Verified Document

Elvis Presley Essay

Elvis Presley was a superstar and continues to be one posthumously. The artist had a vision of himself as a musician and pursued that path throughout his life. To outsiders, Elvis was "repeatedly dismissed as vulgar, incompetent, and a bad influence," (The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll, Simon & Schuster, 2001). However, the personality of Elvis is far more complicated than what fan magazines and superficial reports can say. Elvis was a twin, but his twin died at birth. His childhood was typical, in that it was far from perfect. Elvis's father Vernon was in prison on counts of forgery for three years. Elvis's mother Gladys struggled to support her son in an environment that did not support the creative or economic growth of females. Elvis and his mother lived with extended family members for years. Music remained a continual presence throughout Elvis's life. He moved to Memphis, Tennessee when he was in high school. He "crossed the color line" when it came to listening to music (Rosenberg, n.d.). Elvis embodies the compromise between conservatism and liberalism in American culture. He simultaneously embraced unbridled creative expression, while also remaining true to the cultural ideals that shaped his personality.

Whether Elvis Presley was an introvert or an extrovert is an issue that could only be resolved if Elvis took a personality test like the Myers-Brigs. However, Elvis was known for being withdrawn and introverted in spite...

It is therefore ironic that Elvis longed to be a religious recluse or monk, while at the same time earning his living and developing his ego as an entertainer (Kakutani).
The superstar has also been described as a "visionary," (Whitmer & Whitmer, 1996, p. 5). Elvis's psychology can be partly judged by his behaviors and outward expressions of inner torment. As biographers Whitmer & Whitmer (1996) point out, Elvis had a capacity to "tragically self-destruct," (p. 5). Kakutani (1996) describes Elvis's behaviors as "maladaptive," (Kakutani, 1996).

The psychoanalytic framework of personality psychology can easily be applied to the life of Elvis Presley. Sigmund Freud and those who were inspired by Freud's theories point to a view of personality that takes into account the individual's family background, early childhood, and sexual repressions. As Kakutani (1996) points out, Elvis was also known for his "narcissism," a term that Freud himself used when analyzing his own patients. Likewise, Elvis might have been diagnosed as someone with "satyriasis," Kakutani (1996) notes.

A psychoanalyst would find great merit in the fact that Elvis's twin died at birth. Indeed, the ghost of a dead twin might have shaped Elvis's id, ego, and superego components. As Whitmer & Whitmer (1996) point out, "He was a visionary whose visions were inspired by the most profound…

Sources used in this document:
References

Bayles, M. (2007). Remembering Elvis. Serious Popcorn. Retrieved online: http://www.artsjournal.com/popcorn/2007/09/remembering_elvis.html

Kakutani, M. (1996). Elvis, from the kitchen to the couch. The New York Times. Retrieved online: http://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/20/books/elvis-from-the-kitchen-to-the-couch.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll (Simon & Schuster, 2001). Retrieved online: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/elvis-presley/biography#ixzz266HUJFU1

Rosenberg, J. (n.d.). Elvis Presley. About.com. Retrieved online: http://history1900s.about.com/od/entertainers/a/elvis.htm
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Elvis Presley
Words: 1726 Length: 5 Document Type: Essay

Elvis Presley Subject's development: Erikson and Kohlberg Elvis Presley is something of a paradox as an entertainer. He became famous for singing traditionally 'black' songs although he was a white singer with a largely white fan base. He began young and poor and died after creating 'Graceland,' his residence which became a museum to excess as well as his legacy as a singer. He also died overweight and addicted to prescription drugs.

Elvis Presley
Words: 588 Length: 2 Document Type: Essay

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley is probably one of the most renowned individuals in the history of mankind and an analysis of his life and his behavior from a psychological point-of-view is certainly intriguing. His complex character is one of the main reasons for which this paper discusses in regard to his persona. Going through a series of both positive and negative episodes in a short amount of time can significantly

Elvis Presley Concert the King
Words: 1480 Length: 4 Document Type: Essay

A female hands him a cloth handkerchief to wipe his sweaty face. During "What Know My Love" sweat is heavier than ever on his face; it is getting into his eyes. Clearly an Elvis concert, no matter whether it is in a small or large venue like the one he is singing in today, is more like a lounge act that a rock show. it's Elvis, after all, and

Elvis When Elvis Presley Died
Words: 2075 Length: 6 Document Type: Term Paper

Conclusion Culture critic David Marsh once wrote that "Unless you understand that Elvis Presley was more than anything a spiritual leader of our generation, there's really no way to assess his importance, much less the meaning of his music."20 Indeed, Presley's impact on American culture was transformative. Through his music, which was heavily influenced by black artists, he exposed white America to a new group of performers. By testing social boundaries,

Elvis Presley: Leading the Music
Words: 1538 Length: 4 Document Type: Thesis

Moreover, younger and more cutting edge artists like the Beatles had assumed creative control over their output, in defiance of their managers and record executives. However, Elvis' manager Colonel Thomas Parker "insisted that Presley stick with this winning formula. Years later Parker's shortsightedness would result in his turning down Barbara Streisand's offer to have Presley co-star with her the 1974 remake of a Star Is Born" ("Elvis Presley," 1996,

Elvis Presley
Words: 2717 Length: 8 Document Type: Case Study

Legend and Legacy of Elvis Presley The "King of Rock and Roll" may be dead from obesity and substance abuse, but his legend and legacy lives on in Graceland and among the legions of his fans that remain loyal to his memory and his music today. Indeed, Elvis music and memorabilia remain popular today, and visitors still flock to his home and burial place in Memphis, Tennessee. Therefore, the meteoric career

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now