Research Paper

[madschad]

Hi everyone. I have to start thinking about my research project for my English class. It has to be 5-7 pages long. I would really like to do it on Elvis but am unsure of how I would do so. I could say something like "Elvis Presley is the most influential musician..." and then support it with 3 major points. Does anyone have any other ideas?

The reason I'd like to do it on Elvis is because it would keep me interested. I did my last 2 papers on medicinal marijuana and organ donation. This would be something different and since the class is focused on the arts, it would be relevant.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

[Cryogenic]

You could look at Elvis from a sociological perspective, and not just a musical one. Remember: he was born in the south in the middle of the Great Depression. This shaped his personality for life. It also caused many people to look down their noses at him. Why was Elvis reluctant to play New York? Because it was a big city, and not just any big city, but *the* big city. Elvis had previously stuck to touring the south of America. His hometurf. But why the big fright over the big city? I think it speaks to the North/South divide in America that began with the Civil War and still endures to this day. It's a topic that doesn't get much coverage and I think it would be fertile ground to build an essay out of. Remember, also: Elvis sang "An American Trilogy" which celebrates/commemorates the involvement of every side (North, South, slaves) in the Civil War. But it begins with: "Oh, I wish I was/In the land of cotton". So Elvis was affirming his love for the south even as he sang it. Something else: Albert Goldman came from New York. And, if you know anything about Goldman's writing, you'll know it's extremely racist towards the south more than anything else. Why do many intellectuals continue to slam Elvis today? Why are people from the south often parodied and ridiculed in the mass media? Could it all be something to do with that North/South divide? There is an unspoken prejudice that lingers still.

Anyway: that's my idea from me to you. There are many paths to take when writing about Elvis.

[ForeverTheKing]

Elvis can be analized from many poits of view...musical, social and others.

Your idea Cryogenic is very very good...I don't know exactly the actual situation about North and South in USA but I think it's still the same here where I live.
I agree...Elvis loved the South and never avoided it and you can see this not only in his music and songs but also in the fact he lived the whole life in Memphis.
Another prospective can be Elvis' influence in music or look nowadays so that you can compare Elvis to the new generations of musician and discovered how he was fundamental in music and style.
Or you can talk about Elvis from another point of view...he was one of the firsts to be really interested at that time in black music...he broke many barriers and he had to face many obstacles and to stand criticisim of adult world that compared him , with contempt, to black people.

[madschad]

Thank you Cryogenic and ForeverTheKing. I appreciate both of your ideas!

[MauriceColgan]

A word of caution. Snobs by definition are stupid people.
Why should Elvis fans care what stupid people think of him and his music?

The University Of Mississippi snobs were against having the "International Conference on Elvis Presley" at the University in Oxford Mississippi. They eventually had it stopped after Elvis scholar Dr Vernon Chadwick put up a valiant fight to have it become an annual event. Remember that was in a Southern state where Elvis was actually born!

The great Ludwig Van Beethoven refused to doff his cap to a passing Prince, because as he said, "There are thousands of Princes, but only one Beethoven!". The programme to the first Conference. Two more followed in the University in Oxford Mississippi.

[Cryogenic]

Thank you Cryogenic and ForeverTheKing. I appreciate both of your ideas!

Happy to help!

A word of caution. Snobs by definition are stupid people.
Why should Elvis fans care what stupid people think of him and his music?

We shouldn't necessarily care "what" stupid people think of Elvis and his music, but I think we should care "why" they think it. Snobbery is a real phenomenom and is worth investigation.

The University Of Mississippi snobs were against having the "International Conference on Elvis Presley" at the University in Oxford Mississippi. They eventually had it stopped after Elvis scholar Dr Vernon Chadwick put up a valiant fight to have it become an annual event. Remember that was in a Southern state where Elvis was actually born!

That's interesting.

It reminds me of something written here: http://www.ulmus.net/library/articlespage.cfm?ID=52

After I chaired a symposium on Elvis Presley at the 1981 convention of the American Psychological Association, a distinguished personality psychologist collared me in the hotel lobby to indulge in some friendly jeering. “So now you’ve decided that instead of studying the psychology of great men,” he said, “you’re going to study the psychology of common men!” Well, sure, Elvis was common. But when common men or women raise themselves to the level of genius, they are surely worth study, whether they become geniuses of mass culture or of high refinement.

The great Ludwig Van Beethoven refused to doff his cap to a passing Prince, because as he said, "There are thousands of Princes, but only one Beethoven!".

Ah!

That, in turn, reminds me of something that Mozart allegedly said to an impudent nobleman. When the nobleman confronted him over his latest piece and said there were too many notes and that he should remove some, Mozart responded: "Which notes did you have in mind?"

[MauriceColgan]

Cryogenic, I'm afraid you have some catching up to do. I was dealing with snobs who looked down on Elvis and Rock 'N' Roll back in 1956:-) They are easy to understand............most of them are pretty shallow. My brother in law was a Modern Jazz fan and a fine musician we grew up together exchanging fire over decades.

