When I first signed up for this class, I really was unsure about taking it. I did not think that Appalachian literature was going to be interesting. I actually had no idea what to expect. However, now at the end of the class, I have discovered a lot about the region and the diversity of the culture, from dancing outlaws to Affrilachian poets.
I thought that one of the most important parts of this class were the books that we read. Some of them were interesting, while others were confusing which made them not the exciting to read. The two books that I did not like reading were Feud and Oral History. I thought that these books were too difficult to follow, especially Feud. I found it too hard to keep track of all the different names and what family they were a part of. I think that this book is not necessary for future semesters. The other book that I did not like was Oral History. This book was not as confusing as Feud, but I did not like it because it was not all that interesting to me, and some of the names were difficult to keep track of. However, unlike Feud, I would suggest keeping this book for future semesters of this class. The two books that I thought were okay were Whistlin’ and Crowin’ and The Stories of Breece D’J Pancake. I liked Whistlin’ and Crowin’ because it presented a lot of interesting information about literacy practices of women and what some of them had to go through just to attend college (abusive husband). I liked Pancake because, unlike the other books we read, there were not a lot of characters to keep track of. I also liked this book because Pancake had some suspense in his stories like “Time and Again”.
The movies that we watched in this class were just as interesting, if not more interesting than the books. I liked how there was a contrast in the different kinds of movies, from a movie about a tap dancer to a movie about striking coal miners to a movie about Affrilachian poets. I really do not think that I liked any of the movies more than the others. I would suggest keeping all these films as a part of the class because it gives the class a different perspective on Appalachia.
The blog assignment was definitely an interesting assignment, but it was not the first time that I had to write blog entries for an English class. I liked them because they provided another way to express my opinion from saying it in class. However, I think that the minimum should be lowered a little, or maybe I should have just spread my fifteen over more than just the last two months of school.
Now that I am at the end of the class, I am glad that I chose to take this class. It helped to disprove some of the stereotypes of Appalachia that I once had. I liked some of the books, but I think that others can be removed from the course. I also liked all the films that we watched for class and I don’t think that any of them should be removed. If any of my friends asked about future sections of this class, I would definitely recommend it to them.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Reflection on Attendance Poll Questions
I thought that these were a really good idea. I have never had a teacher do anything like this and I thought that it helped me get to know the other people in the class. Not only that, it was also a lot more interesting than just saying “here”. I would not have liked if you had made one of the attendance poll questions a reading quiz. I think that it would have been too hard to come up with twenty different answers to the question.
These questions were sometimes about some pretty obscure subjects. I liked them because they dealt with subjects that normally would not come up within the course of a normal conversation. For instance a recent one that I liked was “What kind of criminal would you be?” I said that I would like to be like Leonardo DiCaprio playing Frank Abagnale, Jr. in Catch Me If You Can. I think that it would be really great to get all that money from the forged checks and then fly around the world for free without any training as a pilot. Of course, the chance of getting arrested is pretty high, but if I wouldn’t mind if Tom Hanks arrested me. The range that was given in the class was pretty wide, but I was surprised that no one mentioned being a pirate. I loved The Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, but being a pirate never crossed my mind.
I am glad that the attendance poll question was never a reading quiz because it probably would have been too difficult to think of twenty different answers to the same question. I think that it is good to keep the poll questions fun, so it is something to look forward to right at the beginning of class.
When you told us about the origin of the attendance poll, I don’t think any of us would have imagined it. That was a good idea to determine if there were any other criminals in your class. Some of the responses to that first question, “Why should I not be afraid of you?” were pretty fascinating. I would have liked to hear the answers if that question was asked in this class. It is interesting, though, that that experience gave you the idea to do attendance poll questions every day for all your classes.
Overall, I thought that the attendance poll question was an excellent idea. I think that everything about, from the origins to the randomness of the questions is very interesting. I think, though, that making the attendance poll question would ruin the concept. I would definitely recommend keeping these attendance poll questions for future classes.
These questions were sometimes about some pretty obscure subjects. I liked them because they dealt with subjects that normally would not come up within the course of a normal conversation. For instance a recent one that I liked was “What kind of criminal would you be?” I said that I would like to be like Leonardo DiCaprio playing Frank Abagnale, Jr. in Catch Me If You Can. I think that it would be really great to get all that money from the forged checks and then fly around the world for free without any training as a pilot. Of course, the chance of getting arrested is pretty high, but if I wouldn’t mind if Tom Hanks arrested me. The range that was given in the class was pretty wide, but I was surprised that no one mentioned being a pirate. I loved The Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, but being a pirate never crossed my mind.
I am glad that the attendance poll question was never a reading quiz because it probably would have been too difficult to think of twenty different answers to the same question. I think that it is good to keep the poll questions fun, so it is something to look forward to right at the beginning of class.
When you told us about the origin of the attendance poll, I don’t think any of us would have imagined it. That was a good idea to determine if there were any other criminals in your class. Some of the responses to that first question, “Why should I not be afraid of you?” were pretty fascinating. I would have liked to hear the answers if that question was asked in this class. It is interesting, though, that that experience gave you the idea to do attendance poll questions every day for all your classes.
Overall, I thought that the attendance poll question was an excellent idea. I think that everything about, from the origins to the randomness of the questions is very interesting. I think, though, that making the attendance poll question would ruin the concept. I would definitely recommend keeping these attendance poll questions for future classes.
Reflection on Class Movies
I really liked how there were movies and other visual materials that were used to teach the class, in addition to the traditional materials like books. I liked how there were a wide variety of movies from Coal Black Voices to Beverly Hillbillies. By adding video to the lesson that was being taught, another way to learn was provided.
The first movie that we watched was Matewan. I really liked this film and I thought that it showed Appalachia how I would imagine it. It was also not at all that surprising to see Chris Cooper playing Joe Kenehan. I can definitely imagine him as helping coal miners after seeing him play one in October Sky. He also seemed like someone from Appalachia in Seabiscuit. Cooper was born in Missouri, which is not quite part of Appalachia, but I am sure he was influenced by the region in some way.
Even thought we only watched one episode of the Beverly Hillbillies, I thought that the portrayal of this people was an interesting perspective on Appalachian stereotypes. The main characters kept with many of the stereotypes, like not driving a car, and a very noticeable accent. However, while this may seem almost derogatory, the main characters are never represented in a bad light.
