Participation Type
Panel
Session Title
Session 3.04 Natural Resources
Presentation #1 Title
After Coal: Welsh and Appalachian Mining Communities
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
After Coal: Welsh and Appalachian Mining Communities Proposal for ASA Conference March 28-30, 2014 Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia.
How do communities survive economic change? Can culture preserve communities? How can we share lessons across borders?
After Coal: Welsh and Appalachian Mining Communities is a documentary and community engagement project that asks these vital questions. Although most Welsh coal mines were shut down in the 1980’s, the social, economic and environmental challenges to Wales and Appalachia in recent decades are at times tragically similar: joblessness, chronic health issues, environmental blights and the sociological impact of redefining a community identity. This panel addresses key humanities issues such as resilience in a post-coal economy, post-industrialization and its aftermath, and the ability of a community to reinvent itself through cultural expression. Short video clips from the After Coal documentary-in-progress serve as conversation starters to spark discussions among conference participants about economic transition in central Appalachia.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Tom Hansell is an Assistant Professor with the Center for Appalachian Studies at Appalachian State University. His documentary film work with Appalshop has been broadcast nationally on public television and screened at international film festivals.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
Patricia Beaver recently retired as Director of the Center for Appalachian Studies at Appalachian State University. She has authored numerous books and articles on Appalachia and with Helen Lewis, began a cultural exchange program between Appalachian mining communities and Wales mining villages.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #3
Karen Russo is a graduate student in Appalachian Studies program at Appalachian State University Her undergraduate degree is in Appalachian Studies.
After Coal: Welsh and Appalachian Mining Communities
Jenkins Hall B10
After Coal: Welsh and Appalachian Mining Communities Proposal for ASA Conference March 28-30, 2014 Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia.
How do communities survive economic change? Can culture preserve communities? How can we share lessons across borders?
After Coal: Welsh and Appalachian Mining Communities is a documentary and community engagement project that asks these vital questions. Although most Welsh coal mines were shut down in the 1980’s, the social, economic and environmental challenges to Wales and Appalachia in recent decades are at times tragically similar: joblessness, chronic health issues, environmental blights and the sociological impact of redefining a community identity. This panel addresses key humanities issues such as resilience in a post-coal economy, post-industrialization and its aftermath, and the ability of a community to reinvent itself through cultural expression. Short video clips from the After Coal documentary-in-progress serve as conversation starters to spark discussions among conference participants about economic transition in central Appalachia.
