Speaking on the stereotypes of Appalachian people in modern film, Chandra Lowe will be a presenter at the PCA/ACA National Conference 2006 in April.

When Catawba College senior Chandra Lowe of Budd Lake, N.J. wrote her term paper for last fall's Appalachian Culture & Society Honors course, she thought that was all she was doing.   An interdisciplinary study of Appalachia, its people, and the rest of society's perceptions, the course led her to examine the portrayal of Appalachia in film.   Now, almost a year later, her paper has found new life, as she is slated to present it at the Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association National Conference in Atlanta this April.  

While geared toward graduate students, professors, and other professionals, undergraduate students are occasionally accepted to present, as well.   Lowe, an English major, found out about the conference through her former professor, Dr. Philip Acree Cavalier, who passed the call for papers along to her.   Her proposal was accepted one week after its submission.

While one of the topics for discussion and presentation at the conference is Appalachian Studies, there is a concentration on the portrayal of the Appalachian people in film and television.   The paper, titled "When Holding a Captive Audience: The Modern Regression of Open-Mindedness in Mainstream Cinema," looks at the escalating stereotypes of Appalachia in three recent films ("Deliverance," "Next of Kin," and "Wrong Turn") and fit in perfectly alongside other presenters from schools around the country.

With the encouragement of Drs. Acree Cavalier and Maria Vandergriff-Avery, and the support of the Honors Program and the English and Sociology Departments, Lowe is looking forward to the experience, and is thrilled with the professional and occupational opportunities it will provide.

The conference is scheduled to take place April 12-15, 2006, at the Marriot Marquis Hotel in Atlanta, Ga.

Speaking on the stereotypes of Appalachian people in modern film, Chandra Lowe will be a presenter at the PCA/ACA National Conference 2006 in April.

When Catawba College senior Chandra Lowe of Budd Lake, N.J. wrote her term paper for last fall's Appalachian Culture & Society Honors course, she thought that was all she was doing.   An interdisciplinary study of Appalachia, its people, and the rest of society's perceptions, the course led her to examine the portrayal of Appalachia in film.   Now, almost a year later, her paper has found new life, as she is slated to present it at the Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association National Conference in Atlanta this April.  

While geared toward graduate students, professors, and other professionals, undergraduate students are occasionally accepted to present, as well.   Lowe, an English major, found out about the conference through her former professor, Dr. Philip Acree Cavalier, who passed the call for papers along to her.   Her proposal was accepted one week after its submission.

While one of the topics for discussion and presentation at the conference is Appalachian Studies, there is a concentration on the portrayal of the Appalachian people in film and television.   The paper, titled "When Holding a Captive Audience: The Modern Regression of Open-Mindedness in Mainstream Cinema," looks at the escalating stereotypes of Appalachia in three recent films ("Deliverance," "Next of Kin," and "Wrong Turn") and fit in perfectly alongside other presenters from schools around the country.

With the encouragement of Drs. Acree Cavalier and Maria Vandergriff-Avery, and the support of the Honors Program and the English and Sociology Departments, Lowe is looking forward to the experience, and is thrilled with the professional and occupational opportunities it will provide.

The conference is scheduled to take place April 12-15, 2006, at the Marriot Marquis Hotel in Atlanta, Ga.