Some of the other movies that I enjoyed watching in this class were Coal Black Voices and Dancing Outlaw. These were very different films covering very different subjects. I liked Coal Black Voices because it gave a new view to poetry. We got to watch the original poets reading their own work and in some cases we saw poem being performed on stage. I also liked Dancing Outlaw, but more because of its entertainment value than it educational value. The genuinely entertaining parts of this movie were when Jesco was dancing and then there were parts that you laugh nervously at (sunglasses, sloppy eggs) and you wonder if he really means what he is saying. I also liked that we watched these films at relatively the same time during the semester. It provided an interesting contrast in both the arts of Appalachia and the people that create the art and culture of the region.I thought that the films and shows that we watched in this class really added a valuable dimension to the course. Not only did we get to see the information somewhere else besides in a book, we also got a different point of view of the issues of Appalachia. The movies covered a variety of subjects, from dancing to poetry to coal mining.
The first movie that we watched was Matewan. I really liked this film and I thought that it showed Appalachia how I would imagine it. It was also not at all that surprising to see Chris Cooper playing Joe Kenehan. I can definitely imagine him as helping coal miners after seeing him play one in October Sky. He also seemed like someone from Appalachia in Seabiscuit. Cooper was born in Missouri, which is not quite part of Appalachia, but I am sure he was influenced by the region in some way.
Even thought we only watched one episode of the Beverly Hillbillies, I thought that the portrayal of this people was an interesting perspective on Appalachian stereotypes. The main characters kept with many of the stereotypes, like not driving a car, and a very noticeable accent. However, while this may seem almost derogatory, the main characters are never represented in a bad light.
Some of the other movies that I enjoyed watching in this class were Coal Black Voices and Dancing Outlaw. These were very different films covering very different subjects. I liked Coal Black Voices because it gave a new view to poetry. We got to watch the original poets reading their own work and in some cases we saw poem being performed on stage. I also liked Dancing Outlaw, but more because of its entertainment value than it educational value. The genuinely entertaining parts of this movie were when Jesco was dancing and then there were parts that you laugh nervously at (sunglasses, sloppy eggs) and you wonder if he really means what he is saying. I also liked that we watched these films at relatively the same time during the semester. It provided an interesting contrast in both the arts of Appalachia and the people that create the art and culture of the region.I thought that the films and shows that we watched in this class really added a valuable dimension to the course. Not only did we get to see the information somewhere else besides in a book, we also got a different point of view of the issues of Appalachia. The movies covered a variety of subjects, from dancing to poetry to coal mining.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Response to ExpectMore.gov
ExpectMore.gov was another site that I came across while doing research for the Appalachian stereotypes essay. The Office of Management and Budget and Federal agencies develop this site. I found this website to be helpful because it provides three main resources for each government agency. In my case, I chose the site for the Appalachian Regional Commission. The three resources that it provides are the goal that that the agency is trying to accomplish, the agency’s performance rating, and an improvement plan.
The link next to the goal of the commission brings you to a long list of specific objectives that the agency aims to accomplish by a certain year. Under each accomplishment there is a column with the year, the target, and the actual. For instance, one of the goals is the cumulative number of jobs created. In 2005, the target was 20,000 new jobs, but only 19,346 were created. In 2006, the goal was the same, but 28,866 jobs were actually created. For the year 2010, the goal is 120,000 new jobs. This seems slightly high to me, but it is good to be ambitious. I like this site because it provides a way to numerically measure the success that is achieved in Appalachia.
The next resource that is provided is the rating. Unfortunately, the Appalachian Regional Commission received a lower rating than I expected. ExpectMore.gov gave ARC a rating of adequate. “This rating describes a program that needs to set more ambitious goals, achieve better results, improve accountability or strengthen its management practices.” The problem that is mentioned is that there are several other programs that do similar things like ARC. The evaluators at ExpectMore.gov feel that the reason why the score is not higher is because ARC’s purpose is not unique enough. I still think that it should be at least one level higher because it has helped so much.
The third resource that is offered is an improvement plan for the agency. The description of the general improvement plans says that everything can be improved and that all the assessed programs “are held accountable for improving their performance and management.” I think that the key to creating efficient agencies is accountability. When every part of an organization is available to analysis, then it is also available to potential improvement from other people outside the organization.
I found this site to be very helpful. However, I was disappointed that it received such a low rating. I would think that an agency tackling such a large problem would at least get a little leeway. ARC is trying to improve the lives of people that are living in a very impoverished region of the United States. Overall, the Appalachian stereotypes essay that we had to write really taught me a lot about the region and what people and the government are doing to help out this region.
The link next to the goal of the commission brings you to a long list of specific objectives that the agency aims to accomplish by a certain year. Under each accomplishment there is a column with the year, the target, and the actual. For instance, one of the goals is the cumulative number of jobs created. In 2005, the target was 20,000 new jobs, but only 19,346 were created. In 2006, the goal was the same, but 28,866 jobs were actually created. For the year 2010, the goal is 120,000 new jobs. This seems slightly high to me, but it is good to be ambitious. I like this site because it provides a way to numerically measure the success that is achieved in Appalachia.
The next resource that is provided is the rating. Unfortunately, the Appalachian Regional Commission received a lower rating than I expected. ExpectMore.gov gave ARC a rating of adequate. “This rating describes a program that needs to set more ambitious goals, achieve better results, improve accountability or strengthen its management practices.” The problem that is mentioned is that there are several other programs that do similar things like ARC. The evaluators at ExpectMore.gov feel that the reason why the score is not higher is because ARC’s purpose is not unique enough. I still think that it should be at least one level higher because it has helped so much.
The third resource that is offered is an improvement plan for the agency. The description of the general improvement plans says that everything can be improved and that all the assessed programs “are held accountable for improving their performance and management.” I think that the key to creating efficient agencies is accountability. When every part of an organization is available to analysis, then it is also available to potential improvement from other people outside the organization.
I found this site to be very helpful. However, I was disappointed that it received such a low rating. I would think that an agency tackling such a large problem would at least get a little leeway. ARC is trying to improve the lives of people that are living in a very impoverished region of the United States. Overall, the Appalachian stereotypes essay that we had to write really taught me a lot about the region and what people and the government are doing to help out this region.
Reflection on Oral History
Oral History was in a format that I have never really seen before. At times it was confusing who was talking and what relationship that they had with the rest of the characters, but I thought that it was interesting. This book was also confusing because of the same reason that Feud was confusing. There were a lot of unusual names in this book and some of the people had the same last names. I think that all these strange names made it really difficult to follow, but the stories were interesting.
