Spring 2018 Introduction to Appalachian Studies Research

A Comparison of Appalachia and Puerto Rico

The culture of poverty theory — a sociological concept arguing that the cycle of poverty, while being initially started by higher powers in society, is still caused by the poor creating a certain “culture” of practices and beliefs that influence the next…

Snake-Wrangling or Sunday School: Exploring the Truth About Appalachian Religion

When most people think of Appalachia, religion is one of the initial things that comes to mind. What that perception of religion is though, varies greatly. For some, the immediate thought is…

Black Coal, Black Lungs, Warm Hearts: Coal Mining in Southwest Virginia

The Southern Appalachian region has long been one of the largest sources of coal in the world. For generations after generations, miners have been digging and blasting their way into the rugged mountains of…

Waste Dumping In West Virginia

Research Question: What are the causes and effects of waste dumping on the inhabitants in West Virginia?

The Appalachian region is diverse geographically, environmentally, and ethnically. In fact, the mountain chain itself is one of the oldest on…

Exploring the Environmental Impacts of Mountaintop Mining Operations

Just from basic observation, the average onlooker can clearly see that there are many environmental concerns surrounding mountaintop removal mining, but the impacts of this destructive mining process are much…

Gospel Music Through the Years

Research Question: How did gospel music develop over time since the late 19th century, and how was the Appalachian region involved?

Forms of gospel music have existed in the world for centuries, but the type of gospel music that is most known today…

High Mountains, Flatfeet: The History of Clogging in Appalachia

What is the history of flatfooting in Appalachia? How does flatfooting differ from other types of clogging?

Misunderstood: How the Portrayal of the Banjo in Film and Television Has Impacted Appalachia

Growing up, the only thing I associated the banjo with was the uneducated backwards people that I assumed played the instrument. For years, the image of the “Banjo Boy”…

Why does bluegrass music only use certain string instruments and what is the historical significance of the instruments?

Music has been a fundamental constituent of human life all over the world for thousands of years. With hundreds of different…