03/24/15 Reading Core Response #3

Honestly, I could not relate to how Elvis was a big hit. Even though I was born and raised in Korea for half of my youth, I was still exposed to the Beatles or Celine Dion's famous Titanic theme song. The first time I encountered Elvis is actually from the movie Lilo and Stitch. Thus, the readings were quite interesting for me in a sense that I am learning part of American culture that I was unaware of. In Doss's essay on Elvis, he especially describe the fan culture of Elvis, which was quite amusing. I think the fan culture like Elvis cannot happen anymore. Even though we have Justin Bieber or other male celebrities and idols who are popular, I think they are emanating Elvis or highly selling the sexuality of their body image rather than their image as a whole. Also, current Elvis-like figures are not welcomed by men whereas Elvis was liked by both men and women fans. Another important difference in the contemporary society's male celebrities or idols not reaching the status of Elvis might be because of Elvis's representation of the American Dream and patriotism. Since fans know how Elvis has started from the bottom and reached the top but still remained humble and faithful to his loved ones, they might associate him with traditional American values (such as working hard leads to success, loving one's family and friends, and protecting the country). Further mention of Gutai and the culture of the 50s and 60s that made Elvis possible were interesting too. Especially when the rock and roll culture defined rebellion against popular, mainstream culture, Elvis is in the center of the mainstream culture--sustaining his image while still being mainstream and popular is indeed one of the contradictions that Elvis embody. One thing I noticed about Elvis is how fans have sympathy towards him. They do not blame the star himself for leading to drug addiction or overweight but hand responsibilities to his situation as a celebrity. The fans' blind or one sided love towards certain images of Elvis, not the others, is interesting in a sense that his loved images are extremely overpowering.