I liked how the book started off with Jennifer at Little Luther Wade and Ora Mae’s house taking an oral history about her family. We read her impressions of the family and we learn of her actions through a third person narrator. The beginning to this story reminds me of a movie, when we see an introduction to the story, and then after a couple minutes it fades to black. After coming from black the filmmaker puts a subtitle on the bottom that says something like “20 years earlier”. This is a creative way to write a book, and it makes a good way to describe the events of the story.
Author Lee Smith brings the whole story to a close when we learn what happens to Jennifer after listening to the oral history. The reader learns the Jennifer was welcome to stay at the house in Hoot Owl Holler, but everyone in the family, except for Little Luther, does not like the tape recorder that she brings. It was surprising when Almarine kisses Jennifer right before she leaves. “…her uncle Al grabs her right up off her feet and kisses her so hard that stars smash in front of her eyes. Al sticks his tongue inside her mouth” (284). I have not figured out the purpose of Al’s action but it has caused Jennifer to change her opinion of her mother’s family. “Some things may seem modern, like the van, but they’re not, not really. They are really very primitive people, resembling nothing so much as some sort of early tribe” (284). I think this is a pretty harsh assessment on Jennifer’s part. Just because there is not a lot of wealth in Hoot Owl Holler to modernize the area does not mean that they are primitive. However, I must agree that it was definitely primitive of Al to kiss Jennifer so roughly. She goes back to school and gets an A on her project, and in an unusual move, marries her teacher. In the end I like how Smith describes what happened to each person.
I thought that this story was out of the ordinary, but it was interesting. I like how Smith starts in the present, then flashes back to the past for the majority of the novel, and then at the end she wraps up the story in the present again. I liked the book and I would recommend it for future sections of this class.
Reflection on Feud: Hatfields, McCoys, and Social Change in Appalachia, 1860-1900
The main problem that I had with Feud: Hatfields, McCoys, and Social Change in Appalachia, 1860-1900, was that it was impossible for me to follow all the names and what family each person. Because of the fact that it was so difficult to follow, I quickly lost interest in the book. I think that either a more interesting book, or even a film would do a better job than this book. Another possibility would be to have students do individual research on the feud and then discuss it in class. This would let people exchange notes and allow them to pick up on anything that they might have missed.
I read the review of this book by Georgann Eubanks in the November 1988 issue of Washington Monthly, and it really helped to clear up what this book was about. I used to think the Hatfield-McCoy feud was just about a stolen hog, but as Waller points out, the media hype for this feud may have been one of the initial causes to the stereotype of Appalachian lawlessness and violence. Also something that I never knew before was that both families sought to solve the problem civilly through the courts, even as high as the Supreme Court of the United States, but this did not work. This review also mentions Waller’s viewpoint that this feud shows how the judicial system failed in this case because it did not take into account close relationships between families and neighbors. I think that if the courts had taken these relationships into account, the case would have been even more complicated. Overall, I thought that this article really helped me to understand the information that Waller was trying to portray in this book.
I was surprised at how much the state was involved in trying to stop this conflict. The governor of Kentucky tried to extradite that Hatfields and even hired a special deputy to fix the problem. There were private detectives and bounty hunters everywhere in the region. When nine Hatfields were brought to trial in 1888, and eight of them received life sentences while the ninth was hanged. The fact that Ellison Mounts was the only one hanged and he happened to be the illegitimate, retarded son of Ellison Hatfield, seems a little suspicious to me.
After attempting this book and reading about it on the internet later, I do not think that this book is necessary for this course. I think that the Hatfield-McCoy feud is an important issue, but I think that there must be other books out there that are easier or more interesting to read. I also think that I could have gathered the same information from this book on the internet. Another idea would be to find a documentary about the feud. Not only does this have the possibility of being more interesting, it also may help other people learn if they see the events and people visually than if they just read the descriptions in the book.
I read the review of this book by Georgann Eubanks in the November 1988 issue of Washington Monthly, and it really helped to clear up what this book was about. I used to think the Hatfield-McCoy feud was just about a stolen hog, but as Waller points out, the media hype for this feud may have been one of the initial causes to the stereotype of Appalachian lawlessness and violence. Also something that I never knew before was that both families sought to solve the problem civilly through the courts, even as high as the Supreme Court of the United States, but this did not work. This review also mentions Waller’s viewpoint that this feud shows how the judicial system failed in this case because it did not take into account close relationships between families and neighbors. I think that if the courts had taken these relationships into account, the case would have been even more complicated. Overall, I thought that this article really helped me to understand the information that Waller was trying to portray in this book.
I was surprised at how much the state was involved in trying to stop this conflict. The governor of Kentucky tried to extradite that Hatfields and even hired a special deputy to fix the problem. There were private detectives and bounty hunters everywhere in the region. When nine Hatfields were brought to trial in 1888, and eight of them received life sentences while the ninth was hanged. The fact that Ellison Mounts was the only one hanged and he happened to be the illegitimate, retarded son of Ellison Hatfield, seems a little suspicious to me.
After attempting this book and reading about it on the internet later, I do not think that this book is necessary for this course. I think that the Hatfield-McCoy feud is an important issue, but I think that there must be other books out there that are easier or more interesting to read. I also think that I could have gathered the same information from this book on the internet. Another idea would be to find a documentary about the feud. Not only does this have the possibility of being more interesting, it also may help other people learn if they see the events and people visually than if they just read the descriptions in the book.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Response to the Appalachian Regional Commission website
When I first encountered the website for the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) during my research for the Appalachian stereotypes essay, I was surprised. I had never heard of something. In other words, I never heard of anything like the Northeast Regional Commission (Connecticut is my home state). However, after thinking about the reason for the creation of this commission, I realized why it was so important to have an organization that represents this region.
The first part of the site that I went to was about the history of the ARC. This organization is older than I first thought. President John F. Kennedy created ARC’s predecessor in 1963 called the President’s Appalachian Regional Commission (PARC). In the mid-1960s, the region was mired in deep poverty. According to the website one of three Appalachians lived in poverty and the per capita income was 23 percent lower than the national average. I guess it was a clear choice what region needed the most help.
The next part of the site that I went to was the economic overview. I felt that this section would provide an accurate measurement of the success of ARC. Between 1965 and 1990, the poverty rate in Appalachia was cut in half. The educational level has also increased sharply. According to the website, “In 1990, for the first time, the share of people aged 18 to 24 with 12 or more years of schooling was slightly higher in Appalachia (77 percent) than in the U.S. (76 percent).” I found it amazing that ARC and the Appalachian people in general could make such a gain in just twenty-five years. There are still problems, however, that need to be fixed. For instance, the per capita income in Appalachia compared to the national average has begun to slip since 1999. Also, the unemployment rate is still slightly higher than the national average. Also, the percent population increase in Appalachia is several points lower than in the rest of the nation. Because much of this information, I think that once the 2010 census is complete, Appalachia might be equal or greater in some of these areas than the United States.
