Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most influential stars of the 20th century, he was successful in many genres of music, is a three time Grammy award winner, as well as an accomplished actor. On top of all of that Elvis was also a soldier in the United States military, serving for two years 1958-1960 before being honorable discharged. While there is no doubt about whether Elvis was an important figure in the 20th century there is a debate going on as to whom exactly Elvis Presley was, was he just a man or was he some sort of messiah. There are certainly people who will argue that Elvis was more than just a man often ascribing divine like aspects to his life from his birth to his death. To this day Elvis Presley remains an enigmatic figure, …show more content…
more in part to his many followers who still idolize and revere long past his death. Was Elvis Presley divine or not, was he sent here by God to teach and lead us, or was he God himself the savior who came down to earth to save humanity.
All of these questions and more are debated amongst the many Elvis followers, who have went from just fans to disciples of sorts. There are two pieces of work the book chapter “Believing in Elvis: Popular Piety in Material Culture” from Practicing Religion in the Age of Media and the film Elvis and the Presleytarians, each piece highlights the many aspects of the phenomenon surrounding the figure of Elvis Presley. One thing to notice is that every year on the anniversary of his death (August 16) there is a pilgrimage of Elvis fans to the Graceland estate located in Memphis Tennessee. While there fans and mourners alike come to celebrate the life of Elvis Presley, and lament his death. Some fans will simply lay flowers at his grave, while others will come dressed as “the king” and serenade his graveside with renditions of his many musical songs. Some come to celebrate the life and music of a popular singer, others come to celebrate/mourn the passing of their chosen …show more content…
savior. The film focuses solely on the cult that has developed around the figure of Elvis Presley, some in the film argue that Elvis is not like other religious figure liked Jesus Christ, but that Elvis was a messiah of sorts. One person in the film went so far as to say that he thought that the account of Jesus Christ in the Bible was only a prophecy to describe the coming of Elvis 2000 years later, rather than an account of a historic event. Others maintain that they don’t believe that Elvis was a Jesus like figure, he was still a prophet like being, and one who was sent to earth to spread a message of goodwill throughout the world. During the film it is mentioned that something happened at Elvis’s birth, the father of Elvis recalls to someone later that after the birth of his son that he saw a flash of light. Even as something as inconsequential as a flash of light that could have been anything, (if there even was such a flash to begin with) people through the years have ascribed metaphysical elements to the fathers story and have at times just added to it. As something as ordinary as the birth of a child (not to say that childbirth isn’t miraculous in of itself) has been mythicized by certain followers of Elvis Presley years after his death. On the other hand others argue that while Elvis was an extraordinary individual he was still at the end of the day and at the end of his life just a human being. The book itself focuses more on the various cults that have formed around Elvis, as well as the various interpretations of the phenomenon surrounding Elvis Presley. One thing the book points out is that after his death Elvis Presley has been deified by some of his fans/followers and that because of that there is a religion dealing with Elvis. Furthermore the continual devotion and reverence by his followers closely resembles that of a cult. The veneration of Elvis has gone past the point of celebrity idolization and has crossed into the realm of a fully-fledged religion that offers up its own form of salvation. On the other hand the book explains that there are those that argue that the esteem that some show to Elvis is not so much religious as it is simply devotion to a music icon. So what then is a religion the book asks? Is not the ritual behavior, the pictures of him that are viewed as sacred by some, or the fanatical behavior essentially religious, would that not then make it a religion? Yes to some no to others is the answer, the term religion is such a hard term to describe that virtually anything can be describe as religious. While at the same time very few things could be considered an actual religion. The Book again points out that most Elvis fans consider him to nothing more than just a very talented singer, not divine in any way shape or form. One important thing to consider about the spirituality related to Elvis Presley is the location of his birth, life, and death, which all took place in America where the majority of the population at the time of his life was primarily Judeo-Christian believers. As such it is not surprising that Jesus like aspects have been ascribed to Elvis Presley. Some of his fans have placed divinely inspired aspects to him because they believe so strongly in him that his mortal death needs to mean something, much like other religious figures. Some of his fans/followers even look to his picture for inspiration, and have what is tantamount to a shrine in their homes dedicated to him. The book points out that some women will have these shrines dedicated to Elvis as a way to freely express themselves in a way that they would otherwise be unable to out in public, or even at church. The book goes into much more detail than the movie about certain aspects of the cult that has come to surround the enigma known to the world as Elvis Presley. The book explains about Elvis week and what that entails, mentioning the pilgrimage to Graceland by many fans, while also pointing out that some Elvis fans might be offended by the use of religious terminology. The book more so than the film points out that while there are some who believe that Elvis was more than just a man, for most fans he was simply just an extraordinary entertainer. Elvis week as the book points out, ends with a candlelight vigil that begins at the gates of Graceland, then proceeds to the Meditation Garden, and after a brief tribute at the garden, ends back outside the gates of Graceland. Many of the aspects of this candlelight vigil have religious borrowings, but that does not make it necessarily a religious event. Granted for some it is viewed as a sacred ritual that must be faithfully performed every year on the anniversary of his death, but for others it is a way to pay their respects to the man that has brought and, for some, still brings them a lot of joy. What make something a religion, which is the question that both pieces of work seem to be asking?
