Now that we have read The Kentucky Cycle, I would like you to revisit some of the critiques of the play in terms of its representation of Appalachian people and culture. For this week’s prompt, I’d like you to revisit at least one of the chapters that we’ve read which discusses these depictions. Then, I’d like you to pick out at least one character from the play and discuss how the character represents the negative depiction of Appalachians as discussed in the critique(s). Do you agree with the critiques of the play? In what ways does your character(s) call us to believe the critique or say that the critique was unfair?
I personally enjoyed reading The Kentucky Cycle very much if only for the literary value. The related plays’ cyclic narrative was poetic as well as a commentary towards the seeming static nature of conservative Appalachia although that may not be the case in regards to their culture. Critics seem to disagree and find the execution of the play to be its failure rather than criticizing the perpetuation of the Appalachian stereotype that Schenkkan facilitates regardless of his sympathetic attitude towards them. Dwight B. Billings also expresses his concern in regards to the critics dismissal the rhetorical implications of the characters he portrayed. One reason there is such a limited discussion of the perpetuation of the stereotype in The Kentucky Cycle may be that the characters and narrative fit exactly what the average uneduacted audience would expect Appalachia to be portrayed as. Moreover, who would criticize what is seemingly a thoughtful and extensively researched representation of the history of Applachia int he form of such thoruoughly feshed out composite families in the form of the Rowens, Talberts, and Biggs fsmilies.