Films

Appalachian Values

In what way were we trapped?
where, our mistake?
what, where, how, when, what way,
might all these things have been different,
if only we had done otherwise?
if only we might have known.

James Agee, Let Us Now Praise Famous Men

UNDERLYING QUESTION SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN UPPER-MIDDLE CLASS (PROFESSIONAL)
What is the relation of man to nature (and supernature)? Man subjugated to nature and God; little human control over destiny; fatalism Man can control nature or God works through man; basically optimistic
What is the relation of man to time? Present orientation; present and future telescoped; slow and "natural" rhythms Future orientation and planning; fast; regulation by the clock, calendar, and technology
What is the relation of man to space? Orientation to concrete places and particular things Orientation to everywhere and everything
What is the nature of human nature? Basically evil and unalterable, at least for others and in the absence of divine intervention Basically good, or mixed good and evil; alterable
What is the nature of human activity? Being Doing
What is the nature of human relations? Personal; kinship-based; strangers are suspect Relatively impersonal; recognise non-kin criteria; handle strangers on basis of roles

MIDDLE CLASS AMERICAN SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN
Emphasis on community, church, clubs etc. Individualism; self-centered concerns
Thoughts of change and progress; expectation of change, usually for the better Attitudes strongly traditionalistic
Freedom to determine one's life and goals Fatalism
Routine-seeker Action-seeker
Self-assurance Sense of anxiety
No particular stress on maleness Stress on traditional masculinity
Use of ideas, ideals, and abstractions Use of anecdotes
Acceptance of object goals Rejection of object goals
Oriented to progress Orientation to existence
Strong emphasis on saving and budgeting No saving or budgeting
Desire and ability to plan ahead carefully No interest in long-range careful planning
Placement of group goals above personal aims Precedence of personal feelings and whims over group goals
Recognition of expect opinion Expert opinion not recognized

MIDDLE CLASS AMERICAN SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN
Child-centered family Adult-centered family
Responsibility for family decisions shared by husband and wife Male-dominated family
'Togetherness' of husband and wife Separateness of husband and wife; separate reference groups
Home tasks shared by husband and wife Sharp definition of home tasks between husband and wife
Many family activities shared (vactions, amusements, etc.) Few shared family activities
Disciplined child-rearing; stress on what is thought best for the child's development Permissive child-rearing; stress on what pleases the child
Family bound by common interests as well as emotional ties Family bound by emotional ties; few common interests
Family a bridge to outside world Separation of family and outside world

MIDDLE CLASS AMERICAN SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN
Reference group less important Reference group most important
Object-orientated life pattern Person-orientated life pattern
Association between sexes Little or no association between sexes
Strong pressure of status No status seeking
Striving for excellence Leveling tendency in society
Readiness to join groups Rejection of joining groups
Ability to function in objective ways in a group Ability to function in a group only on a personal basis
Attachment to work; concern for job security and satisfaction Detachment from work; little concern for job security or satisfaction
Emphasis on education Ambivalence toward education
Cooperation with doctors, hospitals, and "outsiders" Fear of doctors, hospitals, those in authority, the well-educated
Use of government and law to achieve goals Antagonism toward government and law
Acceptance of the world Suspicion and fear of outside world
Participation in organized amusements, cultural activities, etc. Rejection of organized amusements, cultural activities, etc.

From Yesterday's People by Jack Weller (University of Kentucky Press, 1965)
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