DOCSLIB.ORG

Beyond the Coal Divide: the Cultural Politics of Natural Resource Extraction in Central Appalachia

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Beyond the Coal Divide: the Cultural Politics of Natural Resource Extraction in Central Appalachia University of Kentucky UKnowledge Theses and Dissertations--Anthropology Anthropology 2017 BEYOND THE COAL DIVIDE: THE CULTURAL POLITICS OF NATURAL RESOURCE EXTRACTION IN CENTRAL APPALACHIA Julie A. Shepherd-Powell University of Kentucky, [email protected] Digital Object Identifier: https://doi.org/10.13023/ETD.2017.015 Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Shepherd-Powell, Julie A., "BEYOND THE COAL DIVIDE: THE CULTURAL POLITICS OF NATURAL RESOURCE EXTRACTION IN CENTRAL APPALACHIA" (2017). Theses and Dissertations--Anthropology. 23. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/anthro_etds/23 This Doctoral Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Anthropology at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations--Anthropology by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STUDENT AGREEMENT: I represent that my thesis or dissertation and abstract are my original work. Proper attribution has been given to all outside sources. I understand that I am solely responsible for obtaining any needed copyright permissions. I have obtained needed written permission statement(s) from the owner(s) of each third-party copyrighted matter to be included in my work, allowing electronic distribution (if such use is not permitted by the fair use doctrine) which will be submitted to UKnowledge as Additional File. I hereby grant to The University of Kentucky and its agents the irrevocable, non-exclusive, and royalty-free license to archive and make accessible my work in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I agree that the document mentioned above may be made available immediately for worldwide access unless an embargo applies. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of my work. I understand that I am free to register the copyright to my work. REVIEW, APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE The document mentioned above has been reviewed and accepted by the student’s advisor, on behalf of the advisory committee, and by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), on behalf of the program; we verify that this is the final, approved version of the student’s thesis including all changes required by the advisory committee. The undersigned agree to abide by the statements above. Julie A. Shepherd-Powell, Student Dr. Mary Anglin, Major Professor Dr. Sarah Lyon, Director of Graduate Studies BEYOND THE COAL DIVIDE: THE CULTURAL POLITICS OF NATURAL RESOURCE EXTRACTION IN CENTRAL APPALACHIA _________________________________________________ DISSERTATION _________________________________________________ A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Kentucky By Julie Shepherd-Powell Lexington, Kentucky Director: Dr. Mary K. Anglin, Associate Professor of Anthropology Lexington, Kentucky 2017 Copyright © Julie Shepherd-Powell 2017 ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION Beyond the Coal Divide: The Cultural Politics of Natural Resource Extraction in Central Appalachia During the last several years far southwest Virginia, like elsewhere in the central Appalachian region, has faced a decline in all coal mining activity and a subsequent loss of coal mining jobs, meaning that local economies are suffering and the unemployment line is long. In addition, this area continues to face environmental pollution from surface coal mines that are still in operation or have not been reclaimed. Drawing upon anthropological literature on natural resource extraction and economic and environmental inequality, this dissertation highlights the lives of members of a local grassroots environmental organization, as well as other local residents, in a small coal mining community in Appalachia. Complicating and contradicting the “jobs versus environment” dichotomy used by industries, politicians, and academics to position people in “black and white” categories, this dissertation demonstrates that people living within an area where a controversial resource extraction method was used did not take a “hard line” stance on coal mining, but rather took into account the economic, environmental, and cultural risks and benefits associated with the industry’s practices. This dissertation offers a textured account of how local and regional politicians and coal industry executives use their authority--or abuse their power--to garner support for controversial resource extraction practices. Furthermore, this dissertation also demonstrates that support for, or opposition to, surface mining practices (such as mountaintop removal) was also influenced by the different perceptions of the environment held by participants. All respondents expressed a love of the mountains; however their perceptions of pollution and proper use of the land varied greatly. Despite disagreements over coal, all residents expressed a concern over the economy and articulated the need for new economic opportunities beyond coal in order for the region to remain a viable place to live and work. KEYWORDS: Natural resource extraction, Appalachia, Coal, Environmental movements Julie Shepherd-Powell ________________________________ January 30, 2017 ________________________________ Date BEYOND THE COAL DIVIDE: THE CULTURAL POLITICS OF NATURAL RESOURCE EXTRACTION IN CENTRAL APPALACHIA By Julie Shepherd-Powell Dr. Mary K. Anglin ________________________________ Director of Dissertation Dr. Sarah Lyon ________________________________ Director of Graduate Studies January 30, 2017 ________________________________ Date For my dad, David Wayne Shepherd, who taught me at an early age to care for the earth ACKNOWLEDGMENTS There are many people who made this dissertation possible. I would foremost like to thank my dissertation advisor and chair, Mary Anglin, for her support and direction through all of the stages of this project. Her unending guidance and integral feedback on many drafts of this dissertation helped me shape and sharpen my arguments and made me a better scholar. I would also like to thank my committee members, Dwight Billings, Lisa Cliggett, Sarah Lyon, and Shannon Bell, for their observations, comments, and support. Having a committee who whole-heartedly engaged with and cared about my research was a source of encouragement and inspiration. Thank you to my fellow colleagues from the University of Kentucky, especially Ryan Anderson, Victoria Dekle, Takami Delisle, Zada Komara, Celine Lamb, Megan Maurer, Veronica Miranda, Karen Rignall, Christie Shrestha, and Jasper Waugh- Quasebarth, with whom I spent hours grappling with anthropological theories, crafting dissertation proposals, and writing papers at Coffea. Thank you to many of my colleagues, as well as Lavenia Baxter, for watching baby Nora when I had no other options for childcare. Without you all, I would not have made it through graduate school. Thank you to my friends far and wide who provided moral support, comic relief, fun distractions, meaningful conversations about my work, and cheerleading throughout all of the various seasons of my graduate career, particularly: Bethany Baxter, Ryan Chaney, Cindy Cook, Greg Galbreath, Sarah Gibson, Sam Gleaves, Mindy Greene, Tyler Hughes, Todd Meade, Jennie Noakes, Brett Ratliff, Tammy Sawyer, Chris Shepherd- Pratt, and Lora Smith. A special thank you to my friends at Appalshop and from the coalfields. Without your knowledge, passion, and insights this dissertation would never have been conceived. I owe a debt of gratitude to the residents of Wise County, and especially to all of the members of the Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards who generously welcomed me to their organization, put me to “work” playing music for events, and spent countless hours talking to me about their home. Their tireless efforts to protect the mountains and create a sustainable future were an inspiration throughout my research and continue to be an inspiration today. Thank you to my family who encouraged me, prayed for me, and believed in me from the very beginning. To my parents, Wayne and Carolyn Shepherd, I will forever be indebted to you for the countless hours, days, and weeks you watched Nora and Oliver so that I could write papers, read books, study, take qualifying exams, conduct research, and write my dissertation. Having two small children and making it through a PhD program was a challenge, but you made it possible—thank you. To my sister, Sheri Shepherd- Pratt: through your own life and career, you have always inspired me to follow my passions and do my best work. Thank you for your constant encouragement and listening ear. To Adrian: thank you for seeing me through these years of graduate school and for always doing whatever it took to get me over the next hurdle. I will ever be grateful for the sacrifices you made, and especially for agreeing to go on this journey with me. To Nora and Oliver, thank you for being a constant source of joy and fun during my “off” hours. Your smiles, laughter, and cuddles pulled me through the difficult moments. Funds for this research were provided by the National Science Foundation (Dissertation Improvement Grant [PI-Mary Anglin, Co-PI-Julie Shepherd-Powell, BCS- 1154030]). iii Table of Contents Acknowledgements iii List of Tables vii List of Figures viii Chapter 1: Introduction- 1 Wise County: A Community Divided
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Alpha Coal Handbook 2
    201 2 2 Alpha Coal Handbook Alpha Coal Handbook A reference guide for coal, ironmaking, electricity generation, and emissions control technologies. 2012 Edition Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this document which are not statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” within the Safe Harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are not guarantees of future per- formance. Many factors could cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Who Is Alpha? These factors are discussed in detail in our filings with the SEC. We make forward-looking statements based on currently available information, and we assume no obligation to update the statements made herein due to changes in underlying Alpha Natural Resources is one of the world’s premier coal suppliers factors, new information, future developments, or otherwise, except as required by law. with coal production capacity of greater than 120 million tons a Third Party Information This document, including certain forward-looking statements herein, includes information obtained from third party year. Alpha is the United States’ leading supplier of metallurgical sources that we believe to be reliable. However, we have not independently verified this third party information and cannot coal used in the steelmaking process and third-largest in the world. assure you of its accuracy or completeness. While we are not aware of any misstatements regarding any third party data contained in this document, such data involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, Alpha is also a major supplier of thermal coal to electric utilities including those discussed in detail in our filings with the SEC.
    [Show full text]
  • Alpha Complaint
    Case 2:14-cv-11609 Document 1 Filed 03/05/14 Page 1 of 32 PageID #: 1 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF WEST VIRGINIA CHARLESTON DIVISION UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; the STATE OF WEST ) VIRGINIA by and through the WEST VIRGINIA ) DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION; the ) PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ) PROTECTION; and the COMMONWEALTH OF ) KENTUCKY by and through the KENTUCKY ENERGY ) AND ENVIRONMENT CABINET ) ) Plaintiffs, ) ) v. ) ) Civil Action No. ________2:14-11609 ALPHA NATURAL RESOURCES, INC.; ALPHA ) APPALACHIA HOLDINGS, INC.; ALEX ENERGY, INC.; ) ALPHA PA COAL TERMINAL, LLC; AMFIRE MINING ) COMPANY, LLC; ARACOMA COAL CO., INC.; ) COMPLAINT BANDMILL COAL CORP.; BELFRY COAL CORP.; BIG ) BEAR MINING CO.; BROOKS RUN MINING COMPANY, ) LLC; BROOKS RUN SOUTH MINING LLC; CLEAR FORK ) COAL CO.; CUMBERLAND COAL RESOURCES, LP; ) DELBARTON MINING CO.; DICKENSON-RUSSELL ) COAL COMPANY, LLC; DUCHESS COAL CO.; EAGLE ) ENERGY, INC.; ELK RUN COAL CO., INC.; EMERALD ) COAL RESOURCES, LP; ENTERPRISE MINING ) COMPANY, LLC; GOALS COAL CO.; GREYEAGLE ) COAL CO.; HARLAN RECLAMATION SERVICES LLC; ) HERNDON PROCESSING CO., LLC; HIGHLAND MINING ) CO.; INDEPENDENCE COAL COMPANY, INC.; JACKS ) BRANCH COAL CO.; KANAWHA ENERGY CO.; KEPLER ) PROCESSING CO., LLC; KINGSTON MINING, INC.; ) KINGWOOD MINING CO., LLC; KNOX CREEK COAL ) CORP.; LITWAR PROCESSING CO., LLC; MARFORK ) COAL CO.; MARTIN COUNTY COAL CORP.; NEW ) RIDGE MINING CO.; OMAR MINING CO.; PARAMONT ) COAL COMPANY VIRGINIA, LLC; PAYNTER BRANCH ) MINING,
    [Show full text]
  • Alpha Natural Resources United States
    Alpha Natural Resources United States Sectors: Coal Mining On record This profile is no longer actively maintained, with the information now possibly out of date Send feedback on this profile By: BankTrack Created before Nov 2016 Last update: Jul 4 2016 Sectors Coal Mining Headquarters Ownership Alpha was formed in 2002 and went public in February 2005, trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "ANR". Subsidiaries Website http://www.alphanr.com/ About Alpha Natural Resources Alpha Natural Resources is a large American producer of metallurgical and thermal coal. It also provides services relating to equipment repairs, road construction and logistics (terminals). It does not produce all of the coal it sells, some is purchased and resold. Alpha operates in Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Wyoming, Utah, Illinois, Tennessee and Pennsylvania. Clients include electricity producers and steel manufacturers. Metallurgical coal is used industrially while thermal is the form of coal used to generate power. In 2014 it had 60 mines in active operation. In 2014 the company shipped a total of 84.6 million tonnes of coal, of which 17.6 million tonnes were exported. In April 2014, Alpha had a Market Capitalization of USD977.1 million, a 12 month total equity return of -39.5% and a B Credit rating at Standard & Poor's. Alpha has suffered four years of losses, has laid off 4,000 workers and closed all but 50 mines. Due to its "abnormally low" stock price ANR was delisted from the NYSE on July 16, 2015. With debts of USD three billion dating from its acquisition of Massey Energy for USD7.1 billion in 2011, the firm filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on August 3, 2015.
