The image of the hillbilly has been both castigated and admired throughout the twentieth century: often categorized as a backwards, low intelligence individual contributing little to society yet sometimes celebrated in times of economic and social uncertainty, a sense of identity for those in need of somewhere to belong.
More often than not, however, the hillbilly is harshly portrayed, often appearing in media as toothless mountain folk with low vocabularies and a liking for moonshine. These offensive stereotypes alienate mountain or rural people as others: separate from civilized, industrialized America.
This website analyzes the portrayal of the hillbilly throughout the television sitcom Roseanne, a series contaminated by social and cultural movements of the 1980’s and 1990’s that ultimately reveals itself to be a conflation brought about by the very different views of what it means to be a hillbilly. Roseanne at once challenges these harsh stereotypes while also embracing them, creating a refreshing perspective on the potential of a lower income, working class family and revealing hidden sophistication throughout.
More often than not, however, the hillbilly is harshly portrayed, often appearing in media as toothless mountain folk with low vocabularies and a liking for moonshine. These offensive stereotypes alienate mountain or rural people as others: separate from civilized, industrialized America.
This website analyzes the portrayal of the hillbilly throughout the television sitcom Roseanne, a series contaminated by social and cultural movements of the 1980’s and 1990’s that ultimately reveals itself to be a conflation brought about by the very different views of what it means to be a hillbilly. Roseanne at once challenges these harsh stereotypes while also embracing them, creating a refreshing perspective on the potential of a lower income, working class family and revealing hidden sophistication throughout.