Elvis

Source A is from an article in "Billboard" magazine. This magazine is

written for teenagers, who are Elvis' biggest fans, so a reader could

predict that it would be a positive article with no negative comments

about Elvis to try and sell itself to the teenage readers.

The headline of the article "Presley hot as a $1 pistol" shows that

Elvis is really popular, and many people want to buy his records. It

continues to say "Presley has six hit singles" which tells the reader

that he must have been very successful as he was only signed up in

1955, and the article was written less than a year later in March

1956. This makes clear to the reader that Elvis has had quite a

dramatic rise to stardom as it shows he has become a famous icon in a

very short space of time.

Even if people were not fans of Elvis and so did not buy his music,

they would still hear his songs constantly because his music was so

popular. Many people saw him as someone who was sure to succeed so

there were positive attitudes towards him from an early stage.

Near the end of the article, Elvis is said to be "the label's number

two best seller, right behind Perry Cosmo". This demonstrates further

how Elvis is almost or just as popular as an already well-established

star at this time, a very positive comment for Elvis' fans to read.

The whole article is written in this way and praises both Elvis and

his music.

Q.2. Study Sources B, C and D.

Do Sources C and D support the evidence of Source B about the impact

of Elvis Presley? (8 marks)

Sources C and D do support the evidence of Source B to a certain

extent. Although source B has a very negative attitude and source D

appears to be very positive, while source C does not pass judgement,

they all agree that his music has had a big impact, whether good or

bad.

Source B suggests that Elvis should not have appeared on the Milton

Berle "what amazes me is that Berle and NBC - TV should have let him

appear on TV". This is probably because many people disagreed with his

thrusting hips, tight trousers, and suggestive movements. However,

source C has a more positive response "it was a relaxed and therefore

more effectiveÐ"ўв‚¬Ð'¦ topped in the ratings for the first time all season".

This has ignored his suggestive movements and concentrated that it has

been more of a success with Elvis being shown.

Source B shows extracts from various newspaper articles, mainly aimed

at middle-classed people, especially men who would have been horrified

with the image of Elvis. From mid-1956, Elvis became a role model for

American youth and as these newspapers were written shortly after the

show on 5 June 1956, I am positive that he would already have a large

group of young fans.

The "New York Times" says "Mr. Presley has no singing ability" and

"The New York Journal" says "unintelligible lyrics, inadequate voice".

As these newspapers were aimed at adults, there would have been few of

Elvis' teenage fans reading the comments made, so the papers did not

need to be in his favour and would probably sell more copies if it

wasn't, because it dramatises the view of Elvis.

Source B does show that he has had a big impact on the US society,

although it is not entirely positive or negative, just saying that

Elvis has "caused the most heated reaction". The photograph in source

D backs up what source B is saying about his reaction by showing lots

of screaming teenage fans obviously obsessed with Elvis, their icon.

Source C also appears to contradict source B, as it is reporting on

the effects of his performance not passing any judgement about his

singing or suggesting that he shouldn't have gone on the show like

source B has suggested.

Q.3 Study sources E and F.

How useful are these sources as evidence of the impact of Elvis

Presley in the mid-1950's? (10 marks)

Although sources E and F contain very different information, they are

both useful as evidence of the impact of Elvis Presley.

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Source E shows very biased opinions of three different people speaking

in 1956 - 1957. These opinions are all very negative towards Elvis

Presley.

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