Next to legends like Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Bill Haley and Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley belongs to the first generation of Rock’n Rollers in the 1950s. They set the standards for Rock’n Roll music in the next decades. Presley entered the stage in 1956 and he was described as “a presence who, because of his simultaneous mastery of recordings, movies, and TV, was destined to have more influence than any Broadway show could ever imagine”.
Elvis Presley can be described as the first hero of Rock’n Roll because he had an unprecedented ability and presence to perform his songs thrillingly. He created a completely genuine dancing style and his career was without comparison from the first day onwards. Presley scored Nr. 1 in the charts with his song “Heartbreak Hotel” in 1956. Hence, he also set new standards and led on the revolution of the young against the old, thereby challenging traditions.
In the following, we will deal with the topic of Elvis Presley and his physicalness which was regarded as an affront in 1950s America. Presley can be regarded as the King of Rock’n Roll because he revolutionized (white) music by connecting it with physical and sexual expression.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Elvis Presley: The King of Rock’n Roll
2.1. His Youth and Early Recordings
2.2. First Provocative Performances
3. Successes and Affront in the 1950s
4. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the connection between Elvis Presley and the public perception of his physicalness, which was frequently interpreted as an affront in 1950s America. The primary research goal is to analyze how Presley’s unique performance style and sexual expression challenged existing societal norms while simultaneously shaping his identity as the "King of Rock'n Roll" and a controversial sex symbol.
- The role of Elvis Presley as a cultural icon and a figure of rebellion in 1950s American society.
- The impact of Presley’s physical performance style on his reception by the conservative middle class.
- The synthesis of musical influences and their transformation into a "Rock'n Roll" aesthetic.
- The dual nature of Presley’s image: from an idol of heterosexuality to an ambiguous, controversial, and often feminized figure.
Excerpt from the Book
2.2. First Provocative Performances
At the end of 1955, Colonel Sam Parker bought Elvis Presley free for 35.000 USD from the contract with Sun Records. Hence, Colonel Parker offered Presley a more lucrative contract with the record firm RCA and became his manager. RCA made Elvis a star but at the same time he was denunciated as a simple and uneducated seducer of the youth. The slogan “sex sells” had on the one hand a great impact on Presley’s career but on the other hand many critics and journalists were opposed to Presley. Hence, it is very telling that TV shows merely showed Presley’s half length portrait.6 Hence, people could not see Elvis’ provocative swinging of his hips which clearly had a sexual connotation.
In Nashville, Presley recorded his first songs for RCA, among them also “Heartbreak Hotel” which he performed on 28th February 1956 during his first TV performance on “Stage Show”. This was when Presley advanced to the most “(…) umstrittensten Sänger seit Frank Sinatra”.7 This marked also a revolution in Rock’n Roll music as such because in contrast to Bill Haley, Elvis Presley was loud, aggressive and sexually provocative.
Chapter Summary
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the status of Elvis Presley within the first generation of Rock'n Rollers and states the central research topic regarding his physicalness as a social affront.
2. Elvis Presley: The King of Rock’n Roll: This section details Presley’s upbringing, his early musical influences in Memphis, and the beginning of his professional career at Sun Records and RCA.
3. Successes and Affront in the 1950s: This chapter analyzes how Presley’s stage persona, characterized by aggressive physical expression and sexuality, challenged the values of the American middle class.
4. Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the analysis, summarizing how Presley’s dual role as a sex symbol and a figure of social controversy defined his legacy.
Keywords
Elvis Presley, Rock'n Roll, 1950s, Physicalness, Sexual Expression, Rebellion, American Middle Class, Popular Music, Cultural Identity, Ambiguity, Sex Symbol, Youth Culture, Performance Style.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research paper?
The paper explores the relationship between Elvis Presley’s performance style—specifically his physicalness—and the negative reception this elicited from American society in the 1950s.
What are the key thematic areas addressed?
The text focuses on the social impact of Rock'n Roll, the construction of Presley's image as a sex symbol, and the tensions between youth culture and the conservative middle-class establishment.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to analyze how Presley revolutionized music by merging it with physical and sexual expression and why this was deemed an affront to contemporary social norms.
Which scientific method is applied in this analysis?
The study utilizes a qualitative analysis of historical context, media reception, and critical discourse regarding Presley’s performances and cinematic presence.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main chapters cover his biographical beginnings, the transition to RCA, the specific nature of his provocative stage performances, and the broader social critique of his persona.
Which keywords best describe this work?
Core keywords include Elvis Presley, Rock'n Roll, physicalness, sexual expression, 1950s, and cultural rebellion.
How did TV media specifically react to Presley's stage movements?
As the excerpt indicates, television producers attempted to minimize the perception of his sexualized performance by limiting camera shots to his upper body, effectively censoring his hip movements.
What is meant by the "ambiguity" of Elvis Presley's image?
The text highlights that while marketed as an icon of heterosexuality, critics also identified themes of bisexuality and "feminized" masculinity in his performances, adding to his controversial status.
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- Dr. Sirinya Pakditawan (Autor:in), 2011, Elvis Presley and Physicalness. An Affront in 1950s America, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/284065