The last part of the site that I looked at was titled the Highway Program. This is ARC’s main project, and is most likely the reason for the gains that have been made in the region. According to the website, PARC reported in 1964 to Congress that economic growth would not be possible until the isolation of Appalachia was overcome. Appalachia mostly only had narrow dirt two lane roads. The interstate system basically ignored the region, going around or through as efficiently as possible. After seeing some of the terrain in movies like Matewan, I can see why the road builders were hesitant to build large highways up and around the mountains. Not only would it have been incredibly difficult with the technology that existed in the 1960s, it would have also cost a ridiculous amount. In 1965, the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) was approved. This was a plan for 3,090 miles of road. According to ARCs website, as of the end of fiscal year 2006, 2,645.1 miles had been completed or were under construction.
I think that this is a good idea and I think that it will work. Sixty-six miles of road per year for forty years is quite an accomplishment. I think that Appalachia’s recent economic growth is a direct result of this new road system. Hopefully the success will continue.
The first part of the site that I went to was about the history of the ARC. This organization is older than I first thought. President John F. Kennedy created ARC’s predecessor in 1963 called the President’s Appalachian Regional Commission (PARC). In the mid-1960s, the region was mired in deep poverty. According to the website one of three Appalachians lived in poverty and the per capita income was 23 percent lower than the national average. I guess it was a clear choice what region needed the most help.
The next part of the site that I went to was the economic overview. I felt that this section would provide an accurate measurement of the success of ARC. Between 1965 and 1990, the poverty rate in Appalachia was cut in half. The educational level has also increased sharply. According to the website, “In 1990, for the first time, the share of people aged 18 to 24 with 12 or more years of schooling was slightly higher in Appalachia (77 percent) than in the U.S. (76 percent).” I found it amazing that ARC and the Appalachian people in general could make such a gain in just twenty-five years. There are still problems, however, that need to be fixed. For instance, the per capita income in Appalachia compared to the national average has begun to slip since 1999. Also, the unemployment rate is still slightly higher than the national average. Also, the percent population increase in Appalachia is several points lower than in the rest of the nation. Because much of this information, I think that once the 2010 census is complete, Appalachia might be equal or greater in some of these areas than the United States.
The last part of the site that I looked at was titled the Highway Program. This is ARC’s main project, and is most likely the reason for the gains that have been made in the region. According to the website, PARC reported in 1964 to Congress that economic growth would not be possible until the isolation of Appalachia was overcome. Appalachia mostly only had narrow dirt two lane roads. The interstate system basically ignored the region, going around or through as efficiently as possible. After seeing some of the terrain in movies like Matewan, I can see why the road builders were hesitant to build large highways up and around the mountains. Not only would it have been incredibly difficult with the technology that existed in the 1960s, it would have also cost a ridiculous amount. In 1965, the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) was approved. This was a plan for 3,090 miles of road. According to ARCs website, as of the end of fiscal year 2006, 2,645.1 miles had been completed or were under construction.
I think that this is a good idea and I think that it will work. Sixty-six miles of road per year for forty years is quite an accomplishment. I think that Appalachia’s recent economic growth is a direct result of this new road system. Hopefully the success will continue.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Reflection on Coal Black Voices
Although we did not see this entire film, the poems that we did hear read, were very powerful and included some interesting themes. I also liked how the filmmakers showed the original poets reading their own poems both in a personal way and in a more stage oriented performance. Additionally, I liked that we also got to see some personal interviews from some of the poets and their opinions on certain issues. Overall, as a film student, I liked how there was a good mix of live performances, studio performances, and personal interviews with the poets.
I never really was somebody who read poetry for entertainment, and usually did not enjoy it when it was taught in school. This film, however, made poetry at least more interesting especially because the authors read the poems. I also liked that there were some poems that were performed with a type of dance. This added a different dimension to the typical poetry reading and it made it that more interesting. Still, however, I do not find poetry to be one of my favorite forms of art. On the other hand, the fact that the performances were filmed, enabled the filmmakers to add different effects and show different angles that one might see while watching live at the performance.
I also liked this film because it exposed me to a kind of art, especially poetry, that I had never heard of before. “Affralachian” poetry is certainly an interesting name and an ingenious way to create an identity for people who may not feel a strong identity to the Appalachian region. The term does not mean that they want to create a separate identity from the rest of Appalachia. Instead, they want to be part of it, but with their unique part.
While I was looking online about Coal Black Voices, I found this quote from Frank X. Walker, “One of the things I've encountered traveling outside of Kentucky is having to defend the fact that people of color actually live here... I'm trying to say, not only are we here, we're here in a very large way, we're part of Kentucky's history, we're part of the landscape…” I never really thought of it before, but I remember sometimes just assuming that much of Appalachia was white. After seeing this documentary, I now realize that African Americans or Affralachians have contributed a lot to Appalachian culture and society. In fact, according to Appalachian Regional Commission, African Americans are only second in population to whites and between 1990 and 2000; the African American population grew by 15%, which is the second fastest growing minority in the region.
This film changed my opinion of poetry at least a little. It helped me to see the people that actually wrote the poems and then listen to them read their poems as they were intended to be read. This film also showed me how African Americans have contributed to the culture of Appalachia and how they are so important to Appalachia’s continued growth.
I never really was somebody who read poetry for entertainment, and usually did not enjoy it when it was taught in school. This film, however, made poetry at least more interesting especially because the authors read the poems. I also liked that there were some poems that were performed with a type of dance. This added a different dimension to the typical poetry reading and it made it that more interesting. Still, however, I do not find poetry to be one of my favorite forms of art. On the other hand, the fact that the performances were filmed, enabled the filmmakers to add different effects and show different angles that one might see while watching live at the performance.
I also liked this film because it exposed me to a kind of art, especially poetry, that I had never heard of before. “Affralachian” poetry is certainly an interesting name and an ingenious way to create an identity for people who may not feel a strong identity to the Appalachian region. The term does not mean that they want to create a separate identity from the rest of Appalachia. Instead, they want to be part of it, but with their unique part.
