors. No, you won't find cowboys sporting red, blue, or green headwear, but you may have detected subtle variations in shades between darker and lighter hues over time. These deliberate gradients are particularly significant on a show like Yellowstone.

The Western Trope of Light vs. Dark Hats Has a Long History

Image by Jefferson Chacon

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In traditional Westerns, the protagonist often arrives in town wearing a light-colored hat, assuming the role of a savior for the oppressed or persecuted groups seeking help. The Lone Ranger's choice to wear a white hat, for example, serves a purpose. The 1953 film Shane epitomizes this archetype, setting the standard for classic Westerns. Shane, portrayed by Alan Ladd, protects homesteaders in the Wyoming Territory by confronting villainous characters with black hats. Other Western heroes, such as Rooster Cogburn from True Grit and Ethan Edwards from The Searchers, typically don lighter-colored hats as they engage in battles against adversaries sporting darker headwear.

Interestingly, the term "black hat" for Western villains originates from this Western tradition. Throughout film history, various characters have been labeled with this moniker, including the peculiar case of Karl Urban's villainous character named "Black Hat" in the 2011 action horror film Priest. It is evident that the Western genre significantly influences other genres, and as it continues to prosper, more references to the symbolism of cowboy hats can be expected in the future. However, while the majority of traditional Westerns adhered closely to this concept, not every iconic production of that era did.

One example that completely altered the conventional Western narrative is the film High Noon. Released a year prior to Shane, this Western challenged the norm by casting Gary Cooper's Marshal Kane, our Western hero, as the one wearing a black hat while his adversaries donned lighter hats. High Noon sparked controversy at the time, not only for its unconventional use of cowboy hats, but that did not prevent it from being hailed as one of the greatest Westerns of all time. Furthermore, many iconic Revisionist Western characters, including Clint Eastwood, often sported darker hats. In Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Robert Redford's Kid prominently wore a dark hat while Paul Newman's Butch opted for a lighter one. While traditional Westerns may have adhered more closely to this concept, the genre eventually embraced a different approach.

'Yellowstone's Characters Don't Rightfully Fit Either Category

Paramount+ presents an intriguing Western narrative known as Yellowstone, which has garnered immense acclaim from viewers. While it may bear resemblances to a prestigious soap opera at times, Yellowstone offers much more. Throughout its four and a half seasons (with the latter half of Season 5 yet to be released), the series has captivated audiences with the intricate dynamics of the Dutton family, leading to the development of several prequels. Notably, this neo-Western, crafted by Taylor Sheridan, defies the conventional symbolism exhibited in its traditional predecessors, presenting a refreshing challenge to established norms.

In Yellowstone, the Duttons and their allies do not necessarily wear light-colored hats while their adversaries wear dark ones. Although Kevin Costner's character, John Dutton, initially wears a lighter hat in "Daybreak," he switches to a darker one in the fifth season. On the other hand, characters like Rip Wheeler (played by Cole Hauser) consistently wear dark hats throughout, regardless of their complex character development or heroic status according to viewers.

To be frank, the characters in Yellowstone are not morally upright individuals, and they are well aware of this fact. Some people find Beth (portrayed by Kelly Reilly) to be exaggerated, while others are annoyed by Kayce's (played by Luke Grimes) frequently changing loyalties, particularly in the early stages. Unlike HBO's Westworld, where characters usually wear the "correct" colored hat depending on their alignment with good or evil, the characters in Yellowstone seldom conform to the traditional Western archetypes associated with the genre. In this sense, they align with the school of thought known as Revisionist Western, as they rebel against conventional symbolism. Nonetheless, it is the reasons behind their rebellion that contribute to the show's intrigue.

Self-Perception Has a Lot to Do With Which Hat You Wear on 'Yellowstone'

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Greeley Hat Works explains that a black hat does not necessarily indicate that the wearer is a villain. Although traditionally, black hats were associated with malicious and deceitful characters, Rip Wheeler, whose iconic look is credited to Greeley Hat Works, wears a darker hat to symbolize his inner struggle with impure and unethical intentions. Despite this, Rip is actually a hero in the storyline, which adds depth to his character. Thus, he exclusively wears his trademark black hat.

