Graceland is one of the old fashioned American towns that has been around for a while. It has that old fashioned American feel to it and still preserves with it a lot of American heritage which contribute to the definition of Americana. For examples, some of the restaurants in Graceland are still "'old fashioned' ice cream parlors" or restaurants that serve "cheeseburgers, barbecue, and fried peanut-butter sandwiches" (Petrusich 54). The food they serve in their restaurants are all typical American food that any typical or old fashioned American restaurant would have.
Petrusich goes to Graceland mostly because it is the town of Elvis Presley. Elvis was one of the most popular artists of the 20th century and he forever changed the genre of "rock and roll." Elvis gave Graceland its spot on the map just because it is where he lived. People from all over come to Graceland just to see where he lived or to visit his grace. Graceland is a very visited place just because people want to pay their respects to Elvis.
Because Graceland is for the most part represented by Elvis, it fits in perfectly with the definition of Americana. Elvis was a big part of Americana music. People from all over the world knew about Elvis and his music and how he revolutionized rock and roll(the genre itself is even Americana). Graceland carries with it Elvis's legacy, which includes his Americana heritage also. Graceland will forever be a part of America's history, and will be a part of Americana also due to Elvis's history in the city.
Graceland is the beautiful mansion that was once a home to America’s famous King of Rock ‘n Roll, Elvis Presley. That would be the main factor of why Amanda Petrusich would chose to visit Graceland. The mansion is located in Memphis, Tennessee. Elvis Presley, a key historical figure and one of the greatest symbols representing Americana music. Besides the mansion, the areas around Memphis would be a great hot spot to learn about America’s rich past. It also sounds like the town is more connected to the elderly because the past culture still stands strong in Memphis. As Petrusich states, “I dump some cornflakes into a plastic bowl, dispense milk from the spout from a large rubber container and sit down. I am the youngest person here, by at least fifteen years” (53).
Going back to Graceland, the exterior of the mansion itself has very symbolic associations to the “American Dream.” As Petrusich describes the home, “I find Graceland polite and agreeable, not entirely dissimilar to the kind of house you’d find in an affluent suburb, or featured as the primary headquarters of a fictionalized sitcom family. It feels soothing, unpretentious, and sweet; I half-expect a golden retriever to leap out from behind a bush, stalking a drool-covered tennis ball” (54). Her description seems very similar to the view of a suburban family house with a pick white fence and of course, the symbol of the golden retriever as a typical family dog in America, which fits a lot with the definition of Americana.
One can say that Elvis Presley’s entire life is the definition of Americana. Besides the things in his house that can represent many things of Americana, the actions and moments are truly the ideas that shaped it. Such as the idea of the pursuit of happiness, being able to gain money through talent applies very much to Presley. His style of music (rock and roll) became the nationwide outbreak and it opened up doors to many genres of music, which shapes America’s music culture. His start of “marriage in Vegas” still ripples in our contemporary world. Thus, besides Rock ‘n Roll, other of Presley’s influences are also as important in the Americana culture.
Petrusich travels to Graceland in order to find the roots of Americana. Graceland is located in Memphis Tennessee and is declared a historic site because of Elvis Presley's mansion and the volume of tourist going to it. Since it is a historical spot, Graceland and its surrounding area is preserved to the ere of Elvis Presley. This is perfect for Petrusich. She can explore Graceland and see exactly what Elvis and others were seeing and interpret what inspired them to write music.
Graceland on its exterior looks more "affluent doctor" than "King of Rock n' Roll". However its interior is quite different. There are television, records, and monkey figurines scattered about. The bizarre contrast between the two, and Elvis's unique interior, expresses allot about his music. His Rock and Roll changed future music forever.
Graceland fits the definition of Americana because of its preserved state. Petrusich's first impressions of Graceland is it felt "incredibly real and liveable." Because of Elvis, Graceland represents Americas important historical music past. America will also remember Elvis and his music, there Graceland and Elvis can be considered a part of Americana.
Amanda Petrusich goes to Graceland to see first hand how influential Elvis Presley was. He was the first white person to successfully capture the black mans blues. He was the start of a music movement that we now call rock'n'roll. In her book, It Still Moves, Petrusich says, "I am the youngest person here, by at least fifteen years" (Petrusich 53). Elvis had such a huge impact on the United States that thousands of people flock to his mansion to see just were and how he lived. He was so important to Americana music that people that listened to him as kids are now coming to his mansion to revive all those happy memories they had of him.
