How did Giant tell the story of changes in Texas through cattle and oil?

In the 1956 film Giant, director George Stevens uses the shifting fortunes of its central characters to illustrate the transformation of Texas from a traditional cattle-based economy to one dominated by the oil industry.12

The narrative centers on the rivalry between Jordan "Bick" Benedict, a wealthy ranching baron representing the established cattle empire, and Jett Rink, a young ranch hand. As the story progresses, Rink experiences an unexpected financial windfall that leads him to strike oil, eventually amassing a fortune that surpasses the Benedict family's wealth. This transition highlights the tension between the old guard of Texas society and the new, oil-fueled economic power, effectively capturing the changing landscape of the state through the personal and professional conflicts of the characters.12