F-1

Area of Science:

• Cultural Studies
• Sociology of Rural Communities

Background:

• Rural America is often stereotyped as bleak and desolate.
• A photographic series, Americana, challenges these perceptions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the values inherent in rural American communities.
• To counteract negative narratives surrounding rural regions.

Main Methods:

• Photographic documentation in rural South Texas in 2016.
• Qualitative interpretation of symbolic objects within their community context.

Main Results:

• A photograph of a truck was identified as a symbol of community values.
• The truck represents reliability, pride, and perseverance.

Conclusions:

• Rural communities embody significant positive attributes.
• Symbolic objects can effectively convey the resilience and values of rural life.