Hey everyone. I’m back in The Atlantic today with a new piece on the similarities between The Lone Ranger, Iron Man 3, and White House Down. Here is an excerpt:

Though people often forget it, Westerns are also war movies, as they take place during the American-Indian Wars of the 18th and 19th centuries. So it should be no surprise that The Lone Ranger uses the same moral template as Iron Man 3 and White House Down. With the stated goal of becoming the wealthiest man in America, Cole launches a battle that seems a stand-in for all of the violence between American settlers and Indian populations. The message we leave with is that both U.S. soldiers and foreign enemies are pawns in the rich man’s eternal quest to get even more for himself.

You can read the full article here.