Images of Elvis Presley in American Culture, 1977-1997: The Mystery Terrain [Paperback]

Frank Hoffmann (Author), George Plasketes (Author), Beulah B Ramirez (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 8, 1997

Was Al Gore only half-kidding at the 1992 Democratic Convention when he compared Bill Clinton to “the King?” Why does Elvis's name and image still pop up in so many movies, television shows, and songs? From black velvet paintings, comic books, and postage stamps to impersonators, movie characters, and sports stars, Images of Elvis Presley in American Culture, 1977--1997 provides a surprisingly broad vista from which to view American popular culture. An insightful exploration of America's overwhelming and enduring cultural fascination with the expanding and elusive Elvis myth, this book combines historical, textual, and sociocultural analysis with a wide range of resource materials to examine the many images of Elvis in American culture.

Focusing on the period following his death in 1977 up to the present, Elvis Presley in American Culture, 1977--1997 informs and entertains popular readers and academicians in American studies, popular culture, radio/television/film, sociology, music, and 20th-century American history. Elvis fans (“Elfans”) and collectors of Elvis Presley materials and memorabilia also need to add this perspective-enhancing book to your personal libraries. Author George Plasketes shows us how representations, reflections, responses, and references to Elvis in art, artifacts, film, video, television, music, performance, literature, memorabilia, and alleged sightings, continue to make American culture a “mystery terrain” of endless “Elvistas.” The repetition of these images is a link to our cultural identity. Elvis Presley in American Culture, 1977--1997 provides the necessary critical analysis and the resource guide to the various representations of Elvis during the past 20 years, to give readers an engaging and informative way to pursue and interpret the expansive and ever-evolving Elvis myth and its importance to American popular culture.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

What could be left to say about Elvis? Well, consider, as Plasketes does, this question: Does the New England Patriot football emblem resemble the King? If so, is it intentional? E-worship is by now an accepted fact of American culture, but just how ubiquitous E-iconography has become is this entertaining study's subject. Comprehensive, well documented, possessed of a fine bibliography and filmography-videography, the book is a pleasure for fan and critic alike. Presleyphiles will revel in it, of course, and Presleyphobes (e.g., Spike Lee, whom Plasketes cites for whining, "I wish [Elvis had] never died . . . so I wouldn't have to hear about him every single day") will derive perverse pleasure as Plasketes helps legitimate their worst fears. A special treat needs mention: the discography, composed of songs about Elvis, from Adrenalin A. O. D.'s "Velvet Elvis" to Frank Zappa's "Elvis Has Just Left the Building." Elvis-intensive collections, take this hunka-hunka burnin' read. Mike Tribby --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 334 pages
• Publisher: Routledge (July 8, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560238615
• ISBN-13: 978-1560238614
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,377,147 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for anyone interested the Elvis phenomenon., August 3, 1999

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Film Studies Teacher - See all my reviews

This review is from: Images of Elvis Presley in American Culture, 1977-1997: The Mystery Terrain (Paperback)

Popular Culture writer George Plasketes lays tracks through "the mystery terrain" of American culture since Elvis began his second career in 1977. This book is a must read for Elfans and Presley-phobes, as well as those with earnest interest or casual curiosity. Whether you think Elvis is king or kitsch or you are just wondering why E.P. has dominated the cultural landscape of the late 20th Century this book is for you. Cultural scholars and students will find the comprehensive bibliography, discography and filmography/videography priceless.