The info on the link you provided I read years ago. There are quite a few academic essays on Elvis when you search for them on google.com

Seeing as you mention Mozart. Our daughter played a Mozart piano Concerto backed by an orchestra when she was just 9 years old. She went on to the Royal Acadamy of Music in London via a school for musically gifted children. So we know a little about music and snobs, first hand



Vernon Chadwick of the Elvis Conference is a very nice guy. He drove us around Mississippi and Tennessee back in 1999. It was while he was studying at Oxford and on the Continent when he, a Mississippian, "Discovered" Elvis!

His father was the vet at the Mississippi Alabama fair in Tupelo 1956!

The book "In Search of Elvis" by Vernon contains many Essays on Elvis by Academics and fans alike. Including Ernst Jorgensen and my good friend Ger Riff. I was an Elvis fan before both of them. Following their progress in the Elvis World over the decades has been fascinating.

Dr Vernon Chadwick actually deals with the snobbery against the South and Elvis in his inroduction. And the Southern snobbery against his Conference - the most widely covered conference on record generating more than 400 newspaper, magazine etc articles.

[diamond]

You could look at Elvis from a sociological perspective, and not just a musical one. Remember: he was born in the south in the middle of the Great Depression. This shaped his personality for life. It also caused many people to look down their noses at him. Why was Elvis reluctant to play New York? Because it was a big city, and not just any big city, but *the* big city. Elvis had previously stuck to touring the south of America. His hometurf. But why the big fright over the big city? I think it speaks to the North/South divide in America that began with the Civil War and still endures to this day. It's a topic that doesn't get much coverage and I think it would be fertile ground to build an essay out of. Remember, also: Elvis sang "An American Trilogy" which celebrates/commemorates the involvement of every side (North, South, slaves) in the Civil War. But it begins with: "Oh, I wish I was/In the land of cotton". So Elvis was affirming his love for the south even as he sang it. Something else: Albert Goldman came from New York. And, if you know anything about Goldman's writing, you'll know it's extremely racist towards the south more than anything else. Why do many intellectuals continue to slam Elvis today? Why are people from the south often parodied and ridiculed in the mass media? Could it all be something to do with that North/South divide? There is an unspoken prejudice that lingers still.

Anyway: that's my idea from me to you. There are many paths to take when writing about Elvis.

Can I just say how refreshing it is to read an articulate post from an Elvis fan on a forum. Good on you and if this person takes your advice I could easily see him getting an '' A''

[Cryogenic]

Maurice, thanks for the book recommendation.

Dr Vernon Chadwick actually deals with the snobbery against the South and Elvis in his inroduction. And the Southern snobbery against his Conference - the most widely covered conference on record generating more than 400 newspaper, magazine etc articles.

I have highlighted those two phrases because they show that snobbery is truly universal. We all experience life a little differently and develop our own biases and prejudices. While snobbery itself is shallow, snobs are not, because snobs are everywhere. We are all snobs in our own way. There is nothing more disappointing than encountering snobbery, but it is unavoidable. Countering ignorance and educating ourselves is the single most important human concern there is. I'm completely with you on how frustrating snobbery is, and how vital it is that it be challenged, but it's not a black and white issue. I can't think of anything that is.

Can I just say how refreshing it is to read an articulate post from an Elvis fan on a forum. Good on you and if this person takes your advice I could easily see him getting an '' A''

Can you just say? I think you just said it.

Many thanks, diamond. You're living up to your name! I actually thought my post was a little rambling and was unhappy with it, but it seems to have had an impact, so I guess that's all that matters. There are some articulate fellows here that easily put me to shame. Check out posts by Leroy and lonniebealestreet. There are others, too. All my best.

[MauriceColgan]

Cryogenic, I see it as a black and white issue. I have never encountered a really intelligent snob.

They also appear to be quite scarce in serious Literature and when they are discovered they are usually ridiculed by the really intelligent authors. Rightly so.

But back to madschad. Elvis's place in modern culture is unassailable therefore you can indeed write about his extraordinary impact on popular music. Just spend a little time (Others have:-) researching the subject. It is no secret

A more indepth study may take a decade..... or two..or three

Knowledge of the Southern and New york culture does help a little. Our snobs live mainly in the Southside of Dublin. We live in the Northside and some of our neighbours are snobs...but I was born in the Southside... I digress..

(Who said, as usual!)

[Cryogenic]

Yeah.

It's amazing, isn't it? Any time humans put a name to something, they've immediately ring-fenced it off, from a certain point of view, and the division begins. I am reading the autobiography of Lenny McLean right now (thief, bareknuckle boxer, bouncer, actor). He was born in the East End of London in the mid 20th century. And boy, was that a harsh place to be! But he notes that even then, people were extremely territorial, and crossing from one small community into another meant trouble. It wasn't "tightly knit" at all -- only within each little postcode!

ANYWAY...

