Elvis Presley: American Icon
Elvis has become an important part of the mythology of America. Unlike the many passing American Idols that are worshiped for a time by fans, Elvis is a deeper part of our culture. Elvis has become an American Icon, with deep-rooted "cultural significance that goes beyond any particular qualities he... might have." (Maasik & Solomon) Elvis is more than a household name, he is actually an archetype of the American dream, a physical incarnation of the values, hopes, and dreams of American itself. "Presley is the 'living proof that America is the land of opportunity' since he rose from truck driver to prominent entertainer almost overnight." (Guralnick) Elvis Presley was more than a rock and roll star, because despite his rebel-image, he was truly a figure that could be looked up to by American youth. The message he presented in his music of freedom and the right to be one's own self completely, combined with the fact that he actually took a great deal of time out of his schedule to talk about problems with young people and actually treat his young and old fans equally. "His long hair and unusual apparel were merely tools of his trade and awarded him access to and rapport with many people particularly on college campuses wh
Elvis also made his career memorable through television and movie appearances. His appearances on shows like The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show and The Milton Berle Show furthered his popularity. What truly transformed him into a household name was his appearance on the Ed Sullivan show, where as many as 60 million people watched him perform. What made him so impressive on television was his outright sexuality and the fact that he was "having fun with the genre suggested... the very sense of freedom that had animated all of Elvis' best music." (Guralnick) Elvis also starred in a number of movies, from documentaries to Hollywood films. He went on to star in 31 motion pictures, including Love me Tender, Jailhouse Rock, and Viva Las Vegas. While some of these movies helped further his career, some of them were not very good. In one movie, "the score was almost embarrassingly bad and the surliness that Elvis was called upon to exhibit, like the music, was clearly more synthetic than felt." (Guralnick) After he realized music set him free, Elvis began his journey into rock and roll. ""Elvis defined himself to himself as someone who sang. He carried his guitar everywhere, taking care to keep it out of the rain." (Keogh) He made his first recording in 1953, and his first single was released in 1954, which was a cover of a country song. Even when he was unknown, audiences reacted positively to his performances, so show promoters took a chance and let him perform weekly.
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1002
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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