The Margins of Modernity: Off-Grid in the Ouachita Mountains Restricted; Files Only

Abstract

In modern times, there has been a proliferation of voluntary off-gridders, living intentionally disconnected from public utilities and employing a number of unique strategies in order to limit their reliance on public institutions. This research aims to address regional gaps in the literature, which have mostly overlooked the South-Central U.S., which has become an increasingly popular site for those deciding to move away from centralized electricity systems. This area is also deeply connected to American myths of the "Wild West," and the perception of the natural landscape as embodying certain values, such as individualism, which are central to off-grid life. Notably this work was conducted on Choctaw Nation land and the Indigenous context of the region should be recognized considering the history of land dispossession which is invariably—and in many ways paradoxically—tied to the larger themes of autonomy and independence that arose from my field site.

Fieldwork was conducted on the Oklahoma side of the Ouachita Mountains, home to one of the region’s largest off-grid populations. The work used qualitative methods that combined participant observation with semi-structured and unstructured interviews among off-grid residents and those in neighboring towns. Contrary to popular belief, these off-gridders form an incredibly diverse community, which includes a range of intersectional identities across race, gender, religion, and age. However, most also share core values largely relating to self-sufficiency, reflecting historical American ideological narratives. This suggests that off-grid living is more than just a material lifestyle, but rather a distinct cultural identity that challenges certain established institutions and mainstream paradigms of progress.

Table of Contents

Part I: An Off-Grid American Dream

Introduction: The Original Affluent Society................................................................2

Research Methods.....................................................................................................6

Towards an Anthropological Perspective of Nature.................................................10

The Institutional Context of Modern Energy............................................................17

Homesteading and Self-Reliant Material Culture.....................................................24

Part II: Living the “Good Life”

Self-Reliance and the Lost Art of Scrounging..........................................................35

Stories, Superstition, and the Folkloric American Frontier......................................43

The Road: A Catalyst for Change.............................................................................52

Conclusion: A Homesteading Retrospect................................................................61

References Cited.................................................................................................................66

About this Honors Thesis

Rights statement

• Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.

School	Emory College
Department	Anthropology
Degree	B.A.
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Anthropology, Cultural
关键词	American Individualism Decentralized Infrastructure Off-Grid Living Alternative Lifestyles Lifestyle Politics
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Kristin Phillips, Emory University
Committee Members	Peter Little, Emory University Megan Mucioki, Emory University

最新修改

Primary PDF

Thumbnail	Title	Date Uploaded	Actions
	File download under embargo until 22 May 2027	2025-04-08 20:35:27 -0400	File download under embargo until 22 May 2027

Supplemental Files

Thumbnail	Title	Date Uploaded	Actions