While I was looking online about Coal Black Voices, I found this quote from Frank X. Walker, “One of the things I've encountered traveling outside of Kentucky is having to defend the fact that people of color actually live here... I'm trying to say, not only are we here, we're here in a very large way, we're part of Kentucky's history, we're part of the landscape…” I never really thought of it before, but I remember sometimes just assuming that much of Appalachia was white. After seeing this documentary, I now realize that African Americans or Affralachians have contributed a lot to Appalachian culture and society. In fact, according to Appalachian Regional Commission, African Americans are only second in population to whites and between 1990 and 2000; the African American population grew by 15%, which is the second fastest growing minority in the region.
This film changed my opinion of poetry at least a little. It helped me to see the people that actually wrote the poems and then listen to them read their poems as they were intended to be read. This film also showed me how African Americans have contributed to the culture of Appalachia and how they are so important to Appalachia’s continued growth.
Reflection on Mother Jones
The first thing about Mother Jones that bothered me was that I had never heard of her before. Even women leading protests have been rare in textbooks, with few exceptions like Rosa Parks. I have been through thirteen and a half years of school, and never once had I heard of her. It would seem like she would be at least kind of famous considering the fact that she was not a miner, or even a man for that matter, yet she managed to lead miners in protests.
It seems that Martin Luther King Jr. may have taken some pages from Mother Jones’ book. Judging by her maternal image, it seems like she was a protester that used non-violent methods to get her point across, which is very similar to what Martin Luther King did. Although, after reading some of her quotes like, “‘I’m not a humanitarian,’ she exclaimed. ‘I’m a hell-raiser,’” I think that she probably caused a lot of problems for the coal companies during her time.
I thought that the “Children’s Crusade” that she organized was especially amazing. I knew that children worked in the mines in early 1900’s, but what I did not know was that there was a “Children’s Crusade”, which was led by Mother Jones, to get better opportunities for children, like the chance to play and go to school. They marched from Pennsylvania to President Theodore Roosevelt’s home in Oyster Bay, New York. Even though they were not allowed to meet with the President, just the news of it probably made a lot of coal companies nervous. I would have thought that a protest as unique as this would have gotten more attention, but I have never heard of anything like this.
I went to the website for the Mother Jones magazine. This website looked professionally made and after scanning the page and the headlines, I was reminded of the New York Times website. I noticed, though, that there was a lot more of a domestic focus. The big difference I saw was that the articles in Mother Jones are mostly opinion pieces and not really just objective reporting. The only problem that I have with this is that it does not allow the reader to make his or her own conclusions about the news. I read the fact sheet online about the magazine and found that there are over 230,000 readers and that it was the first general interest magazine online when in became available in November of 1993.
It is amazing that I have not heard of Mother Jones or the magazine named after her before this class. She seems like a very influential figure, and she even has a magazine named after her. I always thought that I was well educated; I guess you can always learn something new, or learn about a new person. I still find it incredible that she was able to lead so many miners in protest even though she was not a miner or even a man. I would love to meet someone with a personality like that.
It seems that Martin Luther King Jr. may have taken some pages from Mother Jones’ book. Judging by her maternal image, it seems like she was a protester that used non-violent methods to get her point across, which is very similar to what Martin Luther King did. Although, after reading some of her quotes like, “‘I’m not a humanitarian,’ she exclaimed. ‘I’m a hell-raiser,’” I think that she probably caused a lot of problems for the coal companies during her time.
I thought that the “Children’s Crusade” that she organized was especially amazing. I knew that children worked in the mines in early 1900’s, but what I did not know was that there was a “Children’s Crusade”, which was led by Mother Jones, to get better opportunities for children, like the chance to play and go to school. They marched from Pennsylvania to President Theodore Roosevelt’s home in Oyster Bay, New York. Even though they were not allowed to meet with the President, just the news of it probably made a lot of coal companies nervous. I would have thought that a protest as unique as this would have gotten more attention, but I have never heard of anything like this.
I went to the website for the Mother Jones magazine. This website looked professionally made and after scanning the page and the headlines, I was reminded of the New York Times website. I noticed, though, that there was a lot more of a domestic focus. The big difference I saw was that the articles in Mother Jones are mostly opinion pieces and not really just objective reporting. The only problem that I have with this is that it does not allow the reader to make his or her own conclusions about the news. I read the fact sheet online about the magazine and found that there are over 230,000 readers and that it was the first general interest magazine online when in became available in November of 1993.
It is amazing that I have not heard of Mother Jones or the magazine named after her before this class. She seems like a very influential figure, and she even has a magazine named after her. I always thought that I was well educated; I guess you can always learn something new, or learn about a new person. I still find it incredible that she was able to lead so many miners in protest even though she was not a miner or even a man. I would love to meet someone with a personality like that.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Reflection on The Stories of Breece D’ J Pancake
These stories were generally pretty depressing, and I definitely think this was a big theme with Pancake. However, I also agree with what Andre Dubus III writes in “A New Afterword”. He writes that one of Pancake’s central themes is “…his characters’ constant striving for goodness up against the seductive pull of the darkness within them,” (184). As far as I can tell, Pancake really captures the Appalachian environment with stories that seem to describe the people of Appalachia in normal situations.
My favorite story by Pancake is “Time and Again”. I like how Pancake adds an element of mystery right in the first paragraph. “…I write everybody I know about my boy. Some of my letters always come back, and the folks who write back say nobody knows where he got off to,” (83). We soon learn that the main character drives a snowplow and in this story he picks up a hitchhiker. The hitchhiker mentions that he has heard that a lot of hitchhikers have gotten killed in the same county that they are in, but the main character doesn’t really say anything. Finally, near the end of the story, Pancake adds some more suspense. “I grip the wrench. ‘Look under the seat for my flashlight, boy.’ He bends forward, grabbing under the seat, and his head is turned from me. But I am way too tired now, and I don’t want to clean the seat,” (87). I liked how Pancake creates the possibility that the man in the snowplow is the killer, but Pancake never really reveals anything definite. I think that this makes the story better in some ways because it is unexpected. Much of the conversation and other parts of the story have to do with death or something almost as dark and negative. When the hitchhiker mentions all the dead hitchhikers in the county, I thought it was almost definite that this hitchhiker was going to be killed as well. However, in the end, he unknowingly escapes his demise.
I think that the story that I liked the least in this book was “The Way It Has To Be”. In my opinion this story is the most depressing of all of them. The story starts off with disappointment on the first page. Alena left West Virginia to see cowboys out west, but she still has not seen any. She and Harvey then go to a hotel, where Harvey urges her to drink, but she feels sick. After a heated conversation, Harvey ends up pointing a gun at her. After she throws up from fear, Harvey decides to get drunk and leaves. Even after this, there is more depression. Her mother basically rejects her, and then Harvey comes back. The last line of the story is, “…and his hand brushed against the revolver as he reached for another cigarette,” (131). Just like “Time and Again” Pancake leaves the possibility open that there may be a death occurring. On the other hand, Pancake lets the hitchhiker escape in that story, while in this story; the possibility that Alena will be killed is certainly open.