Other characters, like Kayce, exhibit more moral ambiguity. Due to his military service abroad and his contributions to his father's business empire, Kayce often chooses to wear a darker shade of cowboy hat. On the other hand, John, who initially wore lighter hats, transitions to exclusively wearing darker hats in Season 3. This shift reflects John's changing self-perception. Previously, he viewed himself as the hero of his own story, but now he acknowledges his moral compromises, even as he continues to fight for his family and their well-being. In contrast, Walker always wears his trademark white hat, or a lighter variation, because despite being aware of the evil he is capable of, he generally sees himself as good.

On the flip side, Yellowstone's second season introduces Malcolm Beck (Neal McDonough), a notorious antagonist who defiantly wears a light hat throughout the show. McDonough sheds light on his portrayal of villains, stressing the importance of justifying their actions in their own perspective. He believes that embodying these characters as ordinary businessmen rather than pure evil is what truly unsettles viewers, as exemplified by Malcolm Beck. Despite committing heinous acts, Beck remains convinced that he is the hero of his own narrative, ultimately leading to his downfall.

Some 'Yellowstone' Villains Embody The Black Hat Archetype Effortlessly

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In an ironic twist, Malcolm's brother, Teal Beck (Terry Serpico), consistently wears a dark hat. Although we don't learn as much about Teal as we do about Malcolm, it becomes evident that he views himself as the villain rather than the hero. While Malcolm justifies his actions internally, Teal is willing to do whatever is necessary for personal gain, without any moral qualms. Therefore, when Kayce ultimately kills Teal while he is on the toilet in Season 2, it's no surprise that this black-hatted character meets a miserable demise, while his brother, who perceives himself as morally superior, is granted some final words.

Teal Beck isn't the sole Yellowstone adversary to embrace villainy. There are two other antagonists who perfectly embody the black hat archetype. One of them is Wade Morrow (played by Boots Southerland). Wade is a prominent antagonist in the third season and holds a deep malevolence towards the Duttons and their family. Unafraid to engage in nefarious deeds, Wade repeatedly crosses the line and even orchestrates attacks on the ranch hands, leaving them almost dead. In the episode "Meaner than Evil," Wade meets his fitting demise, an apt conclusion for a character of his nature.

Another Yellowstone evildoer who approaches the black hat tradition in a distinct manner is Garret Randall (portrayed by Will Patton), Jamie Dutton's biological father. Fueled by a desire for revenge against John for taking his son, Randall masterminds a major assassination attempt on the Duttons at the end of Season 3. Although he initially wears a white hat (with black trim as a foreshadowing element) in Season 3, once Randall embraces the reality of his actions against the Duttons, sins he feels no inclination to atone for, he solely dons black hats until his eventual demise.

'Yellowstone' Asks Us the Hard Question: Who Should We Root For?

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Every batch of Duttons has their own unique perspective. In 1883, the Duttons wear darker hats due to the bloodshed of the Civil War and their migration north. On the other hand, the clan in 1923 exclusively don lighter hats as they are generally upright individuals. However, with numerous characters displaying shifting loyalties, interpersonal conflicts, and even turning to evil, it becomes a challenge to determine who should be supported on Yellowstone. While not everyone is completely devoid of morality, most characters do not neatly fit into the traditional Western archetypes that define the genre.

Unlike many of its counterparts such as Longmire, Justified, Walker, Joe Pickett, Dark Winds, and Outer Range, which feature protagonists who strive to be morally upright, Yellowstone takes a different approach. These neo-Western heroes often wear lighter hats and abide by the law. This general rule applies to all the mentioned examples except for Outer Range, which includes a morally ambiguous main character. On the contrary, Yellowstone and its prequels embrace the complexities of moral grey areas. While this concept presents intriguing material, it can also muddy the waters considerably.

While we wait for Yellowstone's return, you can revisit the entire series exclusively on Peacock, or watch the greater Yellowstone Universe on Paramount+.

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