Degree Name
MA (Master of Arts)
Program
Appalachian Studies
Date of Award
5-2017
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Nathaniel Olson
Committee Members
Ron Roach, Rebecca Adkins Fletcher, Jeff Titon
Abstract
This thesis uses qualitative ethnographic research methods to present a case study that explores the multiplicity of meanings and representations that are attached to the Old Deery Inn & Museum in Blountville, Tennessee. Within the community, the Inn functions as a center for cultural memory, with the physical structure itself acting as an artifact that holds community identity. This community narrative contrasts with the official narrative used by tourism entities that markets the Inn as a part of the Appalachian region, situating the Inn within a complex and intricately constructed identity of place that is shaped by lived experiences as well as perceived cultural markers. By unraveling the narratives, this study unpacks the ways that the Inn’s various identities figure into the development of current interpretation and management efforts, and the way that this locally important historical site fits into the larger narrative of tourism marketing in East Tennessee.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Proffitt, Rebecca J., "The Old Deery Inn & Museum: An Ethnographic Case Study" (2017). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 3241. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3241
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.
Included in
Appalachian Studies Commons, Community-Based Research Commons, Cultural History Commons, Folklore Commons, Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons