About the book
Drawing from her work as state folklorist, Emily Hilliard explores contemporary folklife in West Virginia and challenges the common perception of both folklore and Appalachian culture as static, antiquated forms, offering instead the concept of “visionary folklore” as a future-focused, materialist, and collaborative approach to cultural work.
With chapters on the expressive culture of the West Virginia teachers' strike, the cultural significance of the West Virginia hot dog, the tradition of independent pro wrestling in Appalachia, the practice of nonprofessional women songwriters, the collective counternarrative of a multiracial coal camp community, the invisible landscape of writer Breece D'J Pancake’s hometown, the foodways of an Appalachian Swiss community, the postapocalyptic vision presented in the video game Fallout 76, and more, the book centers the collective nature of folklife and examines the role of the public folklorist in collaborative engagements with communities and culture. Hilliard argues that folklore is a unifying concept that puts diverse cultural forms in conversation, as well as a framework that helps us reckon with the past, understand the present, and collectively shape the future.
Editions of Making Our Future
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781469671611
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469671628
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469671642
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469671635
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890862747
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890862730
Read an Excerpt
Drawing from her work as state folklorist, Emily Hilliard explores contemporary folklife in West Virginia and challenges the common perception of both folklore and Appalachian culture as static, antiquated forms, offering instead the concept of “visionary folklore” as a future-focused, materialist, and collaborative approach to cultural work.
With chapters on the expressive culture of the West Virginia teachers' strike, the cultural significance of the West Virginia hot dog, the tradition of independent pro wrestling in Appalachia, the practice of nonprofessional women songwriters, the collective counternarrative of a multiracial coal camp community, the invisible landscape of writer Breece D'J Pancake’s hometown, the foodways of an Appalachian Swiss community, the postapocalyptic vision presented in the video game Fallout 76, and more, the book centers the collective nature of folklife and examines the role of the public folklorist in collaborative engagements with communities and culture. Hilliard argues that folklore is a unifying concept that puts diverse cultural forms in conversation, as well as a framework that helps us reckon with the past, understand the present, and collectively shape the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Making Our Future about?
Drawing from her work as state folklorist, Emily Hilliard explores contemporary folklife in West Virginia and challenges the common perception of both folklore and Appalachian culture as static, antiquated forms, offering instead the concept of “visionary folklore” as a future-focused, materialist, and collaborative approach to cultural work.
With chapters on the expressive culture of the West Virginia teachers' strike, the cultural significance of the West Virginia hot dog, the tradition of independent pro wrestling in Appalachia, the practice of nonprofessional women songwriters, the collective counternarrative of a multiracial coal camp community, the invisible landscape of writer Breece D'J Pancake’s hometown, the foodways of an Appalachian Swiss community, the postapocalyptic vision presented in the video game Fallout 76, and more, the book centers the collective nature of folklife and examines the role of the public folklorist in collaborative engagements with communities and culture. Hilliard argues that folklore is a unifying concept that puts diverse cultural forms in conversation, as well as a framework that helps us reckon with the past, understand the present, and collectively shape the future.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Making Our Future?
Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Popular beliefs > Folklore studies / Study of myth
Where can I read a sample of Making Our Future?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469671611
How long is Making Our Future and how many pages does it have?
Making Our Future has 312 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Making Our Future?
Emily Hilliard
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Making Our Future is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469671611) and paperback(ISBN 9781469671628) and ebook(ISBN 9781469671642) and ebook(ISBN 9781469671635) and ebook(ISBN 9798890862747) and pdf(ISBN 9798890862730)
Where can I buy Making Our Future online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Making Our Future from below
Where can I buy Making Our Future?