Elvis Presley Coursework Essay Example

Additionally, Source D provides insight into Elvis's reputation during his time as left by Roy Orbison, a well-established singer who referred to Elvis as a "punk kid" with exceptional vocal abilities.

According to Orbison, Presley's on-stage persona was that of a rough, streetwise individual who approached singing like he would entering a bar. Orbison recalls how the first thing Presley did was spit on the stage and discard a piece of gum. Additionally, he told tasteless and unfunny jokes, further exacerbating a negative image. All of this seems to stem from Orbison's perceived threat from Presley's rapid rise in popularity, fueled by his unique music style.

Source B and C target the same audience, which consists of white Catholic businessmen who mostly hold a negative view towards Elvis Presley's music due to its style, provocative dancing (often associated with black culture), and the negative portrayal of the artist by mainstream media. However, Sources A and B differ as they cater to different audiences. To corroborate the evidence presented in Source B regarding the impact of Elvis Presley, one could examine Sources E and F. Source E highlights how Elvis's appearance on the Milton Berle show led to a surge in its popularity.

Elvis Presley's popularity in the 1950s was unparalleled, surpassing even the family-friendly T.V. show, Sgt. Bilko. Source F features a photograph of Presley performing on stage in 1956, with a group of 11-year-old girls trying to scramble onto the stage while screaming uncontrollably in the background. Despite controversy over his provocative dancing the year before, Presley's fan base remained steadfast and enthusiastic. Conversely, Source B represents a group of individuals opposed to Presley's music, claiming that

he lacked singing ability and demonstrated suggestive and vulgar behavior during his performances. Their intention was to discredit Presley's image and deter others from supporting him.

Before these statements were made, many parents saw Elvis as just another fad their children were going through. However, the media attention drew focus to him and parents began to hear exaggerated claims that he was a "striptease with clothes on". This caused them to take notice and action. Source E contradicts Source B, as it reports that "The Milton Bearle show topped Phil Silver's Sergeant Bilko in the ratings for the first time all season", while Source B claims that Presley couldn't sing and only danced with…

The man sang while making basic physical movements.

Elvis was heavily criticized for his unintelligible lyrics and inadequate singing voice. However, he remained incredibly popular, and even managed to boost the ratings of the Milton Berle show to surpass that of the beloved family show, Sergeant Bilko. Source F confirms Elvis's immense fame.

Both Source F and Source B share concerns about the impact of Elvis on young people. Source F confirms these fears, noting that Elvis was subject to criticism but became even more famous. Meanwhile, Source G offers insight into the potential actions a congressman could take to harm Elvis's career. This includes publicly speaking out against Elvis and gaining support from other adults to damage his reputation and potentially remove him from the charts through competition with other musicians.

Source G ii) According to the source, the KKK aims to put an end to Elvis's influence as he is introducing people to Negro music which they consider related to black people. The KKK's

ultimate goal is to eradicate all traces of black people from the country and they are even willing to resort to killing individuals who support black people. As Presley's popularity grows due to his singing of black music, the KKK is determined to halt his success. This is mentioned in the reference to a "twenty-man committee".

Study Source I to determine how to stop Elvis.

According to Source I, perceptions of Elvis Presley were starting to shift in 1958. The reason for this change can be attributed to Elvis' decision to enlist in the army even though he had the option to buy his way out. Following this, Elvis was perceived as a responsible and compassionate individual. In the same year, Elvis experienced a personal tragedy with the death of his mother. However, the coverage by newspapers portrayed Elvis in a positive light, emphasizing his caring nature rather than his previous wild image.

During this period, Elvis started appearing in movies that emphasized romance and love stories instead of action and adventure. Love Me Tender was one such film that highlighted Presley's romantic personality. The article, from a more sophisticated publication, praises Elvis for his dedication to serving his nation during wartime rather than prioritizing his show business career. Despite being affluent enough to evade service, Elvis opted to enlist in the army due to a sense of obligation and concern about communist invasion, which would have hindered him from earning money through music.

One source acknowledges Elvis Presley's success as an example of opportunities available in the United States and praises U.S. democracy. However, another source argues that Elvis' impact on 1950s American society was mainly due to

his televised performances rather than his music. To gain a full understanding of the topic, it is recommended to examine all sources.

By utilizing the Sources and one's own knowledge, it is possible to determine whether or not Elvis Presley's career aligns with the prevailing notion. During the 1950s, America experienced an unprecedented era of prosperity as a result of the end of World War II. This brought in large sums of money from countries like Britain, France, and Russia, leading to an economic surge in American society. The burgeoning electronics market enabled more people than ever before to afford televisions and radios, facilitating communication and allowing advertising, entertainment, and new concepts access to a wider audience.

Concerns have arisen regarding emerging forms of entertainment since they affect both parents' and children's attitudes during this period of cultural transformation. According to Source A, Elvis was celebrated as the "hottest artist" who possessed exceptional country warbling skills that underlined his music's positive attributes. On the other hand, Source B criticized his performance on Milton Berle's show for its unsophisticated physical movements that were musically appalling. Without his television appearances according to Source C, Elvis Presley's music might be more socially acceptable. Despite negative press coverage noted by Source E taken from a TV ratings magazine; however, he remained the most popular performer watched on the night in question.It is possible that the negative publicity actually helped increase Elvis Presley's television viewership, as individuals were curious to witness his persona firsthand.

All the sources mentioned (source B, C & E) were impacted by television. Elvis's appearance on the Milton Berle show altered source B and C. Source B describes the

negative quality of Elvis's music, which was influenced by his TV appearance. Similarly, source C evaluates Elvis's dancing style and how it caused many youngsters to roll in the aisles, something that could only have been witnessed through television or being physically present.

Roy Orbison, a renowned singer of the time, contributes Source D to the list of negative things adults have read or seen about Elvis. Although his view could be biased, it is noted that Orbison describes Elvis as "a punk kid" who couldn't speak, dance or sing properly. The source finishes with Orbison appearing deeply shocked by Elvis, having seen him in concert. Similar scenes to those portrayed in Source F would have been witnessed by Orbison during the concert. Source H indicates that Elvis had seven number 1 songs between 1956 and 1957. This could have been supported by his television appearances, making him more accessible to people than his live performances.

The years 1956 and 1957 proved to be beneficial for Elvis' career due to the economic expansion and abundance of electronic equipment. The media played a crucial role in promoting Elvis and his popularity skyrocketed after his first television appearance. Sources B, C, and G reflected the negative response from the public towards Elvis' television debut, but it is possible that these comments would not have been made if Elvis had not appeared on TV. It should be noted that source I does not mention television at all.

V, Elvis's popularity during his army enlistment was due to the perception that he was serving his country and protecting it from potential threats. While his recent media criticism drew more attention to

his enlistment, had he only been known through radio or concerts, his joining may not have caused much fuss. However, since he garnered press attention as a wild and reckless individual, it was unexpected that he would put his life on the line in the fight against communism, especially since he could have used his wealth to avoid service.