Participation Type
Paper
Session Title
Session 9.03 Music
Presentation #1 Title
Appalachian Foodways Reflected in Its Music
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
The study of foods and Appalachian foodways offers us a way to look at our culture and traditions. Generally, the major topics covered in the study of food and foodways include the examination of its historical, cultural, geographic, economic, and social roots. Another way to examine food and foodways of the region is to study music that reflects the food and foodways prevalent in a given time frame. Food and music about food can be a strong expressions of our cultural identity and can be an attempt to cling to a culture and one’s food preferences that often go against the grain of current society. In this paper, music ranging from folk songs of She’ll be Coming around the Mountain and Boil them Cabbage Down to songs dealing with butterbeans and cornbread to modern musical spoofs on biscuits and gravy will be explored. Musical advertisement that have impacted food preferences in the Appalachian region will also be examined. Music dealing with favorite foods often bring fond memories and humorous reminders of a time that may be past but yet help remind us of where we came from.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Margaret is a native of West Virginia and grew up listening to the Martha White TV show staring Flat and Scruggs on WSAZ Channel 3, Huntington, WV. She teaches a course in Appalachian foodways and has does extensive oral history research related to Appalachian Foodways
Appalachian Foodways Reflected in Its Music
The study of foods and Appalachian foodways offers us a way to look at our culture and traditions. Generally, the major topics covered in the study of food and foodways include the examination of its historical, cultural, geographic, economic, and social roots. Another way to examine food and foodways of the region is to study music that reflects the food and foodways prevalent in a given time frame. Food and music about food can be a strong expressions of our cultural identity and can be an attempt to cling to a culture and one’s food preferences that often go against the grain of current society. In this paper, music ranging from folk songs of She’ll be Coming around the Mountain and Boil them Cabbage Down to songs dealing with butterbeans and cornbread to modern musical spoofs on biscuits and gravy will be explored. Musical advertisement that have impacted food preferences in the Appalachian region will also be examined. Music dealing with favorite foods often bring fond memories and humorous reminders of a time that may be past but yet help remind us of where we came from.