I found most of Pancake’s stories to be pretty depressing, but I have to admit, most of them were very interesting and provided what I imagine to be a relatively accurate glimpse, with some fictional suspense thrown in, into the lives of people from Appalachia.
My favorite story by Pancake is “Time and Again”. I like how Pancake adds an element of mystery right in the first paragraph. “…I write everybody I know about my boy. Some of my letters always come back, and the folks who write back say nobody knows where he got off to,” (83). We soon learn that the main character drives a snowplow and in this story he picks up a hitchhiker. The hitchhiker mentions that he has heard that a lot of hitchhikers have gotten killed in the same county that they are in, but the main character doesn’t really say anything. Finally, near the end of the story, Pancake adds some more suspense. “I grip the wrench. ‘Look under the seat for my flashlight, boy.’ He bends forward, grabbing under the seat, and his head is turned from me. But I am way too tired now, and I don’t want to clean the seat,” (87). I liked how Pancake creates the possibility that the man in the snowplow is the killer, but Pancake never really reveals anything definite. I think that this makes the story better in some ways because it is unexpected. Much of the conversation and other parts of the story have to do with death or something almost as dark and negative. When the hitchhiker mentions all the dead hitchhikers in the county, I thought it was almost definite that this hitchhiker was going to be killed as well. However, in the end, he unknowingly escapes his demise.
I think that the story that I liked the least in this book was “The Way It Has To Be”. In my opinion this story is the most depressing of all of them. The story starts off with disappointment on the first page. Alena left West Virginia to see cowboys out west, but she still has not seen any. She and Harvey then go to a hotel, where Harvey urges her to drink, but she feels sick. After a heated conversation, Harvey ends up pointing a gun at her. After she throws up from fear, Harvey decides to get drunk and leaves. Even after this, there is more depression. Her mother basically rejects her, and then Harvey comes back. The last line of the story is, “…and his hand brushed against the revolver as he reached for another cigarette,” (131). Just like “Time and Again” Pancake leaves the possibility open that there may be a death occurring. On the other hand, Pancake lets the hitchhiker escape in that story, while in this story; the possibility that Alena will be killed is certainly open.
I found most of Pancake’s stories to be pretty depressing, but I have to admit, most of them were very interesting and provided what I imagine to be a relatively accurate glimpse, with some fictional suspense thrown in, into the lives of people from Appalachia.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Reflection on Whistlin’ and Crowin’ Women of Appalachia
I have never read a literacy narrative before. In fact, I never had even heard of a literacy narrative before this book. I do not mean any offense to the author, Katherine Kelleher Sohn, but it was not incredibly exciting. However, she does provide an extremely in-depth look at the literacy practices of these three women. I found it to be incredible that Lucy actually kept going to school, even when her husband Matt forced her to leave her books in the car and she was not allowed to study at home.
I thought that it was good of Ms. Sohn to try to disprove some of the stereotypes of Appalachia when she wrote these literacy narratives down. The way that she uses actual people to show that there are women in Appalachia that are trying to become educated is a very persuasive argument against both female stereotypes and Appalachian stereotypes. All of the stories are very inspiring with some parts that are just amazing. For instance, in the chart on pages 30-31, I found that Jean went to college twenty years after leaving high school. I do not think that I would be able to go to elementary, middle and high school for thirteen years and then go back to school twenty years later to spend at least another four years in college.
The literacy narrative that I did for class was not nearly as in depth as what Ms. Sohn did for her literacy narratives. I think that it would have been very interesting if it were at all possible to interview one of our subjects’ family members. I think that the reactions of family members to their wives or daughters or sisters going to college helped to portray how people react to such a “radical” idea. Even though they were all from the same area, the people in the women’s families reacted in dramatically different ways. Lucy’s husband abused her, while Judith’s daughters used Judith as a role model for their future. In my high school, most students were generally expected to go to college and their families almost always supported them. The copyright year on this book is 2006 and, frankly, it is difficult to imagine that there are still people in this country that are against the education of women. I think that it is important that women are given equal chances of education as men without the fear of abuse.
This study was very informative, but one thing that I did notice was that men were not included in this study. I think that it would be interesting to see how men in Appalachia use literacy in the workplace. It would also be interesting to see if the wives or girlfriends are more supportive of men going back to school. I think that this would not only be just as interesting, but it would also make the study a lot more complete. Another possible angle would have been to see if there were any husbands and wives that went back to school together. It would have been interesting to see if there were any families that were going to school at the same time to get an education.
I thought that it was good of Ms. Sohn to try to disprove some of the stereotypes of Appalachia when she wrote these literacy narratives down. The way that she uses actual people to show that there are women in Appalachia that are trying to become educated is a very persuasive argument against both female stereotypes and Appalachian stereotypes. All of the stories are very inspiring with some parts that are just amazing. For instance, in the chart on pages 30-31, I found that Jean went to college twenty years after leaving high school. I do not think that I would be able to go to elementary, middle and high school for thirteen years and then go back to school twenty years later to spend at least another four years in college.
The literacy narrative that I did for class was not nearly as in depth as what Ms. Sohn did for her literacy narratives. I think that it would have been very interesting if it were at all possible to interview one of our subjects’ family members. I think that the reactions of family members to their wives or daughters or sisters going to college helped to portray how people react to such a “radical” idea. Even though they were all from the same area, the people in the women’s families reacted in dramatically different ways. Lucy’s husband abused her, while Judith’s daughters used Judith as a role model for their future. In my high school, most students were generally expected to go to college and their families almost always supported them. The copyright year on this book is 2006 and, frankly, it is difficult to imagine that there are still people in this country that are against the education of women. I think that it is important that women are given equal chances of education as men without the fear of abuse.
This study was very informative, but one thing that I did notice was that men were not included in this study. I think that it would be interesting to see how men in Appalachia use literacy in the workplace. It would also be interesting to see if the wives or girlfriends are more supportive of men going back to school. I think that this would not only be just as interesting, but it would also make the study a lot more complete. Another possible angle would have been to see if there were any husbands and wives that went back to school together. It would have been interesting to see if there were any families that were going to school at the same time to get an education.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Reflection on Dancing Outlaw
I really do not know what to think of this film. We were told that we would never be the same after watching it and after seeing Jesco get so mad about his sunglasses, I don’t think that I will ever be the same. However, I also found something serious about this film. It almost reinforced the idea that all people from Appalachia are like Jesco. It certainly did not do much to disprove existing stereotypes of people from Appalachia. I think that in order to really understand and make an informed opinion about Appalachia, one must go there. One should not base their opinions on one film when there is so much more information. I thought that this was a good film, though, with some interesting parts. I especially liked the tap dancing parts. I think that if anyone were looking for an interesting Appalachian film, I would recommend this first.
