10/14/2008

Christopher Stapel Produces and Directs Feature-Length Documentary on Appalachia

Christopher Stapel, a PhD student in UK's Department of Sociology, is the producer and co-director of the recently-released independent feature-length documentary Appalachia in the Academy: The Making of Eastern Kentucky Scholars.  Directed by Faroukh Virani, the film profiles three Appalachian students during their the first year at the University of Kentucky where they face unique challenges and, ultimately, successes. The documentary shares their histories, expectations, goals, and fears and explores issues of education, family, community, religion and sexuality.  The film was funded by KET Fund for Independent Production.

Stapel, a native of Toulon, Illinois, conducts research at the intersection of rural sociology, the sociology of education and the sociology of sexualities.  His dissertation investigates the educational and residential aspirations of rural sexual minority young people.