QUEER MUSICKING IN APPALACHIA: AN EXPLORATION OF SPACE, PLACE, AND IDENTITY THROUGH THE LENS OF TRADITIONAL MUSIC AND DANCE

This thesis analyzes the queer music and dance traditions in Appalachia by engaging with oral histories, documentaries, and ethnography to support the claim that Appalachian music serves as a conduit for expression of identity. The first chapter’s main component draws from oral histories with the Laurel Hells Ramblers framed through queer musicological and power frameworks to discuss gender and genre norms within Appalachian music. The second and third chapters rely on analysis of ethnography (participant observation) and primary sources to inspect the elements of queerness that are present in case studies/examples of Appalachian music-based gatherings such as the Galax Fiddler’s Convention and Watermelon Picker’s Festival. These case studies demonstrate the application of outlined theories and frameworks onto queer Appalachian music events and practitioners. Each chapter dissects a different aspect of queer Appalachian music tradition but all use queer musicological frameworks to work towards dismantling existing perceptions of a monolithic Appalachian identity.<p></p>