Not only was Elvis' mansion a huge attraction, but the town looks like a picture taken way back when. Petrusich describes the town as very welcoming and really make you feel at home. It still has all the old time diners happily serving Elvis' favorite, fried peanut butter and banana sandwich. Graceland Plaza is home to all these diners, gift shops, and the famed post office that gives the Graceland stamp that Elvis fanatics long for.
The reason why Amanda Petrusich decided to go to Graceland is because of its originality of the place. The place is not like other “affluent suburbs” (Petrusich 54), but instead it’s a place full of history. Elvis Presley’s mansion and burial place was in Graceland; thus, that was the major reason for Petrusich to have come visited Graceland. She had came here to learn more about Elvis Presley and what he was like back in the day when he was a hit sensation. When visiting the mansion where Elvis has once lived, she comes to grasp that “he liked monkeys and watching television in the kitchen. In addition, she had came to here because “Graceland feels, in its own strange way, incredibly real and livable, detached from the box-built mansions that pepper the Hollywood hills, or the colossal compounds favored by contemporary pop sensations.” This just shows that Amanda Petrusich favors places that are more prehistoric or remains prehistoric than that of new and current places.
Graceland fits into her definition of Americana because the place is remained primeval. The histories that this town had are still conserved and many places here stayed traditional. The place shows a bunch of music history unlike other present day towns. For example, the restaurants and store here remain as it is in the past and it gives the feeling of how music was like in the past. The stores here are very old fashioned as Petrusich has mentioned, “the stores all boast pithy names: Elvis Threads, Gallery Elvis, Good Rockin’ Tonight” (Petrusich 54). The restaurants here are quite primordial too because of its old fashioned meals like the “cheeseburgers, barbecue, and fried peanut-butter-and-banana sandwiched” (Petrusich 54).
Petrusich decided to go to Graceland, because she wants to find the root of Americana [music]. Graceland was home to the well known King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley. Elvis Presley was very famous and changed the sound of rock and roll. This was the right place for her to explore because she was able to take a visit to learn more about Elvis Presley and his home. In his home, she was able to connect to some of the items that she had seen. “ There’s a toaster sitting of Elvis’s kitchen counter that reminds me of the one in my own childhood kitchen” (Petrusich 56). Graceland is the definition of Americana, because it is an old, yet a historical mansion in Memphis, Tennessee. This mansion had been preserved as for a long time and is a sanctuary of Elvis Presley. Graceland consist of many old and rare things from his time. “’The house is full of things that we all have or used to have, or used to want, or hate’“ (Petrusich 55). This mansion has antique items that were from the Presleys. Since Elvis Presley was apart of the history of Americana music, he made Graceland into one of the most well known, historical, and visited place.
Petrusich decides to go to Graceland because it is home to famous rock and roll artist Elvis Presley. Although he died over thirty years ago, his music is still around today and used in numerous movies. Before going to Graceland, she is in Memphis where everything is centered around Elvis, from the Heartbreak Hotel to the trash cans which read Thank you, Thank you and Very much. They still have old fashioned diners and ice cream parlors, with the "pink-and-aqua-swathed restaurant booth" (Petrusich 54). The tour Petrusich goes on takes her through Graceland Plaza, Graceland and his grave site at the Meditation Garden's.
Upon arriving at the mansion she notices the different feel of Graceland, "soothing, unpretentious, and sweet; I half-expect a golden retriever to jump out from behind a bush..." (54). In many towns these days, people keep to themselves or do not talk much to their neighbors. When she gets inside the house, she notices that the house still seems very lived in. Since you can still imagine people living in the house, Petrusich expects someone to come home at any moment.
Graceland is in Petrusich's definition of Americana because of its warm feel and familiarity. An author before Petrusich wrote "'The house if full of things that we all have or used to have..." (55). Later, while Petrusich is walking through the kitchen, she pinpoints things like the toaster and eye glasses that looked like her mothers. One of the other mysterious things about the mansion is the upstairs. Since Elvis died in the bathroom upstairs, the workers who take care of the house think it is better to leave it untouched. With Graceland we can learn more about "talent, wealth, face, decline, failure, death" (57), all because we can see clearly into the life of Elvis Presley.