In this film, Jesco and his family are shown living in trailers and driving old cars, basically living an impoverished lifestyle. This does not provide an example of an Appalachian that is well off. Of course as a resident of one of the richest towns in the country, Greenwich, CT, my view may be a little skewed. There are probably people living in other parts of the country like this that I do not know about. The filmmakers also show one of Jesco’s female relations tearing up their yard in a truck for fun at a family party. I have been to many family parties, with some unusual aunts, uncles, and cousins, but I have never seen anything quite like what was happening at Jesco’s party. This scene could further strengthen any ideas that people from Appalachia are different then people in the rest of the country.
Some of the things that Jesco says in the film also serve to distance him from normality. For instance when he is complaining about sloppy eggs: “And I took the butcher knife and put it up to her neck. I said if you want to live to see tomorrow, you better start fryin' them eggs a little bit better then what you a fryin' em - I'm tired of eatin' sloppy, slimy eggs!” This seems like a slight overreaction, but maybe this is normal in Appalachia. This quote, like the one when he talks about forgetting his sunglasses, makes it seem like the people of Appalachia are different from other Americans.
In the end, however, the viewer must remember that this film only portrays one man of Appalachia. I think that the filmmakers assume that most people that watch this film know that not all people that live in Appalachia act like Jesco. They also assume that viewers know that if one were to go to Appalachia, it is certainly possible that he or she will meet someone similar to Jesco. I think that the only way to make a fair judgment on the stereotypes of Appalachia is to live in or at least visit Appalachia and be immersed in the culture.
In this film, Jesco and his family are shown living in trailers and driving old cars, basically living an impoverished lifestyle. This does not provide an example of an Appalachian that is well off. Of course as a resident of one of the richest towns in the country, Greenwich, CT, my view may be a little skewed. There are probably people living in other parts of the country like this that I do not know about. The filmmakers also show one of Jesco’s female relations tearing up their yard in a truck for fun at a family party. I have been to many family parties, with some unusual aunts, uncles, and cousins, but I have never seen anything quite like what was happening at Jesco’s party. This scene could further strengthen any ideas that people from Appalachia are different then people in the rest of the country.
Some of the things that Jesco says in the film also serve to distance him from normality. For instance when he is complaining about sloppy eggs: “And I took the butcher knife and put it up to her neck. I said if you want to live to see tomorrow, you better start fryin' them eggs a little bit better then what you a fryin' em - I'm tired of eatin' sloppy, slimy eggs!” This seems like a slight overreaction, but maybe this is normal in Appalachia. This quote, like the one when he talks about forgetting his sunglasses, makes it seem like the people of Appalachia are different from other Americans.
In the end, however, the viewer must remember that this film only portrays one man of Appalachia. I think that the filmmakers assume that most people that watch this film know that not all people that live in Appalachia act like Jesco. They also assume that viewers know that if one were to go to Appalachia, it is certainly possible that he or she will meet someone similar to Jesco. I think that the only way to make a fair judgment on the stereotypes of Appalachia is to live in or at least visit Appalachia and be immersed in the culture.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Literacy Narrative
Literacy Narrative of Marion Levine
Interviewed on 10/18/07
Marion defined literacy as I expect most college students would define literacy: “Literacy is the ability to read and write.” She then continued to define a literate person as someone who can do these two things and an illiterate person who cannot do either. Again, I imagine that most college students would answer this similarly.
As a college student Marion can at least adequately do both of these. She likes to read. Her parents read to her when she was younger and she learned to read when she was three. Marion remembers reading Dr. Seuss and Disney books. She has started reading more since coming to college, but this is mostly for class. When she reads outside of class, it is usually magazines or things on the Internet. Marion believes that writing is ok, but she rarely writes for personal reasons. She does not keep a journal. When she writes essays for class, she does not make much of an outline. Even without an outline, Marion usually finishes an essay within a few hours. Like many college students she procrastinates sometimes, but she really does not have a problem with procrastination. During her first months of college, she has only used the writing center once. Marion considers herself computer literate, which means that she can instant message and email, and most likely has a Facebook or Myspace page.
Marion’s parents expect her to make good grades and eventually graduate from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. When she decided to attend UNCW, her parents were supportive. Additionally, most of her friends attend college. Marion wants to major in theater. She chose to attend college in hopes of getting a better job. I think that these views and reasons are very similar to many college students.
There are four people in her family: her parents, herself, and a younger sister. Her father has a law degree and she said her mother has two years of college. Marion’s parents both read horror and science fiction novels. Her father also reads articles on the Internet. She considers her parents to be ok with technology.
Marion seems like a university student that has a typical view of literacy. She also seems that she has the same level of computer literacy that most college students have. I learned a lot from the experience of writing someone’s literacy narrative. It was interesting to be in a conversation with someone that I had never met, and we basically only talked about her literacy practices. When we were first told about the literacy narrative assignment, I was somewhat apprehensive. It seemed like it was going to be very awkward. However, after the conversation was started, it was a lot easier to ask questions about literacy. I received a lot of interesting answers and if I had gone as in-depth as the author of Whistlin’ and Crowin’, Katherine Kelleher Sohn, I think that there would have been a lot more interesting answers.
Interviewed on 10/18/07
Marion defined literacy as I expect most college students would define literacy: “Literacy is the ability to read and write.” She then continued to define a literate person as someone who can do these two things and an illiterate person who cannot do either. Again, I imagine that most college students would answer this similarly.
As a college student Marion can at least adequately do both of these. She likes to read. Her parents read to her when she was younger and she learned to read when she was three. Marion remembers reading Dr. Seuss and Disney books. She has started reading more since coming to college, but this is mostly for class. When she reads outside of class, it is usually magazines or things on the Internet. Marion believes that writing is ok, but she rarely writes for personal reasons. She does not keep a journal. When she writes essays for class, she does not make much of an outline. Even without an outline, Marion usually finishes an essay within a few hours. Like many college students she procrastinates sometimes, but she really does not have a problem with procrastination. During her first months of college, she has only used the writing center once. Marion considers herself computer literate, which means that she can instant message and email, and most likely has a Facebook or Myspace page.
