Movie-Made Appalachia

“Inscoe spent many years discussing these films with students, and this book shares those conversations to add a beneficial perspective to scholarship in this area. Though the scope may be narrow, the analysis is deep and rewarding.”—CHOICE

“This book is an engaging tribute to the role of film in the portrayal of Appalachia. Moving beyond the stereotypes, the author finds those examples that explore the culture in an honest and forthright manner. Recommended for
students of film and Southern history as well as general readers interested in the subject.”—Georgia Library Quarterly

“Given scholarship warning that dehumanization of the region’s inhabitants likely exacerbates and accelerates American acceptance of suffering in Appalachia—including the suffering of poor, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, AppalAsian, queer, disabled, and other stigmatized residents—Inscoe’s effort to draw students and readers into sympathetic conversation about the people of the region is a valuable addition.”—Journal of Southern History

“A useful examination of film portrayals of Appalachia for film studies scholars and historians alike.”—H-Nationalism

“Movie-Made Appalachia is an important addition to the growing scholarship on representation, cinema, and Appalachia. John C. Inscoe’s particular perspective as a historian situates his readings of films in a deep context that moves beyond Hollywood. Guiding readers through central topics and moments in Appalachian history, Inscoe provides depth of analysis and connections between related films. An important contribution to the field.”—Meredith McCarroll, Bowdoin College

“With Movie-Made Appalachia, John Inscoe has opened the door for thorough analysis of regionally relevant films that have often been overlooked for full critical treatment. Inscoe’s work deserves much appreciation for its historical contextualization of film representation of Appalachian people and culture.”—J. W. Williamson, author of Hillbillyland: What the Movies Did to the Mountains and What the Mountains Did to the Movies