pic: The Fighting Rednecks

[ebarker]

The thread is getting terminated before I got a chance to toot my horn but I'm gonna toot anyway.

To be very blunt, I don't like this particular image, name, or characterization. The image alone is loaded with strong negative stereotypes before the verbage is even added.

This is from someone with a lot of experience dealing with the types associated the image. And I am from a long family line of agrarian types that are not associated with r'necks.

Having said all of that I would like to suggest an alternative that could be very positive yet retain where you may be trying to go.

There is a culturally iconic painting that has reached the cultural status of DaVinci's Mona Lisa and is continuing to have a long reaching effect on American Art and Culture.

It is called 'American Gothic'. It is a "a depiction of steadfast American pioneer spirit" as represented by sturdy American farmers.

Think about it and maybe you can find some good ideas. Start by looking at the variations on the painting.

the original

a version

more interesting versions

just go to images.google.com and search on "american gothic"

good luck