Applying Durkheim to Elvis
Elvis Presley has always had a very prominent and loyal fan following. In this article I argue that although Elvis fans are not substituting him for a deity, we can use one mechanism from Emile Durkheim’s theory of totemic religion to understand the human chemistry of his phenomenon. Specifically, I...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Association Française d'Etudes Américaines
2013-05-01
|
| Series: | Transatlantica |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.openedition.org/transatlantica/6095 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832580769522909184 |
|---|---|
| author | Mark Duffett |
| author_facet | Mark Duffett |
| author_sort | Mark Duffett |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Elvis Presley has always had a very prominent and loyal fan following. In this article I argue that although Elvis fans are not substituting him for a deity, we can use one mechanism from Emile Durkheim’s theory of totemic religion to understand the human chemistry of his phenomenon. Specifically, I argue that fans offer their collective attention to Elvis in exchange for the thrill of a real or imagined individual encounter with him as a star of such magnitude. In other words, Elvis’s popularity is not incidental to his phenomenon, but has always been the medium through which his music talent has actualized itself. This does not make Elvis “sacred,” like a “god” or an object of worship. His entertainment is so thrilling because he, as an individual, adeptly channels the “buzz” of meeting someone so famous. His myth as a humble country boy also intensifies the thrill, making Elvis the ultimate popular icon. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9055c268964540e19b7700daa7575f8c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1765-2766 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2013-05-01 |
| publisher | Association Française d'Etudes Américaines |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Transatlantica |
| spelling | doaj-art-9055c268964540e19b7700daa7575f8c2025-01-30T10:43:52ZengAssociation Française d'Etudes AméricainesTransatlantica1765-27662013-05-01210.4000/transatlantica.6095Applying Durkheim to ElvisMark DuffettElvis Presley has always had a very prominent and loyal fan following. In this article I argue that although Elvis fans are not substituting him for a deity, we can use one mechanism from Emile Durkheim’s theory of totemic religion to understand the human chemistry of his phenomenon. Specifically, I argue that fans offer their collective attention to Elvis in exchange for the thrill of a real or imagined individual encounter with him as a star of such magnitude. In other words, Elvis’s popularity is not incidental to his phenomenon, but has always been the medium through which his music talent has actualized itself. This does not make Elvis “sacred,” like a “god” or an object of worship. His entertainment is so thrilling because he, as an individual, adeptly channels the “buzz” of meeting someone so famous. His myth as a humble country boy also intensifies the thrill, making Elvis the ultimate popular icon. https://journals.openedition.org/transatlantica/6095Elvis PresleyÉmile DurkheimFandomAudienceMusicPower |
| spellingShingle | Mark Duffett Applying Durkheim to Elvis Transatlantica Elvis Presley Émile Durkheim Fandom Audience Music Power |
| title | Applying Durkheim to Elvis |
| title_full | Applying Durkheim to Elvis |
| title_fullStr | Applying Durkheim to Elvis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Applying Durkheim to Elvis |
| title_short | Applying Durkheim to Elvis |
| title_sort | applying durkheim to elvis |
| topic | Elvis Presley Émile Durkheim Fandom Audience Music Power |
| url | https://journals.openedition.org/transatlantica/6095 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT markduffett applyingdurkheimtoelvis |