Graceland is one of the old fashioned American towns that has been around for a while. It has that old fashioned American feel to it and still preserves with it a lot of American heritage which contribute to the definition of Americana. For examples, some of the restaurants in Graceland are still "'old fashioned' ice cream parlors" or restaurants that serve "cheeseburgers, barbecue, and fried peanut-butter sandwiches" (Petrusich 54). The food they serve in their restaurants are all typical American food that any typical or old fashioned American restaurant would have.
ReplyDeletePetrusich goes to Graceland mostly because it is the town of Elvis Presley. Elvis was one of the most popular artists of the 20th century and he forever changed the genre of "rock and roll." Elvis gave Graceland its spot on the map just because it is where he lived. People from all over come to Graceland just to see where he lived or to visit his grace. Graceland is a very visited place just because people want to pay their respects to Elvis.
Because Graceland is for the most part represented by Elvis, it fits in perfectly with the definition of Americana. Elvis was a big part of Americana music. People from all over the world knew about Elvis and his music and how he revolutionized rock and roll(the genre itself is even Americana). Graceland carries with it Elvis's legacy, which includes his Americana heritage also. Graceland will forever be a part of America's history, and will be a part of Americana also due to Elvis's history in the city.
DJ
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ReplyDeleteVicky Phan
ReplyDeleteGraceland is the beautiful mansion that was once a home to America’s famous King of Rock ‘n Roll, Elvis Presley. That would be the main factor of why Amanda Petrusich would chose to visit Graceland. The mansion is located in Memphis, Tennessee. Elvis Presley, a key historical figure and one of the greatest symbols representing Americana music. Besides the mansion, the areas around Memphis would be a great hot spot to learn about America’s rich past. It also sounds like the town is more connected to the elderly because the past culture still stands strong in Memphis. As Petrusich states, “I dump some cornflakes into a plastic bowl, dispense milk from the spout from a large rubber container and sit down. I am the youngest person here, by at least fifteen years” (53).
Going back to Graceland, the exterior of the mansion itself has very symbolic associations to the “American Dream.” As Petrusich describes the home, “I find Graceland polite and agreeable, not entirely dissimilar to the kind of house you’d find in an affluent suburb, or featured as the primary headquarters of a fictionalized sitcom family. It feels soothing, unpretentious, and sweet; I half-expect a golden retriever to leap out from behind a bush, stalking a drool-covered tennis ball” (54). Her description seems very similar to the view of a suburban family house with a pick white fence and of course, the symbol of the golden retriever as a typical family dog in America, which fits a lot with the definition of Americana.
One can say that Elvis Presley’s entire life is the definition of Americana. Besides the things in his house that can represent many things of Americana, the actions and moments are truly the ideas that shaped it. Such as the idea of the pursuit of happiness, being able to gain money through talent applies very much to Presley. His style of music (rock and roll) became the nationwide outbreak and it opened up doors to many genres of music, which shapes America’s music culture. His start of “marriage in Vegas” still ripples in our contemporary world. Thus, besides Rock ‘n Roll, other of Presley’s influences are also as important in the Americana culture.
VP
Petrusich travels to Graceland in order to find the roots of Americana. Graceland is located in Memphis Tennessee and is declared a historic site because of Elvis Presley's mansion and the volume of tourist going to it. Since it is a historical spot, Graceland and its surrounding area is preserved to the ere of Elvis Presley. This is perfect for Petrusich. She can explore Graceland and see exactly what Elvis and others were seeing and interpret what inspired them to write music.
ReplyDeleteGraceland on its exterior looks more "affluent doctor" than "King of Rock n' Roll". However its interior is quite different. There are television, records, and monkey figurines scattered about. The bizarre contrast between the two, and Elvis's unique interior, expresses allot about his music. His Rock and Roll changed future music forever.
Graceland fits the definition of Americana because of its preserved state. Petrusich's first impressions of Graceland is it felt "incredibly real and liveable." Because of Elvis, Graceland represents Americas important historical music past. America will also remember Elvis and his music, there Graceland and Elvis can be considered a part of Americana.
Amanda Petrusich goes to Graceland to see first hand how influential Elvis Presley was. He was the first white person to successfully capture the black mans blues. He was the start of a music movement that we now call rock'n'roll. In her book, It Still Moves, Petrusich says, "I am the youngest person here, by at least fifteen years" (Petrusich 53). Elvis had such a huge impact on the United States that thousands of people flock to his mansion to see just were and how he lived. He was so important to Americana music that people that listened to him as kids are now coming to his mansion to revive all those happy memories they had of him.
