Stumbler (A Screenplay)

<p>This project consists of two parts:</p> <p>I: A literature review, which includes a reflection, a script synopsis, and a meta-analysis.</p> <p>II: An original screenplay.</p> <p>The literature review considers the implications of class, race, gender, politics, and the internal mythos of country music. The reflection takes core concepts from the literature review and draws a line from the origins of country music to the post-World War II political break between folk and country, and then on to the emergence of outlaw country in the late 1960s. I contend that outlaw country, which I define broadly, emerged from the same countercurrent as post-WWII folk, and it does not uphold the conservative traditions of country music. However, unlike folk, outlaw country is generally apolitical.</p> <p>The screenplay, <em>Stumbler</em>, centers on John, a terminally-ill man who decides that he wants to go back to his rural hometown and become a musician. His worst problem (among many) is that he has no musical talent. As he goes on his journey, darker things lie ahead of him.</p> <p><em></em>The screenplay examines many of the themes introduced in the literature review and built upon in the reflection, but as a creative piece, it takes its own direction. In the script, I consider issues of mental illness, substance abuse, and life in rural America. I consider rural Americans through a dual lense: on the one hand, they elected a man who threatens the foundations of civilization; on the other, they profess virtue. I leave open any questions about that contradiction. </p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts in American Studies (MAST)

Level thesis:degree_level

Capstone

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Interdisciplinary Studies

Year dc:date.available

2018

Author dc:creator

• Green, Mark

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Robbie Lieberman
• Dr. David King
• Dr. William Rice

• Rural America
• Country
• Screenplay
• Mental Illness
• Folk
• Townes Van Zandt
• Destiny
• American Studies

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/mast_etd/22

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu:mast_etd-1024