E: Reflections on the Birth of the Elvis Faith [Paperback]

John Strausbaugh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 23, 1995

Three quarters of a million people visit Graceland each year--40,000 of them during "Elvis Week," the anniversary of his death in August. Strausbaugh describes the religious fervor of Elvis followers, and places Elvism in the context of many grassroots movements away from traditional churches, and explores parallels to Elvis worship in other cultures past and present.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Strausbaugh, associate editor of New York Press and author of Alone with the President, turns his journalistic insights and pleasurable prose to the continued devotion of Elvis fans. He traces similarities between the nature, icons and lore of their posthumous "friendship" with Elvis and the early history of many other cults and religions, from UFO groups to Cuban Santeria to Christianity. He picks up from Peter Guralnick (Last Train to Memphis) and Greil Marcus (Dead Elvis) a dedication to history, biography and iconography, and adds his own research, interviews, and theorizing to show how the continued love for the King since his death can be considered a new faith. He examines the Elvis faith systematically, including chapters on Elvis Week at Graceland, Elvis's interest in religion and the occult, historical worship of other Dionysian gods, Elvis healings and Elvis impersonators as priests of the new faith, in addition to the requisite treatments of relics and biography. An entertaining and provocative read, E's only flaw is that Strausbaugh repeats a few facts. Friends of Elvis should be impressed with this respectful treatment, and pop-culture hounds of all breeds will enjoy Strausbaugh's reports of Elvist rituals, dedicated research and smart read of all Elvis and Elvis-like phenomena.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Don't laugh. Elvis Presley, whose home was visited by almost a million of the faithful last year, whose image sold one hundred million postage stamps, has transcended the constraints of mere rock'n'roll stardom to become an American icon as powerful as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Arnold Schwartzenegger. Or even...a saint? Strausbaugh (Alone with the President, LJ 1/94) seriously explores the cultic elements of Elvism: pilgrimages, shrines, sacred days, relics, and the nebulous but abiding image of Elvis, not as dead human, but as existing spiritual force. When one considers these as E does, paralleled with such grassroots religious risings as cargo cults and Virgin apparitions, a paradigm of popular religion easily takes shape. While this phenomenon may be too marginal to warrant the attention of most libraries, Strausbaugh's well-written, well-researched E certainly deserves a home on the shelves of larger music, religion, and most especially, cultural studies collections.?Bill Piekarski, Southwestern Coll. Lib., Chula Vista, Cal.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 223 pages
• Publisher: Blast Books; 1St Edition edition (October 23, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0922233152
• ISBN-13: 978-0922233151
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,556,652 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A-Uh-Huh!, April 29, 2005

By 

Laurel Jenkins-Crowe "jenkinscrowe" (Memphis, TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: E: Reflections on the Birth of the Elvis Faith (Paperback)

This examination of "Elvism" is an amazingly thorough sociological study as well as a good read. Strausbaugh's approach and conclusions may upset E-fans (the book opens with "Elvis is a....modern pagan god"), but he is not making fun of them. Impersonators, the twice-annual "pilgrimages" to Graceland, Elvis sightings, and Elvis' own life and mystical beliefs are all discussed in the context of the formation of a genuine new American religion that is, thus far, an outgrowth of Christianity. Strausbaugh believes Elvism is as legitimate a faith as religions like Santeria and Wicca, and he makes his case well. If this doesn't sound blasphemous or insulting to you, give this book a shot.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Evhohi, li'l Momma!, May 7, 2004

By 

John J. Baker (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: E: Reflections on the Birth of the Elvis Faith (Paperback)

John Strausbaugh is always a riot. In "E - Reflections on the Rebirth of the Elvis Faith," JS gives us a guided tour through the development of the devoted and protective cult (and I don't use the term in a derogatory way) that surrounds the life, image and persona of Elvis. From taking part in Elvis Week at Graceland to exploring the historic precedents of taking a mere mortal and "deifying" him, Strausbaugh explores a fascinating phenomenon. He draws comparisons between Elvis and the cults of Dionysus (the obvious comparison) and Orpheus the bard/demigod who has more in common with Elvis than Dionysus. The most fascinating comparison, however is with Antinous - a male paramour of Emperor Hadrian - whose mysterious drowning and deification inspired a grass-roots cult that long outlasted the grieving Hadiran. JS compares the more avid Elvis Impersonators with Voodoo and Santeria rites that involve the loa mounting the practicioner during the ceremony.
Only a truly humorless person would dimsiss this book. It is not a bizarre recruiting tool or a drab, colorless dissection: It is an entertaining yet half-serious romp that explores the public's tendency to immortalize or flat-out deify a celebrity. Staunch monotheists who are revolted by the concept should reflect on their errant youth and recall whether or not they had a private "shrine" in their bedroom exalting a favorite athlete ("Be Like Mike,") musician ("Clapton is God,") or actor ("The Divine Bette Midler?") If not, bene. If you did... GOTCHA! ;)

As a companion to this book, you may also want to read John Strausbaugh's "Rock 'Til You Drop." It is a merry evisceration of the altars we erect for the leather-faced rock stars who refuse to pack it in... COUGH! mickjagger COUGH! keithrichardspetetownshendjohnnyrotten COUGH! *ahem* There we are...

5.0 out of 5 stars LOVE MUSIC? LOVE ELVIS? YOU'LL LOVE THIS BOOK!, October 12, 2007

By 

Archer Blessing (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: E: Reflections on the Birth of the Elvis Faith (Paperback)

The writer, John Strausbaugh, is obviously a music (and Elvis) fan himself. He takes us far and away into the land of "E"--with humor and vivid prose--and keeps all the mythology and idolatry of the cult of Elvis intact. Seems there are a lot of people who still believe Elvis LIVES! Strausbaugh dutifully researches the cult of Elvis in the context of American popular culture. At the same time, the book gets up-close and personal, revealing the depths of Elvis the man, and the struggles of Elvis the Idol. Great read.