Marion’s parents expect her to make good grades and eventually graduate from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. When she decided to attend UNCW, her parents were supportive. Additionally, most of her friends attend college. Marion wants to major in theater. She chose to attend college in hopes of getting a better job. I think that these views and reasons are very similar to many college students.
There are four people in her family: her parents, herself, and a younger sister. Her father has a law degree and she said her mother has two years of college. Marion’s parents both read horror and science fiction novels. Her father also reads articles on the Internet. She considers her parents to be ok with technology.
Marion seems like a university student that has a typical view of literacy. She also seems that she has the same level of computer literacy that most college students have. I learned a lot from the experience of writing someone’s literacy narrative. It was interesting to be in a conversation with someone that I had never met, and we basically only talked about her literacy practices. When we were first told about the literacy narrative assignment, I was somewhat apprehensive. It seemed like it was going to be very awkward. However, after the conversation was started, it was a lot easier to ask questions about literacy. I received a lot of interesting answers and if I had gone as in-depth as the author of Whistlin’ and Crowin’, Katherine Kelleher Sohn, I think that there would have been a lot more interesting answers.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Discussion of Appalachian Stereotypes
I used to think that the people of Appalachia were basically all hillbillies and just a backwards group of people. Most of the stereotypes of Appalachians have come from media, like television shows and movies. These stereotypes can include, but are not limited to: illiteracy, a very distinguishable accent, poverty, intermarriage, and basically just a culture that is behind the rest of the nation. It is unfortunate that they are subject to such descriptions, but sometimes these descriptions are almost accurate.
When I was growing up, I believed that the Appalachian area was always a little behind, especially because I was growing up right near New York City. I felt that I was near one of the more important cultural centers of the world. Also, when my family and me went on vacation, we never went to any central states, like Tennessee, West Virginia and Kentucky. We always went somewhere either near a large city or to a popular tourist destination. Maybe this is just my lack of understanding of the Appalachian region, but I do not know any really popular tourist destinations in Appalachia. This helped to further any understanding of the region. My only source for opinions and views on the area were from popular culture, especially movies like October Sky. I saw this film multiple times during middle school, and soon, I began to almost believe that everyone that lived in Appalachia had worked in a coal mine during some part of his or her life. I also started to believe that many people of Appalachia were opposed to cultural advancement because of the way Homer Hickam, a future rocket scientist, was treated by not only his father but many other people around the town.
I am not going to say that this Appalachian Literature class has shown me that most of these stereotypes are not true, but it has shown me some examples of contributions that Appalachians have made to our culture today. However, the research that I did for the Appalachian stereotypes essay has shown me that some of the stereotypes are at least partially true. For instance, some towns in Appalachia are among the poorest of the nation. This, in turn, means that many children and teenagers that could be going to school have to work in order to make money and miss out on their education.
I think the most effective way of getting rid of stereotypes about a certain people or region is education. I really do not know a specific way to do this, except maybe offer a elective English class in high school like the Appalachian literature class that is offered here at UNCW.
When I was growing up, I believed that the Appalachian area was always a little behind, especially because I was growing up right near New York City. I felt that I was near one of the more important cultural centers of the world. Also, when my family and me went on vacation, we never went to any central states, like Tennessee, West Virginia and Kentucky. We always went somewhere either near a large city or to a popular tourist destination. Maybe this is just my lack of understanding of the Appalachian region, but I do not know any really popular tourist destinations in Appalachia. This helped to further any understanding of the region. My only source for opinions and views on the area were from popular culture, especially movies like October Sky. I saw this film multiple times during middle school, and soon, I began to almost believe that everyone that lived in Appalachia had worked in a coal mine during some part of his or her life. I also started to believe that many people of Appalachia were opposed to cultural advancement because of the way Homer Hickam, a future rocket scientist, was treated by not only his father but many other people around the town.
I am not going to say that this Appalachian Literature class has shown me that most of these stereotypes are not true, but it has shown me some examples of contributions that Appalachians have made to our culture today. However, the research that I did for the Appalachian stereotypes essay has shown me that some of the stereotypes are at least partially true. For instance, some towns in Appalachia are among the poorest of the nation. This, in turn, means that many children and teenagers that could be going to school have to work in order to make money and miss out on their education.
I think the most effective way of getting rid of stereotypes about a certain people or region is education. I really do not know a specific way to do this, except maybe offer a elective English class in high school like the Appalachian literature class that is offered here at UNCW.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Oral History Quiz-Question 3
The main character in Oral History is Jennifer. She is the person that asked the questions and brought the tape recorder that caused everyone to tell here their stories. Also, the book begins with her first arriving at the house and ends when she leaves the house. At the same time, however, she is also only mentioned in the beginning and the end of the book. Some may see this as a reason to suggest that Jennifer is not, in fact, the main character of the story. On the other hand, it is necessary to notice that the only reason that this story is told is because Jennifer had to do an oral history project. Some of the sections are even specifically directed at Jennifer, especially Granny Younger’s section. When Granny Younger says things like, “I know moren I want to tell you, and moren you want to know,” (27). There are other characters that people might say are the main characters of Oral History, but there are certain aspects of each that disprove this point. The main reason that Granny Younger is not the main character is because she dies during the story. Even though she is still mentioned throughout, she no longer significantly affects the direction of the book. This is basically the same reason why the other characters are not the main characters of the story. They have parts, some of them are relatively significant, but none are as important as Jennifer’s.
Oral History Quiz-Question 1
Lee Smith writes about the residents of Appalachia in a poor light that might not be excused if she was not from the region herself. However, because she is a native of the region, I feel that she should be excused from writing like she does about Appalachia. An educated reader knows that the characters that Smith portrays in this story do not represent the entire population of Appalachia. I also think that any people from Appalachia that read this story understand that she is not trying to stereotype the entire Appalachian region. I also do not think that natives of the region would take offense to any of the characters in the story because for one, most readers should recognize that this is a work of fiction and people should not take offense. In addition, I think that at least some of the characters readers can relate to, or they have had some relatives that are like the characters in the story. For instance there are definitely grandmothers like Granny Younger that know all the gossip about everyone in the neighborhood and they really are not afraid to share that information with the rest of the neighborhood. Overall, I think that Lee Smith is allowed a pass because she is from the region. However at the same time she should not go too far and write several books that include a lot of stereotypical characters. I think that Oral History is an appropriate balance and I do not think that anyone from the region or anyone else for that matter should take offense.
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