One thing that both pieces point out is the fanatical devotion that some fans have placed on Elvis. This devotion in spite of his death, or more likely because of his death. The film pointed out that Elvis himself would not want to be worshiped like so many seem to do today. But maybe that’s the very reason people idolize him, pointing to his humility as the very reason that he is “special.” The fact that he has been “sighted” countless times after his death, only adds to the belief by some that he is of the divine, while others maintain that he simply faked his death to retire in peace. Both reasons are unproven and unsubstantiated, but even if one could prove that Elvis was really dead (which has already been done) some would still persist to believe that he was holy; the same would hold true for any religious figure out there. Faith is not something that is entirely based in fact, but the belief that what one has faith in is real, which makes it real and true to them. The Church of Elvis which both pieces bring up is the perfect example of this, some who believe in the Elvis church argue that the belief in Elvis is no different than other faith based systems. It was interesting to see in both pieces how some members of the church are fanatical followers, while others are more realistic in their belief in
Elvis. One thing that seems to be left out or conveniently forgotten by people who seem to think that Elvis Presley was more than human is that he had his own personal demons that he could not exercise. Biography.com reports that during the last few years of his life Elvis went through a divorce from Priscilla, who received full custody of their daughter and that he “was also wrestling with other personal problems, including a growing addiction to prescription drugs; the once-thin rock star was battling a weight problem, and his destructive lifestyle caught up with him that fall, when he was hospitalized for drug-related health problems” (Biography.com 2015) On top of all that there was even speculation that he was having financial troubles, along with the fact that his long time bodyguards were fired for reason that are still debated to this day, Elvis towards the end of his life was not “the king” he used to be. While hard for some to admit Elvis had his share of problems that in the end the end cost him his life. While officially Elvis Presley was just a mortal man, who was not divine in any sort of way, people will still argue that he was something special. Both of the pieces discussed, the book chapter “Believing in Elvis: Popular Piety in Material Culture” and the film Elvis and the Presleytarians show just how fanatic and loyal his many fans can be. Both works also highlight how even in death Elvis Presley is still a popular figure, (he was inducted into four musical hall of fames after he died) but both works also showed just how different his many fans are from each other. The question of who exactly Elvis was is still being debated among his many loyal fans to this day. Whether or not you think Elvis was anything special, you can’t deny that many still consider him to be something akin to divine. But whether he was or not is purely a matter of speculation. Bibliography Biography.com. Elvis Presley Biography. 2015. http://www.biography.com/people/elvis-presley-9446466#personal-obstacles (accessed April 14, 2015). "Believing in Elvis: Popular Piety in Material Culture." In Practicing Religion in the Age of Media, by Erika Doss, 63-86. New York: Columbia University Press, 2002. Elvis and the Presleytarians. 1997.
...covered that his death was directly related to his incessant prescription drug use. Elvis Presley was buried on the Graceland property, near the grave sites of his beloved mother, Gladys, his father, Vernon, and grandmother Minnie Mae Hood Presley. Throughout his amazing career, Elvis, proved his musical dexterity. He popularized rock 'n' roll music in America. He won three Grammy Awards for his gospel recordings. He had a total of eighteen Number one hit singles, including "Don't Be Cruel," "Good Luck Charm" and "Suspicious Minds," as well as countless gold and platinum albums. He also happened to be one of the first performers inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. Then, in 1998, Presley was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Three years later, he was graciously inducted into the Gospel Music Association's Gospel Music Hall of Fame too.
The power of television is strong and inevitable. Television has the ability to draw people in and view the world through a perspective one would think unimaginable. After the second world war ended in 1945, electronic sales boomed and more families started to gather around the tv at night to view widely famous television shows. Specifically, The Ed Sullivan Show was known for its plethora of celebrities and up and coming entertainers. The shows popularity was able to take a small town artist and make he or she into an enormous success, specifically, Elvis Presley who was, “something new under the Sun” (Altschuler 30). Teenagers, however, viewed the television as an escape and a look into the unknown and intriguing world of African American culture. Through the extreme recognition of The Ed Sullivan Show, the power of mass media and the fascination with African American culture, Elvis Presley’s success skyrocketed and made him one of the most famous performers of all time whose fame became an inspiration for many.
Some people may call him “The King”, Elvis Presley is a well-known musician who stepped out of the norm and created a different kind of music. Presley combined pop, country, gospel, and black R&B to create his musical style. Presley caught everyone’s attention with his dance moves and musical talent. Elvis Presley led the way for many musicians, and has impacted the lives of many people.
All-in-all Elvis’s career was long and productive. He has sold more records then anyone else ever has. He had many gold and multi-platinum records. Starred in many movies and made a lot of television appearances. Elvis has made his imprint on the American history in many ways. He will always be remembered as “The King”. Almost everyone in the Rock And Roll industry owe their careers to Elvis Aaron Pressley.
