This study examines the various stereotypes that persist about the American South, giving consideration to the common stereotypes, their persistence, and the response of Southerners and non-Southerners to them. Further, it aims to examine in-depth the methods by which these stereotypes are perpetuated, such as literature, movies, television, and music. Within this dissertation, pieces of literature by traditional Southern authors, like William Faulkner and Tennessee Williams, are examined for the images they employ. Further, films such as Deliverance and Sweet Home Alabama, as well as television shows like The Dukes of Hazzard and The Beverly Hillbillies are analyzed for how they convey stereotypes about the South. Lastly, music of all genres, though primarily country, is considered for the images it conveys. The major aim of this study is not only to reveal these stereotypes but also to deconstruct them.
","abstract_html":"<p>This study examines the various stereotypes that persist about the American South, giving consideration to the common stereotypes, their persistence, and the response of Southerners and non-Southerners to them. Further, it aims to examine in-depth the methods by which these stereotypes are perpetuated, such as literature, movies, television, and music. Within this dissertation, pieces of literature by traditional Southern authors, like William Faulkner and Tennessee Williams, are examined for the images they employ. Further, films such as Deliverance and Sweet Home Alabama, as well as television shows like The Dukes of Hazzard and The Beverly Hillbillies are analyzed for how they convey stereotypes about the South. Lastly, music of all genres, though primarily country, is considered for the images it conveys. The major aim of this study is not only to reveal these stereotypes but also to deconstruct them.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Hamilton, Karen C."],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Doctor of Education in Curriculum Studies (Ed.D.)","degree_level":"Dissertation (open access)","degree_discipline":"Department of Curriculum, Foundations, and Reading","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Dan Chapman","Ming Fang He","Patrick Novotny"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2009,"date_issued":"2009-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2009-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:26:52Z","subjects":["ETD","Culture","South","Media","Television","Music","Southern States","Civilization","Research","Education"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/491","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Dan Chapman","Ming Fang He","Patrick Novotny"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Hamilton, Karen C."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2013-10-17T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Department of Curriculum, Foundations, and Reading"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation (open access)"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Education in Curriculum Studies (Ed.D.)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["ETD","Culture","South","Media","Television","Music","Southern States","Civilization","Research","Education"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/491"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This study examines the various stereotypes that persist about the American South, giving consideration to the common stereotypes, their persistence, and the response of Southerners and non-Southerners to them. Further, it aims to examine in-depth the methods by which these stereotypes are perpetuated, such as literature, movies, television, and music. Within this dissertation, pieces of literature by traditional Southern authors, like William Faulkner and Tennessee Williams, are examined for the images they employ. Further, films such as Deliverance and Sweet Home Alabama, as well as television shows like The Dukes of Hazzard and The Beverly Hillbillies are analyzed for how they convey stereotypes about the South. Lastly, music of all genres, though primarily country, is considered for the images it conveys. The major aim of this study is not only to reveal these stereotypes but also to deconstruct them.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Y'all Think We're Stupid: Deconstructing Media Stereotypes of The American South"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Dan Chapman","Ming Fang He","Patrick Novotny"],"dc:creator":["Hamilton, Karen C."],"dc:date.available":["2013-10-17T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["This study examines the various stereotypes that persist about the American South, giving consideration to the common stereotypes, their persistence, and the response of Southerners and non-Southerners to them. Further, it aims to examine in-depth the methods by which these stereotypes are perpetuated, such as literature, movies, television, and music. Within this dissertation, pieces of literature by traditional Southern authors, like William Faulkner and Tennessee Williams, are examined for the images they employ. Further, films such as Deliverance and Sweet Home Alabama, as well as television shows like The Dukes of Hazzard and The Beverly Hillbillies are analyzed for how they convey stereotypes about the South. Lastly, music of all genres, though primarily country, is considered for the images it conveys. The major aim of this study is not only to reveal these stereotypes but also to deconstruct them.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/491"],"dc:subject":["ETD","Culture","South","Media","Television","Music","Southern States","Civilization","Research","Education"],"dc:title":["Y'all Think We're Stupid: Deconstructing Media Stereotypes of The American South"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Department of Curriculum, Foundations, and Reading"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation (open access)"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Education in Curriculum Studies (Ed.D.)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:26:52Z"}