The book examines the roles Protestant affective norms played the commercial development of the American country music industry. From the 1925 birth of the Grand Ole Opry and Ralph
Peer's 1927 "discovery" of Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family in Bristol, country music emerged from the "hillbilly" culture of the Cumberland Gap
and gained nationwide credibility through efforts by promoters to combat concerns of emotive and sonic disorder and recklessness. They presented their performers, programs, and songs as
utterly congruous with what they imagined to be a cultural standard of inoffensive religious feeling, sourced from and complicit in Protestant values. In Rodgers and the Carters, subsequent
industry players embraced an affective discourse centered on the mortal threats of sin and the positive feelings associated transcendence. The mastery of this discourse contributed directly
to the industrial standardization of country music's norms. Throughout the Depression and Postwar eras, producers and songwriters adopted a language of "good-naturedness,"
shorthand for a religious predisposition toward depression and its cessation, in a bid to sell records and increase exposure. This emergent para-Protestant affective-industrial complex
contributed directly to country music's habitation in Nashville, now known worldwide both for Protestant governance and country music culture. It framed the successes of crossover stars like
Roy Acuff and Claude Ely while complicating the careers of legends like Hank Williams. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum demonstrates the ways this affective discourse continues to
influence the memory and business of American country music. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Religion in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Fall Semester, 2014. / July 25, 2014. / American Religion, Religion & Media / Includes bibliographical references. / John Corrigan, Professor Directing Dissertation; David Kirby, University Representative; Amanda Porterfield, Committee Member; Michael McVicar, Committee
Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_253416 |
| Contributors | Ware, Adam (authoraut), Corrigan, John, 1952- (professor directing dissertation), Kirby, David, 1944- (university representative), Porterfield, Amanda, 1947 (committee member), McVicar, Michael J. (committee member), Florida State University (degree granting institution), College of Arts and Sciences (degree granting college), Department of Religion (degree granting department) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource (241 pages), computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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