Randy Travis fans have been looking for updates on the country star, but there hasn't been a lot coming out lately. Now Randy's fans are finally hearing how he is doing after having a stroke three years ago. Taste of Country shared that Randy Travis went to a funeral on February 3 and the country singer actually performed while he was there as well. This is said to be Randy Travis' first public appearance since he had his stroke back in July of 2013. A lot of people thought that Randy might not make it and nobody really knew if he would ever perform again.
There is no doubt that Elvis Presley’s impact on American society has revolutionized the world of music and movies, which eventually earned him the name . From truck driver to Rock and Roll icon, Presley’s charismatic attitude and dance moves became forever remembered in American history. His record-breaking career set a higher bar to many more musicians. Talented in both vocals and acting, his image alone speaks for its self.
Over 40,000,000 viewers tuned in to hear his R&B meets rock and roll song with his hip thrusts and pelvis shakes and the people lost it. You were either with him or against him, the teenage girls went wild over his moves while the church and elders thought he was everything they feared of the future, sexual, wild and rebellious. In the world facing such bigger issues with the cold war going on and the rise of communism it was easy to listen to Presley’s happy-go-lucky rock music and find an escape from the harsh realities of the world. It goes along with the normalcy bias that society ignores bigger issues in light that they rather not accept the fact that it is happening and deal with
Elvis Presley was a successful singer and his singing won him many awards in his lifetime. His talent and kindness also earned him millions of fans and he is one of the most important figures of the 20th century in popular culture. When he died, it was tragic for everyone who loved him and his talent for writing music. Even though there are reasons to believe that he is dead, I believe that Elvis Presley is still alive because there is evidence that proves it.
I have listened to country music since I was a little, as did my husband. For him, it's a reminder of a simpler time, helping his father farm, plowing fields into the night. For me, it's a reminiscence of sunning myself in my backyard over summer vacation. The twangy sounds of the guitars and the fiddles always seemed to make me feel at home. For me, country music is a way of life, therefore the reasons I will use in an attempt to persuade you that country music is better than other music include its deep history in America, the quality and content of the music and its relatability.
Many of us have a dream in life to be remembered by all for something great. It’s a lofty goal that only few have, or ever will achieve. Elvis Presley was one of the few people in our American history that achieved this status. Known as “The King of Rock and Roll”, his achievements have influenced our country like none of its precedents. This paper will explain Elvis Presley’s life, his death, and his profound influence after life.
Is Johnny Cash immortal? We can answer this question by saying that Johnny Cash is immortal indeed. However, this is depends on his performance and people who mimic his performance. Johnny Cash made himself a legendary by beliving in himself first and by practicing what he love until he became what he dreamed to be. Johnny Cash, in my opinion, is the greatest country performer in the United States because no one until today can sing like him or write like his amazing songs. He was unique and skillful. He was born on February 26, 1932, in Kingsland, Arkansas. He passed away on September 12, 2003. He used to wear black because he liked
I think classic rock is the best because it is true classic music. It is what started all rock of today. Classic rock is better than most rock days because it sounded way better back when the classic rock bands were popular. Today the “classic rock” is not as good as it was. Bands like Nirvana, The Beach Boys, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Queen, Pink Floyd, etc, are the bands that started it all.
...f fans worldwide mourned over his death, as record sales increased dramatically. New generations of fans began to like his music, even years after his death. Lennon was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame during 1987, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 (John Lennon Biography).
Rodman, Gilbert B. Elvis after Elvis: The Posthumous Career of a Living Legend. London: Routledge, 1996. Print.
Elvis Presley was a well-known man and loved by many people. Based on http://www.brainpickings.org/2013/04/11/elvis-presley-teens-consumer-culture/Elvis Just like Muddy Waters, Presley timing was perfect as well. He came into and era (1950s) where the devastations of the great depression and world wars were over. People were now starting to have some freedom and enjoy the thing they loved which was listening to music and living life to the fullest. The social change that the 50s brought reflected music significantly, and Elvis Presley arose.. Kids were now starting to rebel against their parents and they had a lot of extra money to spend on records because of prosperity. During the Wars, money was limited and kids and adults had to work extra hard and save for survival purposes, but once the war-ended money could be used for pleasure reasons rather than just for survival. In addition, in the 50s our country had it’s own war, and I’m not talking about the World Wars, but yet human inequality. The civil rights movement was one of the biggest social changes in history and was a time where a lot of great artist prevailed and made songs on the issue. Elvis Presley showed just how social changes could influence or reflect the history of rock “n” roll. Presley started a culture, his hairstyle, the way he dressed all became part of the youth around the country. As I said our country was fighting its own war with segregation, Elvis music help bring people together. His music not on appealed white crowds, but black crowds listened to him as well. He brought people together through music, and proved to the world that he could be successful. He was one of the artist that mastered crossover, bringing every color to liking his music. Based on Larson fourth edition pg 38, it says that his record sales boomed, and then rock “n”