Images of Appalachia in Popular Film and Documentary

In this unconference session, members from Marshall University’s undergraduate honors seminar “Appalachia on Film” will initiate discussions among attendees regarding portrayals of Appalachia and Appalachians within popular films and documentaries. Discussion initiators will focus upon northern Appalachia, specifically West Virginia and Kentucky, and upon representations of the history--including labor history--and effects of coal mining, but discussion of films set in any region of Appalachia will be welcome. Discussions will compare Appalachia as it appears on screen to historical and scholarly accounts, as well as to attendees’ own diverse experiences of Appalachia, in order to evaluate the accuracy of cinematic presentations and consider features of Appalachia often missing from popular movies. Additionally, discussions will compare works of filmmakers from outside Appalachia with those created by Appalachians. Examples of films which may be discussed include Down in Number 5 (Kim Spurlock, 2009), Harlan County, U.S.A. (1976, dir. Barbara Koppel), Holy Ghost People (1967, dir. Peter Adair), The Hunger Games (2012, dir. Gary Ross), The Last Mountain (2011, dir. Bill Haney), Matewan (1987, dir. John Sayles), The Night of the Hunter (1955, dir. Charles Laughton), and he Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia (2009, dir. Julien Nitzberg)