Southern Studies

Faulkner in the sunshine- working hard or hardly working?

Over the past couple of years, we’ve seen an increase in marketing research work focused on constituencies in the south. This work has not just focused in the area in which we’re based (the Research Triangle of North Carolina – Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill) or in Atlanta, but all over the south.  Some have been targeted to populations of certain southern states; some target hand-picked Southern DMAs; and some studies have focused on select counties or parishes in certain southern states. And this work is not just coming from clients who are based in the South.

I don’t think it’s a sign of major economic or social turnaround for the region, but it is interesting to see populations within the south considered as representative on a national scale. Marketers are not just looking to middle America for feedback before moving forward with strategic initiatives – there is an increased regional focus. There is also increased focus on the Northwest and the Southwest as regions, and we’re working there too. But the exploration of Southern lifestyles and opinions sparks a particular interest for me.

I’m familiar with the concept of the “New South,” but I’m not sure I completely buy it.  I do like some books, blogs, and other media sources that have considered this perspective among their approaches to thinking about modern southern culture. Ideas around southern intellectualism and economic rebirth have been evolving (if slowly) for years, but my attention was drawn by peers who found a sort of self-image support in Richard Florida’s inclusion of southern cities in his writings on the “Creative Class.” I have a mixed opinions on Florida’s work, and I think the concepts he framed in an urban development context have mostly been misapplied to other contexts as they spread virally, but that’s another post – maybe for a rainy day.

For now, and for the past year or two, I’ve been generally seeking new and engaging sources of information and learning about modern southern life.  Here are a couple of resources that I’ve found that regularly contribute to these topics:

Oxford American -  Southern-focused writing, commentary, and culture. The only magazine I can read front to back. Even some of the ads interest me.

Facing South -  A political, economic, and social blog run by the Institute for Southern Studies. Sometimes gets me down, but sometimes gets me motivated.  They’re doing a great job of presenting diverse subjects and perspectives.

Southern Spaces -  “An interdisciplinary journal about the regions, places, and cultures of the American South” – but not totally dense and academic

Endangered Durham -  A blog on urban re-development – despite the local focus, these issues prevail in many southern cities

The Independent Weekly (local) and Creative Loafing (Atlanta and elsewhere) for occasional, usually lighter content on these topics

I’m still looking for a good, sharp, regularly updated blog or publication on southern business. I haven’t been happy with what I’ve seen so far – any suggestions?

I’ve also always been frustrated with the web presence of organizations focused on or based in New Orleans. For anything really, but especially for exploration of culture, social issues, opportunities to volunteer or get involved, etc. There seem to be lots of little sites that aren’t quite on their toes, and sites that are way outdated, but if anyone has any suggestions, please send them along.