True Disbelievers: Elvis Contagion

by George Plasketes (Editor)

The legion of fans who refuse to believe that Elvis Presley died August 16, 1977 has been a major force behind the ever-expanding, elusive, and enduring Elvis myth during the past seventeen years. This network of fervent true believers engages in activities that include a melange of sightings and conspiracy theories. Mass media coverage of these phenomena has evolved from the underground grass-roots level to widespread publicity with social, religious, commercial, and ideological underpinnings. In True Disbelievers, R. Serge Denisoff and George Plasketes examine the implications of various accounts and several perspectives on Elvis Presley's death and transfiguration.

Denisoff and Plasketes also analyze the various media that those who doubt Elvis's death use to popularize their positions, including television, magazines, and books. They review the work of others who have written on the subject, such as Gail Brewer-Giorgio and Major Bill Smith, and raise provocative, yet valid questions about the phenomenon they describe. True Disbelievers takes a pointed look at the music industry as well, and how it has used and commercially benefitted by the continuing belief that Elvis lives. They examine common strands in the many reports of Elvis sightings since Presley's reported death.

Denisoff and Plasketes describe the Elvis phenomenon in serious, objective as well as empathetic terms, placing it in the context of studies of cult figures and their followers. True Disbelievers contains a great deal of fascinating information about America's popular culture and the power and influence of the media in modern society. It will be of significant interest to communication studiesscholars,sociologists,professionals in the music and media industries, and those interested in popular culture.

332 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Em · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well, that was a difficult read. The book is unbelievably repetitive and disjointed, and a lot of its content is extremely boring. For example, I do not care about the minute details of a court case regarding a fiction book loosely based on Elvis's life. However, that went on for seemingly forever, and was repeatedly referenced throughout the rest of the book.

People's names are mentioned like I'm supposed to remember them from 5 chapters ago when they were briefly introduced at the same time as multiple other people. So many details of feuds between nobodies who ran fanzines. The same few sightings and pieces of "evidence" described over and over. Meh.

Also, it's from 1993. It says things like "A recent study in 1991 found..." The ebook edition I read was from 2018, so when I chose it, I had the mistaken idea that its content wasn't a quarter-of-a-century old.

I cannot emphasise enough how repetitive this book is. If you want to read this book, just read the first chapter or two and you'll have got most of the content.

I wanted to stop reading this so many times, but I just kept plodding along hoping that it would get better. Sadly, it doesn't.

[Nigel77 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and important sociological record of a major part of what became known as the "Elvis Underground". The details of "back room" politics is fascinating and together with the poignant account of how various people (eg. Jimmy "Orion" Ellis) became pawns in a broader game, offers a cogent and thought provoking expose of how commercial interests manipulated the needs of a certain cohort of Elvis fans with what today would be classified as "fake news". It is a great pity that those who are still "believers" do not challenge their belief by reading this book.