Date of Award
2015
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A. in Southern Studies
Department
Southern Studies
First Advisor
Andy Harper
Second Advisor
David Wharton
Third Advisor
Jessica Wilkerson
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
For many Americans, the concept of Appalachia as a singular place has been created through images in popular culture, often stereotypical. This thesis presents an evolution of Appalachian representations—or, more appropriately, a chronology of images in stasis, as they seem to have remained fairly unchanged over time. Responses to those images, however, have changed greatly. Most importantly, responses from within Appalachia have transformed, with regional people gaining power over the types of images of the region in popular culture. There is, however, a paradoxical dualism in the responses from within the region, as some Appalachians grow weary of being stereotyped on the screen while others welcome clichés as commercial opportunities. This thesis will shed some light on not only the history of visual representations of Appalachia but also on their future.
Recommended Citation
Trollinger, Elizabeth Rose Barnes, "“The Hard Work is Done in the Looking”: Analyzing Representations of and Responses to Appalachia in Popular Culture" (2015). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 884.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/884