Moonlight and magnolias, confederates, and klansmen: a study of the representation of the South in Harper's Weekly, Godey's Lady's Book, and the Saturday Evening Post from 1857 to 1870

This thesis examines the representations of the South and the southern people in northern based magazines Harpers Weekly, Godeys Ladys Book, and Saturday Evening Post from 1857 to 1870. Two hundred thirty-seven articles from all three publications as well as seventy-eight illustrations from Harpers Weekly were examined to find common themes and representations of the South. The representations of the South were analyzed using the theoretical perspective of internal orientalism. This study found that the representations of the South changed during the Civil War era. In addition, the representations of the South revolved around political issues, namely slavery and secession. The study found that during the years of 1857 to 1870 the South was represented as the other and these representations were an example of internal orientalism.