ruralcore: proof that rural people are intelligent, complex, and knowledgeable.
Whereas early iterations of student-supported rural literary magazines might denote “plain living,” ruralcore reveals the complexities and challenges of mainstream narratives of rural people and places. Rural is anything but plain.
Rural is complex; it’s hardcore, actually. Rural is an entire culture.
Dear readers,
While studying rural English education for my PhD, I worked with rural high school students across diverse parts of the US. My middle and high school students were excellent writers, but many of them, especially those who were affiliated with the rural culture, experienced low confidence in their writing. I found, in my formal research studies, this was mostly the case in other rural high schools in the U.S. Despite how they felt about writing, their writing maintained one consistency: it was so. good. And it seemed to follow common themes of outdoor activities and great stories of resilience.
I am certainly not a knowledge expert when it comes to rural culture. I grew up in a rural small town setting but lived in a subdivision. I have very little idea what it’s like to work on a farm. The deep cultural knowledge my students had and would express through their writing – this magazine is one way to celebrate that. It became apparent these students had multiple, complex literacies that were rooted in rural life. Therefore, this magazine is a display of their rural knowledge sets and connections to place. Its purpose is to celebrate rural culture through both visual art and written words. It serves as proof that rural people are both intelligent and knowledgeable.
I am so happy you found us. Feel free to explore our website, submit rural content, or simply say hello.
Very best, Dr. Layne Ilderton