    [Show full text]
  • Our Pain, Their Gain
    Our Pain, Their Gain Mountains Destroyed for Coal Shipped Overseas NOTE: This report has not been officially adopted by the Committee on Natural Resources and may not necessarily reflect the views of its Members. Released: July 19, 2012 Our Pain, Their Gain Mountains Destroyed for Coal Shipped Overseas One of the coal industry’s favorite ads in recent years displays an orange power cord plugged directly into a piece of coal. The picture is accompanied by words assuring the viewer that coal is cheap, reliable and a key to the nation’s domestic energy security. The message for Americans is that coal equals electricity in the United States, and to tamper with that would be to tamper with our way of life. A more truthful ad would unplug the power cord and replace it with an oceangoing freightliner bound for steel mills and power plants across Europe, South A growing body of research 1 America, China and India. The image of the ship shows that mountaintop leaving an export terminal would then dissolve into removal mines not only ruin the naked remains of what used to be a majestic ecosystems but cause Appalachian mountain. As the camera zoomed out to cardiovascular disease, show the buried remains of streams and rivers and cancer, birth defects and hillsides stripped bare by mining, the announcer poor overall health. would tell the viewer about a dramatically changing industry that is depending more and more on exports to survive. Coal exports have nearly doubled since 2009 to 107 million tons last year, now accounting for almost 12 percent of U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Appalachian Studies Bibliography Cumulation 2013-June 2016 ______
    Appalachian Studies Bibliography Cumulation 2013-June 2016 _____________________ CONTENTS Agriculture and Land Use ................................................................................................................3 Appalachian Studies.........................................................................................................................8 Archaeology and Physical Anthropology ......................................................................................14 Architecture, Historic Buildings, Historic Sites ............................................................................18 Arts and Crafts ..............................................................................................................................21 Biography .......................................................................................................................................27 Civil War, Military.........................................................................................................................29 Coal, Industry, Labor, Railroads, Transportation ..........................................................................37 Description and Travel, Recreation and Sports .............................................................................63 Economic Conditions, Economic Development, Economic Policy, Poverty ................................71 Education .......................................................................................................................................82
    [Show full text]
  • PPCO Twist System
    HUESKER Solutions Made in the USA SoilTain® • Made from a specially developed woven fabric • Efficient and eco-friendly alternative to traditional dewatering methods Minegrid® • High-tenacity polyester coated with a flame-resistant, anti-static coating • Unequaled safety record • Increased safety and production Impoundment Abandonment Covers • HUESKER geosynthetics can make closure faster, safer, and much less expensive Mining Geosynthetic Solutions Provider facebook.com/hueskernorthamerica twitter.com/HUESKERna linkedin.com/company/huesker-north-america www.HUESKER.us | E-mail: [email protected] | Phone: 704.588.5500 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 VOL. 123 NO. 1 NEWS/4 FORECAST 2018/18 feature articles 18 The Coal Industry Prepares to Extend the 2017 Recovery Plans for capital spending increases on the heels of growing production 24 Longwall Production Rebounds in 2017 The numbers of overall faces drops by two, but production increases by nearly 10% U.S. LONGWALL CENSUS/24 SAFETY TRAINING/30 30 THE ABCs of KSAs Assessing the self-escape knowledge, skills and abilities of coal miners coal in the news 4 Cloud Peak to Ship PRB Coal to Japan 4 Murry Energy Will Acquire Majority Interest in Armstrong Energy 4 Projects Advancing in Illinois Basin in Early 2018 6 Blackhawk Set to Grow Met Coal Business in 2018 7 FERC Rejects DOE’s Proposal on Grid Reliability 8 Lighthouse Resources Files Lawsuit Against this issue Washington This month, Coal Age publishes its annual U.S. Longwall Census, 10 Another Hotspot Spells Trouble for Deer Run which provides details on some of the most advanced underground 10 Alpha Natural Resources Announces 2018 Sales coal mining systems.
