Mode of Program Participation
Academic Scholarship
Participation Type
Panel
Session Title
From Moutain Top Removal to Civil War Ghosts: Extreme Student Inquiry & The State of Appalachian Studies
Session Abstract or Summary
This panel will feature student presentations on a range of topics in Appalachian Studies at Emory & Henry College. Ranging from the psychological effects of coal to depictions of women in Appalachian fiction, these projects will provide examples of the interesting concerns undergraduates are engaging in the field. Listening to the academic interests of young scholars can help us further conversations about the direction of Appalachian Studies, especially in light of Berry, et. al.'s Studying Appalachian Studies, as well as the methods we use in the classroom and in project mentorship when encouraging student inquiry. As convener and respondent, Dr. Nicole Drewitz-Crockett, Assistant Professor of English at Emory & Henry College will highlight these issues.
Presentation #1 Title
The Impact of Stereotypes on Young Appalachians
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
This project involves tracing Appalachian stereotypes from their start in early local color fiction to modern day media representations, then examining how these stereotypes are still impacting young people in Appalachia. There is currently a push to move away from discussing Appalachian stereotypes within the Appalachian Studies academy, but I hope to demonstrate that this discussion is still worthwhile as long as these negative representations exist and are impacting Appalachians. It is my belief that young Appalachians are still affected by stereotypes, because, among other reasons, they still consistently appear in popular media. In my experience as a young Appalachian, for most of my life I’ve seen more negative than positive representations of Appalachia in popular media. However, rather than relying on my own experiences as evidence, I want to conduct a series of approximately 15 interviews with young Appalachians about their experiences with media representations of Appalachia and how it has impacted their conceptions of both self and the region.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Ellie Hogg is a senior in the Emory & Henry Honors Program. Her presentation is based on her senior thesis. She is originally from Berea, Kentucky.
Presentation #2 Title
The Psychological Impacts of Mountain Top Removal Coal Mining on Appalachian People
Presentation #2 Abstract or Summary
The southern Appalachian region of the United States has a long and varied relationship with coal mining. The most recently instituted coal mining procedure, Mountain Top Removal (MTR), has proven to have harmful effects on the region’s environments and ecosystems. However, wide consideration has not been given to the effects on the psychological well-being of the region’s inhabitants. This study will attempt to answer the questions of how and why Appalachian people are being affected by MTR. To answer these questions, this study will seek to shed light on the psychological impacts of Mountain Top Removal through quantitative and qualitative examinations of depression, anxiety, and quality of life. Additionally, the current study will compare other devastating man-made ecological disasters and the type of cultures they impacted (individualist vs collectivist, as well as attachment to place) to the effects of MTR and subjects’ quantitative and qualitative scores of collectivism, individualism, and place attachment.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
Myranda Staiano is a senior in the Emory & Henry Honors Program. Her presentation is based on her senior thesis. She is originally from Waxhaw, NC.
Presentation #3 Title
Tall Women in Contemporary Appalachian Fiction
Presentation #3 Abstract or Summary
I will discuss the strong mountain woman archetype portrayed by Lee Smith in Oral History and Wilma Dykeman in The Tall Woman, as well as how the strong mountain woman plays a role within the Appalachian community in both fiction and reality.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #3
Jordan Christie is a junior English major at Emory & Henry College. She plans to teach high school following graduation. She is originally from Roanoke, VA.
Presentation #4 Title
Still Fighting: Civil War Ghosts in Appalachia
Presentation #4 Abstract or Summary
I plan to study the manifestation of ghosts associated with the Civil War area, specifically surrounding Emory & Henry College, a small liberal arts college situated in the Appalachian south. I plan to study the lasting effects of the American Civil War on the psychological state and the current view of their role in American history in Appalachia.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #4
Emma Grace Thompson is a senior in the Emory & Henry Honors Program. Her presentation is based on her senior thesis. She is originally from Tellico Plains, TN.
The Impact of Stereotypes on Young Appalachians
This project involves tracing Appalachian stereotypes from their start in early local color fiction to modern day media representations, then examining how these stereotypes are still impacting young people in Appalachia. There is currently a push to move away from discussing Appalachian stereotypes within the Appalachian Studies academy, but I hope to demonstrate that this discussion is still worthwhile as long as these negative representations exist and are impacting Appalachians. It is my belief that young Appalachians are still affected by stereotypes, because, among other reasons, they still consistently appear in popular media. In my experience as a young Appalachian, for most of my life I’ve seen more negative than positive representations of Appalachia in popular media. However, rather than relying on my own experiences as evidence, I want to conduct a series of approximately 15 interviews with young Appalachians about their experiences with media representations of Appalachia and how it has impacted their conceptions of both self and the region.
