The Uses and Misuses of Appalachian Culture

Abstract

Abstract The facile use of “Appalachian culture” in much thinking and writing does no service to the region or its people. This article offers a critique of static conceptions of Appalachian culture and argues for a more dynamic and flexible approach. After examining its own suppositions, this essay concludes that, in lieu of frequent allusions to “Appalachian culture,” more attention should be paid to the multiple heritages Appalachians enjoy and the contemporary identities they are creating.