True disbelievers : the Elvis contagion / R. Serge Denisoff, George Plasketes.
| Author/creator | Denisoff, R. Serge |
| Other author | Plasketes, George. |
| Format | Book |
| Publication Info | New Brunswick, N.J. : Transaction Publishers, ©1995. |
| Description | xii, 307 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm |
| Subjects |
| Contents | The Elvis underground network: true believers or voices in the wilderness? -- Memphis: rock's Watergate -- The creation of Orion: Kurosawa's Rashomon once again -- 'I'm caught in a trap': Jimmy Ellis, Orion -- 1981: the false prophets of Florida -- The devil is in the details -- 'They seek him here, they seek him there': the sightings furor -- Fans, fanatics, and fanzines -- Television and the disbelievers -- The false prophets? |
| Abstract | The legion of fans who refuse to believe that Elvis Presley died August 16, 1977 has been a major force behind the ever-expanding, elusive, and enduring Elvis myth during the past seventeen years. This network of fervent true believers engages in activities that include a melange of sightings and conspiracy theories. Mass media coverage of these phenomena has evolved from the underground grass-roots level to widespread publicity with social, religious, commercial, and ideological underpinnings. This book examines the implications of various accounts and several perspectives on Elvis Presley's death and transfiguration. The authors analyze the various media that those who doubt Elvis's death use to popularize their positions, including television, magazines, and books. They review the work of others who have written on the subject, such as Gail Brewer-Giorgio and Major Bill Smith, and raise provocative, yet valid questions about the phenomenon they describe. This book takes a pointed look at the music industry as well, and how it has used and commercially benefitted by the continuing belief that Elvis lives. They examine common strands in the many reports of Elvis sightings since Presley's reported death. The authors describe the Elvis phenomenon in serious, objective as well as empathetic terms, placing it in the context of studies of cult figures and their followers. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (pages 287-300) and index. |
| LCCN | 94039013 |
| ISBN | 1560001860 |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music | Closed Stacks - Ask at Circulation Desk | ML420.P96 D46 1995 | ✔ Available | Place Hold |