ReplyDeleteNot only was Elvis' mansion a huge attraction, but the town looks like a picture taken way back when. Petrusich describes the town as very welcoming and really make you feel at home. It still has all the old time diners happily serving Elvis' favorite, fried peanut butter and banana sandwich. Graceland Plaza is home to all these diners, gift shops, and the famed post office that gives the Graceland stamp that Elvis fanatics long for.
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ReplyDeleteDiem My Le
ReplyDeleteThe reason why Amanda Petrusich decided to go to Graceland is because of its originality of the place. The place is not like other “affluent suburbs” (Petrusich 54), but instead it’s a place full of history. Elvis Presley’s mansion and burial place was in Graceland; thus, that was the major reason for Petrusich to have come visited Graceland. She had came here to learn more about Elvis Presley and what he was like back in the day when he was a hit sensation. When visiting the mansion where Elvis has once lived, she comes to grasp that “he liked monkeys and watching television in the kitchen. In addition, she had came to here because “Graceland feels, in its own strange way, incredibly real and livable, detached from the box-built mansions that pepper the Hollywood hills, or the colossal compounds favored by contemporary pop sensations.” This just shows that Amanda Petrusich favors places that are more prehistoric or remains prehistoric than that of new and current places.
Graceland fits into her definition of Americana because the place is remained primeval. The histories that this town had are still conserved and many places here stayed traditional. The place shows a bunch of music history unlike other present day towns. For example, the restaurants and store here remain as it is in the past and it gives the feeling of how music was like in the past. The stores here are very old fashioned as Petrusich has mentioned, “the stores all boast pithy names: Elvis Threads, Gallery Elvis, Good Rockin’ Tonight” (Petrusich 54). The restaurants here are quite primordial too because of its old fashioned meals like the “cheeseburgers, barbecue, and fried peanut-butter-and-banana sandwiched” (Petrusich 54).
DML
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletePetrusich decided to go to Graceland, because she wants to find the root of Americana [music]. Graceland was home to the well known King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley. Elvis Presley was very famous and changed the sound of rock and roll. This was the right place for her to explore because she was able to take a visit to learn more about Elvis Presley and his home. In his home, she was able to connect to some of the items that she had seen. “ There’s a toaster sitting of Elvis’s kitchen counter that reminds me of the one in my own childhood kitchen” (Petrusich 56).
ReplyDeleteGraceland is the definition of Americana, because it is an old, yet a historical mansion in Memphis, Tennessee. This mansion had been preserved as for a long time and is a sanctuary of Elvis Presley. Graceland consist of many old and rare things from his time. “’The house is full of things that we all have or used to have, or used to want, or hate’“ (Petrusich 55). This mansion has antique items that were from the Presleys. Since Elvis Presley was apart of the history of Americana music, he made Graceland into one of the most well known, historical, and visited place.
NL
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletePetrusich decides to go to Graceland because it is home to famous rock and roll artist Elvis Presley. Although he died over thirty years ago, his music is still around today and used in numerous movies. Before going to Graceland, she is in Memphis where everything is centered around Elvis, from the Heartbreak Hotel to the trash cans which read Thank you, Thank you and Very much. They still have old fashioned diners and ice cream parlors, with the "pink-and-aqua-swathed restaurant booth" (Petrusich 54). The tour Petrusich goes on takes her through Graceland Plaza, Graceland and his grave site at the Meditation Garden's.
ReplyDeleteUpon arriving at the mansion she notices the different feel of Graceland, "soothing, unpretentious, and sweet; I half-expect a golden retriever to jump out from behind a bush..." (54). In many towns these days, people keep to themselves or do not talk much to their neighbors. When she gets inside the house, she notices that the house still seems very lived in. Since you can still imagine people living in the house, Petrusich expects someone to come home at any moment.
Graceland is in Petrusich's definition of Americana because of its warm feel and familiarity. An author before Petrusich wrote "'The house if full of things that we all have or used to have..." (55). Later, while Petrusich is walking through the kitchen, she pinpoints things like the toaster and eye glasses that looked like her mothers. One of the other mysterious things about the mansion is the upstairs. Since Elvis died in the bathroom upstairs, the workers who take care of the house think it is better to leave it untouched. With Graceland we can learn more about "talent, wealth, face, decline, failure, death" (57), all because we can see clearly into the life of Elvis Presley.
SP