Georgia Southern University Digital Commons@Georgia Southern Electronic Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies, Jack N. Averitt College of Spring 2009 Y'all Think We're Stupid: Deconstructing Media Sterotypes of The American South Karen C. Hamilton Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd Recommended Citation Hamilton, Karen C., "Y'all Think We're Stupid: Deconstructing Media Sterotypes of The American South" (2009). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 491. https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/491 This dissertation (open access) is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies, Jack N. Averitt College of at Digital Commons@Georgia Southern. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons@Georgia Southern. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Y’ALL THINK WE’RE STUPID: DECONSTRUCTING MEDIA STEREOTYPES OF THE AMERICAN SOUTH by KAREN C. HAMILTON (Under the Direction of John Weaver) ABSTRACT This study examines the various stereotypes that persist about the American South, giving consideration to the common stereotypes, their persistence, and the response of Southerners and non-Southerners to them. Further, it aims to examine in-depth the methods by which these stereotypes are perpetuated, such as literature, movies, television, and music. Within this dissertation, pieces of literature by traditional Southern authors, like William Faulkner and Tennessee Williams, are examined for the images they employ. Further, films such as Deliverance and Sweet Home Alabama, as well as television shows like The Dukes of Hazzard and The Beverly Hillbillies are analyzed for how they convey stereotypes about the South.