Mountain Myths: Examining the Hierarchy of Whiteness in Film

Research continues to demonstrate the role films play in reproducing and solidifying stereotypes of particular groups. Acting as a cultural medium, filmic representations mirror dominant attitudes present in society while also reproducing and molding new perceptions of particular stereotypes. By highlighting the construction of the hierarchy of whiteness through the lens of the Appalachian region, the following demonstrates the connection between filmic representations and the support for economic, social, and political carceral encroachment into the region. Utilizing critical discourse analysis, we analyze 20 films set within or related to the Appalachian region to showcase the construction and connection of a “lesser white” group to carceral ideologies that promote punitive and damaging policies.