Double Entry Journal #2 "Tall Tales of Appalachia"

"...I can say with some authority that the strange, woebegone place called Appalachia and the hillbillies who inhabit it are a myth -- one devised a century ago to justify outsiders' condescension and exploitation."
I have lived in West Virginia all my life and agree completely with this quote. Most of the things seen on TV and in the movies is made up for the entertainment value. The very same thing has happened to the "hillbillies." I will agree there are parts of West Virginia that even I wouldn't want to go to, but most of our state is just beautiful and filled with people who love it. Many "city" people want to portray WV this way because it makes great film and comedy. I believe people show West Virginians this way because they just really don't know how else to. They know WV us a farming, take care of yourself kind of place so they stretch the truth to something outlandish for profit. Most of the people who are writing and producing these kinds of things have never spent a day in WV so how could they know how most of the state really acts. Many great people have came from WV and have accomplished great things.
I will agree that sometimes people in WV can be a little crazy but that doesn't mean everyone is illiterate and ignorant. I'm sure every state has a few people that they aren't proud of but none of those states have bad reputations such as West Virginia's.
West Virginia has a rich culture that should be celebrated, not ridiculed. Most people are VERY proud to be West Virginians.

I chose to include the picture above because this is what should be shown on TV and in the movies. The culture of West Virginia. The talented people who have played music for generation or made toys and quilts by hand. This is the kind of things that should represent WV.
Resources:
O'Brien, J. (2003, May 10). Tall tales of appalachia. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/10/opinion/tall-tales-of-appalachia.html
Guest. (2010, May 13). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://blog.cityfolk.org/2010/05/puppets-and-tales-from-appalachia.html