Shelby Lee Adams’ photography work in Appalachian Legacy raises numerous questions from critics about his true intent of the project. As an audience are we to look at the images as a document of history, as a way of life, as a social problem? Or do the images just reinforce ‘hillbilly sterotypes of them thar mountain people‘. Having grown up in the Appalachians the photographer remains adamant that his intent was to simply take photos of the people who live there. The contrived compositions speak more than 1000 words and forces viewers to conclude their own meanings – whether a fall back on stereotypical notions or a push toward new understandings.

• BROWSE / IN TIMELINE
• « Don’t Look Back (1967)
• » Salesman (1968)

• BROWSE / IN Photography
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