Participation Type
Panel
Session Title
Session 2.04 Stereotypes and FIlm
Presentation #1 Title
“Booze, Fast Cars, and Outlaws: The ‘Cool Factor’ of Appalachia in Film”
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
The 2012 film Lawless based off of Matt Bondurant’s nonfiction account of bootlegging in Franklin County, Virginia has brought fame, and a bit of notoriety, to the region. The film is full of interesting Appalachian themes from the idea of a rural demigod to corrupt law enforcement to religious rites. Three of my current and former students and I will present on these themes and how the Appalachian region is painted, somewhat positively, in this film. We will touch on how, if anything, Appalachia has become “cool” in mainstream media because of mesmerizing performances by Hollywood sensations like Tom Hardy and Shia LeBeouf. Instead of tired depictions of poor and witless hillbillies, Lawless introduces glamour, danger, and sex appeal as themes that not only occur, but prevail in a rural county deep in the heart of Virginia. Additionally, instead of the Appalachian natives being “the bad guys,” the corruption and poor behavior is most prevalently seen in the characters who are from outside the region. The film does a complete 180 from stereotypical films in that it, finally, makes room for an Appalachian hero.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Serena Frost has been a member of the Virginia Tech faculty for ten years where she teaches Appalachian Literature and Business Writing. Serena has been a presenter at the past 9 out of 10 ASA conferences, half of which she has mentored and co-presented with her students.
“Booze, Fast Cars, and Outlaws: The ‘Cool Factor’ of Appalachia in Film”
Smith Hall 335
The 2012 film Lawless based off of Matt Bondurant’s nonfiction account of bootlegging in Franklin County, Virginia has brought fame, and a bit of notoriety, to the region. The film is full of interesting Appalachian themes from the idea of a rural demigod to corrupt law enforcement to religious rites. Three of my current and former students and I will present on these themes and how the Appalachian region is painted, somewhat positively, in this film. We will touch on how, if anything, Appalachia has become “cool” in mainstream media because of mesmerizing performances by Hollywood sensations like Tom Hardy and Shia LeBeouf. Instead of tired depictions of poor and witless hillbillies, Lawless introduces glamour, danger, and sex appeal as themes that not only occur, but prevail in a rural county deep in the heart of Virginia. Additionally, instead of the Appalachian natives being “the bad guys,” the corruption and poor behavior is most prevalently seen in the characters who are from outside the region. The film does a complete 180 from stereotypical films in that it, finally, makes room for an Appalachian hero.
