Supplemental Post #4 - Megan Henckel

Ever since our last class, I’ve been constantly thinking about Elvis Presley and his unique legacy that has reverberated throughout popular culture for decades. I have always been fascinated by the Elvis phenomenon, and particularly in that he has seemed to transcend the celebrity of even the most beloved stars of today. See I’ve always been an old soul and from a from a young age I loved rock and roll, the 50’s and in particular, Elvis Presley. There was always something so enigmatic about him, the funky music, the guitar, the quintessentially Elvis mannerisms (i.e the lip or the pelvis). My grandmother grew up in the 1950’s and was a true Elvis fanatic, definitely one of those people that would faint or be brought to tears at the mere sight of the man. The way she told her stories was always so fascinating because she talked as if she knew him on the most intimate level, despite the fact that she had never met him. Her story is similar to that of many teens that grew up in the 1950’s that experienced the Elvis phenomenon first hand: there was something different and amazing about him, he was awe inspiring.

My own interest in “The King”, still ever growing, was even further fueled when I took a class on the rock and roll musical a few semesters ago here at USC. A portion of the class was focused on Elvis and the way he changed throughout his career, but more importantly on audience reception of him during his fairly short career. The audience reception of him, from the minute he started swinging his hips on stage, was enamored and actually taken aback. People had never seen a musician speak, sing, or move like he did and, in addition, his music style was unlike pretty much any mainstream artist of the time. Overall, he was revolutionary and the world began to notice that the minute millions of teenagers were screaming their heads off at his concerts. He was widely accepted for many reasons, his relatability, his southern charm, his seductive singing, but the thing that still gets me is how he has seemed to solidify his place within pop culture in ways that we still see today. The way his star persona, and his image, have impacted entertainment is crazy when you really examine all the ways in which he is still referenced, played, and shown today. From Uncle Jesse in Full House to the characters in Lilo & Stitch, to modern day musicians such as Ed Sheeran and Bruno Mars, there have been tons of references to Elvis and spaces where his influence can be seen. In my opinion, I think a significant reason he has transcended time is because of his fans. Without such a powerful fan base during his career, his music and movies would have never been cemented in entertainment nor would they be considered revolutionary for rock and roll. The reaction of the audience to his work elevates it to a level that most entertainers can’t ever reach. To me, it is remarkable that through the audience Elvis has continued to live on, so much so that you can still say Elvis Presley and everyone knows exactly who, and what, you are talking about.

And for a bit of fun, here is a picture of me as a 10 year old when I decided to dress up as Elvis for a living room performance of Hound Dog… you’re welcome. ;)