    [Show full text]
  • Journal for the Society of North Carolina Archivists, Vol. 6, No. 1
    Summer 2008 Volume 6, Number 1 ournal for the Society of J North Carolina Archivists 1 Journal for the Society of North Carolina Archivists Published Semiannually by Society of North Carolina Archivists About the Cover The label from the first ever recording of folk music legend Arthel Lane “Doc” Watson (born 1923 in Deep Gap). Folksong collector W. Amos Abrams recorded this rendition of “Precious Jewel” at the July 4, 1941 Boone Fiddlers’ Convention. The aluminum core acetate disc is currently housed in Special Collections, Carol Grotnes Belk Library and Information Commons, Appalachian State University. J-SNCA Editorial Board Beth Carmichael, Copy Editor West Virginia and Regional History Collection, West Virginia University Elizabeth Dunn, Reviews Editor Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University Zachary Elder, Layout Editor Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University Nancy Kaiser, Editor Manuscripts Department, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Paula Jeannet Mangiafico, Editor Rare Book, Manuscript and Special Collections Library, Duke University Cat S. McDowell, SCNA Publications Chair (ex-officio) Digital Projects Coordinator, University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greta Reisel Browning, Editor Special Collections, Belk Library and Information Commons, Appalachian State University 2 Journal for the Society of North Carolina Archivists Volume 6, no.1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 4 Appalachian Special Collections and Appalachian Studies: Collections, Curricula, and the Development of Interdisciplinary Regional Studies Programs Gene Hyde Page 26 Manuscripts, Mountain Music, and Megabytes: “‘So Mote It Ever Be’: The Folksong Heritage of North Carolina’s Northern Blue Ridge Mountains” Paul L. Robertson Page 41 Alleghania, Appalachian America, or Appalachia: A Region (re) Discovered, (re)Defined, and Documented Fred J.
    [Show full text]
  • An Autoethnographic Curriculum for Appalachian Studies: Merging Humanities and Social Science Theories and Methods
    AN AUTOETHNOGRAPHIC CURRICULUM FOR APPALACHIAN STUDIES: MERGING HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCE THEORIES AND METHODS A Thesis by DONNA T. CORRIHER Submitted to the Graduate School Appalachian State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS December 2012 Department of English AN AUTOETHNOGRAPHIC CURRICULUM FOR APPALACHIAN STUDIES: MERGING HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCE THEORIES AND METHODS A Thesis by DONNA T. CORRIHER December 2012 APPROVED BY: ___________________________________ Eugenia Cecelia Conway Chairperson, Thesis Committee ____________________________________ Georgia B. Rhoades Member, Thesis Committee ____________________________________ Sandra L. Ballard Member, Thesis Committee ____________________________________ James D. Fogelquist Chairperson, Department of English _____________________________________ Edelma D. Huntley Dean, Research and Graduate Studies Copyright by Donna T. Corriher 2012 All Rights Reserved Abstract AN AUTOETHNOGRAPHIC CURRICULUM FOR APPALACHIAN STUDIES: MERGING HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCE THEORIES AND METHODS Donna T. Corriher, B.A., Appalachian State University M.A., Appalachian State University Chairperson: Eugenia Cecelia Conway This thesis is a curriculum for the interdisciplinary field of Appalachian Studies using writing and an autoethnographic method. This method empowers students as it allows them to choose their own topics for research, encourages student exploration of the cultural environment of Appalachia as related to or compared with their own, and places the classroom in the hands of the students. The design of the curriculum and the autoethnographic method can be applied to other regional studies and to other disciplines. Combining autoethnography and teaching reveals the ways these underpinnings of the curriculum support personal invention in the classroom. This combination of autoethnography and Appalachia is innovative and new. Several researchers use other related methods like participant observer that contribute to our understanding of autoethnography.
    [Show full text]
  • Cliffs Natural Resources Strategy
    Project Report on Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE: CLF) In partial fulfillment of the course Strategic Management-I Submitted to: Submitted by: Professor Veeresh Sharma Sourobh Das (15P052) Section A, PGPM 2015-17 Management Development Institute, Mehrauli Road, Sukhrali, Sector 17, Gurgaon - 122007 [Type text] [Type text] [Type text] Acknowledgements I feel obliged in submitting this report in partial fulfillment of the course Strategic Management-I. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Prof. Veeresh Sharma for his timely suggestions, help, guidance and encouragement during the project. I would also like to express my gratitude towards my institution, MDI- Gurgaon for generous access to research material that helped me carry out this in-depth analysis without which this project would not have come to fruition. I would also like to express my gratitude towards my peers whose valuable and honest opinions and inputs helped me bring this project to conclusion. Last but not the least, I would like to thank all the people who have been involved with me in the project directly or indirectly and who have supported me all throughout the course of this project. Executive Summary This report aims to unravel the corporate strategy and throw some light on the business aspects of one of the leading mining and natural resources companies in the United States, Cliffs Natural Resources. The report starts off with an overview of the company talking of its inception, the various milestones in its history, its mission and core values that help in determining what kind of company it has been over the years and where it aims to go forward.
