Politics of Appalachia   

Located where the Rust Belt meets Appalachia, Western Pennsylvania is the ideal location to explore the ways in which Appalachia both shapes and is shaped by American politics. The story of Appalachia is itself often politicized, reducing the area and its residents to insulting stereotypes. This course will center on addressing the real, complex stories about Appalachian resilience, while also discussing the causes and consequences of Appalachia’s reductive narrative. We will construct a new, more realistic understanding of our home region, and potentially point to ways we might work together to co-create its future.