Thanks for the info. I know about some of these programs, i.e., I know there is a conscious effort to hold on to the songs and stories that were part of Appalachian tradition. However, my prior research of the history of Appalachia has led me to believe that in certain families these traditions were a natural, effortless part of the day to day routine. The songs and stories were family legacies-- for example, in Jean Ritchie's family. I was opening a discussion out of curiosity-- to see if I might discover whether or not families are still telling the same stories they were 100 years ago. You know, whether or not it still exists in some families in a more "effortless" fashion.
fretless: Boy, you mudcatters love to get snitty about every little thing! Somehow the anonymity of this form of discussion allows you all to cut loose with your opinions like mad. Fine with me, it's just that I wasn't asking anyone to do the work for me, and I've been researching Appalachia all semester. I just didn't want to phrase my question in a know-it-all "tone of voice", since I'm not actually from Appalachia. I like to stay humble, you know?
I'm just getting to contemporary Appalachia right now in my studies, and have been having a lot of dead-end research, that's why I posted this thread. I figured that it might spark a good discussion, which might help me along. Isn't that what this forum is for?
Studying a culture that one is not actually from is always a bit of a "touchy" thing. I'm trying to be really careful in the way I phrase things.                                              Liz.