Living Coal

This thesis concerns the multigenerational Jarrell family located in Van, West Virginia, and their relationship with coal mining. I set out to find what life is like living in a monoeconomy of coal, and discovered a family so strongly connected to this disappearing industry. This project adds to social documentary traditions, by combining various medias to tell one family's story. The final product is presented in a short documentary, including video, audio, and photographs, as well as a community engagement component, which expands the scope beyond the Jarrells to create discourse among the youth in Van. This is a significant undertaking because it shows a part of our world that is often omitted from mainstream media; what happens to people when the big industry that they once thrived on, diminishes.

Author

• Schneiderman, Lauren Morgan

Language

• en

Keyword

• unemployment
• coal mining
• industry
• family
• coal
• rural

Date created

• 2013

Type of Work

• Master's Thesis

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• New Media Photojournalism

Degree

• M.A.

Advisor

• Sterner, Susan

Committee Member(s)

• Bulisova, Gabriela
• Beasley, Toren
• Elfers, Steve
• Hatch, Josh
• Turner, Tyrone

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/cj82k737m