About the book
While Hollywood deserves its reputation for much-maligned portrayals of southern highlanders on screen, the film industry also deserves credit for a long-standing tradition of more serious and meaningful depictions of Appalachia’s people. Surveying some two dozen films and the literary and historical sources from which they were adapted, John C. Inscoe argues that in the American imagination Appalachia has long represented far more than deprived and depraved hillbillies. Rather, the films he highlights serve as effective conduits into the region’s past, some grounded firmly in documented realities and life stories, others only loosely so. In either case, they deserve more credit than they have received for creating sympathetic and often complex characters who interact within families, households, and communities amidst a wide array of historical contingencies. They provide credible and informative narratives that respect the specifics of the times and places in which they are set.
Having used many of these movies as teaching tools in college classrooms, Inscoe demonstrates the cumulative effect of analyzing them in terms of shared themes and topics to convey far more generous insights into Appalachia and its history than one would have expected to emerge from southern California’s “dream factory.”
Editions of Movie-Made Appalachia
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781469660134
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469660141
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469660165
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890847355
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469660158
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890847348
Read an Excerpt
While Hollywood deserves its reputation for much-maligned portrayals of southern highlanders on screen, the film industry also deserves credit for a long-standing tradition of more serious and meaningful depictions of Appalachia’s people. Surveying some two dozen films and the literary and historical sources from which they were adapted, John C. Inscoe argues that in the American imagination Appalachia has long represented far more than deprived and depraved hillbillies. Rather, the films he highlights serve as effective conduits into the region’s past, some grounded firmly in documented realities and life stories, others only loosely so. In either case, they deserve more credit than they have received for creating sympathetic and often complex characters who interact within families, households, and communities amidst a wide array of historical contingencies. They provide credible and informative narratives that respect the specifics of the times and places in which they are set.
Having used many of these movies as teaching tools in college classrooms, Inscoe demonstrates the cumulative effect of analyzing them in terms of shared themes and topics to convey far more generous insights into Appalachia and its history than one would have expected to emerge from southern California’s “dream factory.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Movie-Made Appalachia about?
While Hollywood deserves its reputation for much-maligned portrayals of southern highlanders on screen, the film industry also deserves credit for a long-standing tradition of more serious and meaningful depictions of Appalachia’s people. Surveying some two dozen films and the literary and historical sources from which they were adapted, John C. Inscoe argues that in the American imagination Appalachia has long represented far more than deprived and depraved hillbillies. Rather, the films he highlights serve as effective conduits into the region’s past, some grounded firmly in documented realities and life stories, others only loosely so. In either case, they deserve more credit than they have received for creating sympathetic and often complex characters who interact within families, households, and communities amidst a wide array of historical contingencies. They provide credible and informative narratives that respect the specifics of the times and places in which they are set.
Having used many of these movies as teaching tools in college classrooms, Inscoe demonstrates the cumulative effect of analyzing them in terms of shared themes and topics to convey far more generous insights into Appalachia and its history than one would have expected to emerge from southern California’s “dream factory.”
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Movie-Made Appalachia?
Reference, Information and Interdisciplinary subjects > Interdisciplinary studies > Regional / International studies
Where can I read a sample of Movie-Made Appalachia?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469660134
How long is Movie-Made Appalachia and how many pages does it have?
Movie-Made Appalachia has 248 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Movie-Made Appalachia?
John C. Inscoe
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Movie-Made Appalachia is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469660134) and paperback(ISBN 9781469660141) and ebook(ISBN 9781469660165) and ebook(ISBN 9798890847355) and ebook(ISBN 9781469660158) and pdf(ISBN 9798890847348)
Where can I buy Movie-Made Appalachia online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Movie-Made Appalachia from below
Where can I buy Movie-Made Appalachia?