Regional Nostalgia

Basics of Nostalgic Rhetoric

u “a speaker highlights a comparison between a more favorable, idealized past

and a less favorable present in order to stimulate [nostalgia] through
suggestion. . . . The speaker may then . . . [link] his/her own policies to
qualities of the idealized past in order to induce support” (179)
u God memories (ideals that keep the community remembering together)
u Some kind of chaotic loss in the present (the pandemic, loss of coal jobs, a
political upheaval—something that makes us look back to better times)
u Nostalgic crux (some kind of force of “the new” to blame for the loss/chaos)
if we overcome that new thing (from corporations, to immigrants, to radical
politics) the chaos will stop
u Serious hope of restoration not just playing with the past but really hopes to
restore some value, system of power, etc.
Who Controls Regional Nostalgia & How?

u How do coal companies teach citizens how to be nostalgic?

u Friends of Coal & Corporate Ventriloquism: Coal companies sponsor all sorts of events
from football games to barbeques but also make it look like everyone agrees with coal
(going so far as to make up fake citizens and quotes on their website)
u Purposefully keeping other industries out: Coal becomes “common sense” and
everything else is hippy-dippy
u Sacrifice Logic & Redemptive Memorials: “The roadside memorial . . . stands as a
solemn reminder of the human cost that West Virginians have so dearly paid to power
this great nation”
u National Representations: Country singer Jimmy Rose on America’s Got Talent singing
“Coal Keeps the Lights On”
u Coal as Heritage Brand: “a dimension of a brand’s identity found in its track record,
longevity, core values, use of symbols and particularly in an organisational belief that its
history is important” that connects workers and companies across multiple generations”
Regional Nostalgia is Taught to Children

u Field trips to the mines

u Visits by miners and fun
activities like cookie mining
in the classroom
u Scholarships