Another area that madschad may want to look into is, quite simply, EP's voice. There was a plethora of great quotations listed on wikipedia about his vocal abilities, but they seem to have disappeared! That's a shame, as they were quite extensive, culled from a number of sources, and really painted a vivid picture. Of course, if you'll pardon the pun, then the voice speaks for itself, but it doesn't hurt to emphasise that and spread the word through the word.

EDIT: My bad. Those quotations are still there. I was just looking in the wrong place. Elvis -- quite rightly -- has a separate entry for things said by him or about him. Here it is. This link takes you to the relevant set of quotations, but you may want to read the entire page, too: http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Elvis_P..._musical_style

[MauriceColgan]

I'm reading "The Chief" the life of William Randolph Hearst, by David Nasaw.

He bought dozens of newspapers, and snobs:-) and the Warwick Hotel in New York where Elvis stayed in 1956.

The following was printed in an Elvis Monthly years ago by an Australian Elvis fan. I have the page................. somewhere.

[Cryogenic]

I'm reading "The Chief" the life of William Randolph Hearst, by David Nasaw.

He bought dozens of newspapers, and snobs:-) and the Warwick Hotel in New York where Elvis stayed in 1956.

Not read that, but it's a small world, isn't it? Elvis connections are everywhere.

Anyway... thanks for that extract (complete with original typo!). Both of those quotations, and many more, are in the wikipedia entry. I might have to try and obtain a copy of "The Great American Singers".

[MauriceColgan]

I had the pleasure of reading that page out live on the Judi Paparelli American radio show a few years ago.....Millions of listeners heard it....with the mistake

The pleasants book is hard to find...I'm looking too.

Because of the photo of Elvis entering the Warwick Hotel, and his radio interview, we had dinner there in 2001..........in the Randolph Room no less. I believe you can stay in the very room Elvis stayed in ..... a bit too pricey for us!
It's on 54st New York.

Another viewpoint on Elvis's voice by the literary correspondent of The Irish Times newspaper, Eleen Battersby.

[Cryogenic]

You're very well travelled, Maurice. I aint even been to Graceland -- yet.

Nice scan! Now THAT's one that wikipedia doesn't cite. Not that it would, since it's not as significant as the others, but it was an enjoyable read. Thanks. In her first two paragraphs, that author sounds just like me. Good to know there are some other weirdos out there! It's great that she fell in love with Elvis' voice. That's the power of it, once again. Yet I can't help wondering if she'll ever hear some of the more obscure tracks like "Suppose", "Indescribably Blue", "Tomorrow Is A Long Time", "They Remind Me Too Much Of You", "I Need Somebody To Lean On" and "Doin' The Best I Can" -- THEN what would she think? Obviously, she listened to some Class A material, but what about all that stuff she might still not know about? The mind boggles.

[madschad]

you all have me very excited to start this paper thank you

[diamond]

you all have me very excited to start this paper thank you

Good, I am glad you are fired up...........would be great if you let us know how it goes............best of luck

[diamond]

Can you just say? I think you just said it.

Many thanks, diamond. You're living up to your name! I actually thought my post was a little rambling and was unhappy with it, but it seems to have had an impact, so I guess that's all that matters. There are some articulate fellows here that easily put me to shame. Check out posts by Leroy and lonniebealestreet. There are others, too. All my best.


Thank you kind Sir

I always give credit where credit is due

[MauriceColgan]

Cryogenic, not THAT well travelled...just three countries. We won our first trip to Memphis 1997 on an Irish radio show.

There you go madschad, you are on your way. Looking forward to reading your piece.

http://irelandtoo.blogspot.com

[Menwithbrokenhearts]

Hi everyone. I have to start thinking about my research project for my English class. It has to be 5-7 pages long. I would really like to do it on Elvis but am unsure of how I would do so. I could say something like "Elvis Presley is the most influential musician..." and then support it with 3 major points. Does anyone have any other ideas?

The reason I'd like to do it on Elvis is because it would keep me interested. I did my last 2 papers on medicinal marijuana and organ donation. This would be something different and since the class is focused on the arts, it would be relevant.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Cryogenic has an excellent idea and I would readily digest whatever he or you may write on it. Please send me a copy, if I am not being too presumptuous, when you are done.

May I suggest another subject also. Elvis' cultural impact. There is alot of focus on his music, and Elvis the performer, but I believe, equally important, if not more, is his impact on the American culture . He crossed racial, social, sexual, religious and music barriers, unbeknownst to him, like wading across a shallow creek. Then he took all that division and mixed it up and broke it down and it changed our culture. I believe he would be sad today to know that our culture today is one that has become singular and divided, with everyone having to have their own space and identity. He was a nonconformist who, ironically enough, brought everyone together. Gordon Allport . noted socioligist, wrote a dissertation on the "Formation of In / Out groups". Elvis was the antithesis of that. Little did he know that he himself was like the original disciples of Jesus, who at Passover spoke in tongues (the languages of those present , that they did not know) and they were all amazed because here were these uneducated fishermen speaking in different languages, their own and that brought them together. He spoke a common language that people, regardless of race, gender or nationality could relate to.