    [Show full text]
  • Anthro Notes : National Museum of Natural History Bulletin for Teachers
    Page 11 Anthro Notes TEACHER'S CORNER: BEYOND The students agreed they would like to WALLS "capture" children at a pretty young age and THE CLASSROOM get them interested in Appalachia. For non- Appalachian students this would aid in their [Editor's Note: Working in the Appalachian understanding and communication; for Southwestern Virginia, Radford region of Appalachian students, it would help instill Melinda Bollar University anthropologists pride in their heritage and identity. Wagner and Mary B. La Lone have inspired their classes to work together on We decided the book would have an "ABC's" collaborative, semester-long, ethnographic format, with one page of text and one the local field projects related to community illustration for each letter. We divided up the teaches and culture. Wagner, who alphabet, each student taking on two letters, Appalachian Cultures and the Anthropology assigned by lot. of Religion, discusses what influenced her to change her teaching and describes an Because the student authors thought they project. redesigned Appalachia book La Lone could not say some things at a child's level, in Anthropology to her course Economic they decided to write a manual for parents the subject "come alive" for her students make and teachers titled Beyond the ABC's of studying flea markets. The two class through Appalachia. The authors tried to anticipate projects described below can be adapted for questions the children might ask, to suggest students anywhere.] activities, and to elaborate on each of the topics at an adult level of understanding. The manual contains an annotated STUDENTS CREATE A UNIVERSITY bibliography of all sources consulted.
    [Show full text]
  • The Uses and Misuses of Appalachian Culture
    The Uses and Misuses of Appalachian Culture By Phillip J. Obermiller and Michael E. Maloney Urban Appalachian Council Working Paper No. 20 May, 2011 “…a widespread discontent has developed with the use of ‘culture’ as it, like most words of fashion, has become an all-embracing term that pleads immunity to doubt.” J. A. Sorenson in The Concept of Culture The Cincinnati Enquirer recently ran a photographic spread on University of Cincinnati students spending their spring break in Eastern Kentucky. The subhead reads “Cultural appreciation course takes students to meet those in need,” and the brief five-paragraph story has three more references to Appalachian “culture”. The eight photographs show students helping people too poor or physically limited to maintain their own homes. Nowhere in the text is this “culture” defined but the inference is that an Appalachian “culture” exists, and it is one of inability, dependence, and need. 1:B2 It is easy to point out that both the university and the local media have bought into the stereotype of a culture of poverty pervading the entire region.2 However, the next logical question is to ask the source of that stereotype – where did it originate? This is where urban Appalachian leaders, activists, and scholars have to step up and take responsibility for their own misuse of the concept of culture. The careless use of slogans by the media or even well-intentioned people working for social change creates an illusion that we know what we are talking about. Terms like “culture,” “cultural competence,” and “multiculturalism” are often used to express sincere intentions that are inclusive and challenge the status quo.
    [Show full text]
  • Appalachian Studies (Minor) Studies Appalachian Appalachian Studies Minor
    Appalachian Studies (minor) Appalachian Studies Minor The Appalachian Studies minor gives students the chance to understand Appalachia from a multi-disciplinary perspective. Professors from fields as diverse as history, sociology, biology, literature, religion, and art provide meaningful insight into the unique, rich life of the region. The minor is valuable for anyone seeking employment in Appalachia or for those who simply want to understand the people, places, and ways of the mountains. The Appalachian Studies minor requires 18 credit hours beyond the general education and degree requirements. Required Courses | 6 Credit Hours Class Name Credit Hours HIS 210 History of the Southern Appalachian Region 3 credit hours LIT 331 Appalachian Literature 3 credit hours Elective Courses | Select 12 Credit Hours No more than eight credit hours may be taken from any one academic discipline. Class Name Credit Hours APP 215 Appalachian Music 3 credit hours APP 235 Appalachian Women 3 credit hours APP 288 Special Topics in Appalachian Studies 3 credit hours APP 471 Internship in Appalachia 3 credit hours APP 488 Special Topics in Appalachian Studies 3 credit hours ART 301 Appalachian Photography 3 credit hours BIO 321 Field Botany 4 credit hours BIO 401 Appalachian Ecology 4 credit hours COM 403 Appalachian Documentary Production 3 credit hours LIT 333 The Feminine Voice in Appalachian Literature 3 credit hours ORM 231 Rock Climbing 2 credit hours ORM 233 Hiking and Backpacking 2 credit hours ORM 235 Mountain Biking 2 credit hours THEA 111, 112, 211, 212, 311, 312, 411, 412 Clogging 1 credit hour Summer Stephenson Center Courses 46.
    [Show full text]