Participation Type
Panel
Session Title
Session 1.01 Activism
Presentation #1 Title
Popular Culture and Protest in Appalachia
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
This panel addresses the important role that art, music, literature, and other cultural expressions have played in Appalachian activist movements since the twentieth century. The panel features presentations by Marshall University Honors students enrolled in the seminar “The Art of Protest: Activism in U.S. Popular Culture,” which examines the creation, representation, and tactics of social protest and activist groups in America over the past century. These panel presentations, which are the result of group research projects, indicate that cultural expressions can be just as influential as political rhetoric, demonstrations, and other actions in mobilizing popular understanding of and support for activist groups. They also consider some of the ways mass media cover and represent these movements and how this affects public perceptions of the Appalachian region and the problems faced by its citizens. Individual presentations may address activism focusing on labor, civil rights, war, environmentalism, and other issues. The panel is moderated by Marshall Professors Cory Pillen and Rob Rabe.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Rob Rabe teaches mass media history and cultural studies in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Marshall University.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
Cory Pillen specializes in U.S. visual and popular culture.
Popular Culture and Protest in Appalachia
Drinko 349
This panel addresses the important role that art, music, literature, and other cultural expressions have played in Appalachian activist movements since the twentieth century. The panel features presentations by Marshall University Honors students enrolled in the seminar “The Art of Protest: Activism in U.S. Popular Culture,” which examines the creation, representation, and tactics of social protest and activist groups in America over the past century. These panel presentations, which are the result of group research projects, indicate that cultural expressions can be just as influential as political rhetoric, demonstrations, and other actions in mobilizing popular understanding of and support for activist groups. They also consider some of the ways mass media cover and represent these movements and how this affects public perceptions of the Appalachian region and the problems faced by its citizens. Individual presentations may address activism focusing on labor, civil rights, war, environmentalism, and other issues. The panel is moderated by Marshall Professors Cory Pillen and Rob Rabe.
