New Guinea is a Western invention, a name and a cultural identity given by European travelers in the 1500s . . . authorized by anthropologists such as Margaret Mead, who claimed to have a superior way of life. . . . [W]hen beliefs about the “other” are confirmed through further myths derived by their hosts, a portrait of a culture is painted with unfamiliar and startling things in order to make it interesting and exciting for the home audience (64). The distortions created by anthropologists have stripped the indigenous people of their dignity and right to determine their own future (57).
- Warilea Iamo
In a February 2009 Newsweek article, Tony Dokoupil wrote about Hillbilly stereotypes in West Virginia (read article here). The article, poorly written and poorly researched, did more to promote than to combat stereotypes and tries to place much of the blame on West Virginia residents themselves.
There is a key difference between people from other states, such as journalists, capitalizing on stereotypes about West Virginia and people within the state trying to turn that history into a money-maker for the community. How West Virginia represents itself will have no impact on Dokoupil's life, except as the next “hit” news story. It will have an impact on West Virginian lives and businesses, so why not stop perpetuating stereotypes and let them represent their own state?
Before continuing, watch the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s recent advertisement for West Virginia for comparison, entitled "This is Our West Virginia":
While some might find parts of the ad contentious, it does draw from facts and statistics about the state and tries to strike a balance between depictions of environment and industry.
In comparison, few of Dokoupil’s statements are even rooted in fact, only “shock factor,” and many are blatant stereotypes, or just wrong. For example:
- Lack of paved roads in early history is reason to suspect incest? : “[M]any of the state's mountain communities—unconnected by paved roads and railways until after World War II—have indeed been isolated enough to raise eyebrows about genetic diversity” (Dokoupil 2009:2) People don't need paved roads to travel. Were the Silk Road trade routes paved? If this comment had been directed at Native Americans, maybe more people would have seen it as the blatant, degrading stereotype that it is, or maybe not.
- He initially cited the wrong political party for the Governor: “Correction (published Feb. 27): Gov. Manchin is a Democrat, not a Republican, as previously reported” (3) Maybe West Virginia is not the Republican bastion he assumed it was.
- The video of the Roadkill Cookoff in Marlinton, WV misspelled the city’s name as “Marlington” (1). If a person in West Virginia had misspelled New York as “New Yorke” the journalist probably would have cited it as another instance of lingering truth to stereotypes about low education levels.
- In a comment below the article, 'Meepy04' rightly notes that the short example Dokupil chose to start his article with is deceptive. It comes from Kentucky, not West Virginia. She concludes, “I wish that just once a journalist would spend some time in WV before writing an article, rather than renting "Deliverance" and making it up as he or she goes. Where is the integrity?” (3)
Dokoupil is right that West Virginia is undergoing debate about its image in the popular media: “West Virginia's governor is launching a massive campaign to liberate his state from ugly and unyielding stereotypes. He's got his work cut out for him” (1). However, the stereotypes appear to be less the product of a 'lingering truth' and more the result of certain outside journalists’ and filmmakers’ depictions. He covers his tracks by appealing to an expert who points out that most discussions of stereotypes result in perpetuating stereotypes, as if he couldn’t avoid what he wrote.
Instead of trying to lay out the debate that’s taking place among West Virginians over state image, Dokupil decides to make an unfounded claim that many WV residents are unable to see themselves any differently, that they’re 'trapped in stereotypes.' Most likely, it’s only a strategy to work in his last journalistic punch, the final comment from the Governor:
“Even some of West Virginia's own residents are having trouble seeing themselves differently. . . . While the governor is pushing a forward-thinking "New West Virginia" campaign, tourist-conscious businesses in some parts of the state are proudly serving up less refined fare. The annual Road Kill Cook-Off in Pocahontas, for instance, features dishes you're unlikely to see at your local restaurant, including intestine-challenging "flat cat," "bumper bruised bear" and "deer schmear fajitas." The mere mention of it puts a hard edge in the governor's voice. "Are they still running that s––– down south?" he asks an aide in disbelief, before adding: "Well, I tell you what, if you see [the organizer], kill the son of a bitch" (2).
Are the organizers of the Road Kill Cookoff really 'having trouble seeing themselves' outside of stereotypes? Tourism is a big industry in West Virginia. It looks to me like they’re trying to turn stereotypes into a positive source of income for the community. If you actually look at the advertisement on the Pocahontas County Chamber of Commerce’s website, it seems good way to promote the region: “The West Virginia Road Kill Cook-off is one of the region’s most exciting and fun annual events. In years past, the Food Network, the Travel Channel and the Discovery Channel have all done filming of this wild and wacky festival! If you’ve ever wanted to taste exotic dishes like squirrel gravy over biscuits, teriyaki marinated bear or deer sausage, this is the place!” In fact, are certain characteristics even negative anymore if the community embraces them?
Of course, this would be something for residents to decide, not outside journalists. The organizers are capitalizing on stereotypes, just like the journalist, but still their use of 'culture' is different because the journalist is not part of that culture and has no real stake in it.
Video from the roadkill cookoff:
To repeat the quote at the beginning of this post, in new light:
"The distortions created by anthropologists [outside journalists and filmmakers] have stripped indigenous people [West Virginians] of their dignity and right to determine their own future” (Iamo 1988:57).
Originally posted on The Prism: http://anthropologicalprism.blogspot.com/
Sources
Dokoupil, Tony. (2009). Hillbilly No More? Newsweek, February 27. Retrieved September 20, 2009, from http://www.newsweek.com/id/186715/page/1.
Iamo, Warilea. (1988). The Stigma of New Guinea: Reflections of Anthropology and Anthropologists. Central Issues in Anthropology 8(1):57-64.
