FRS 002C — (2 units) — CRN 53082 — R 2:10 - 4:00 pm — 25 Wellman Hall
Elvis Presley: Roots, Impacts, Legacies

Instructor: Donald Johns, Department of English, College of Letters and Science

Description: This course will explore the rise of Elvis Presley as a watershed in American cultural history. Into Elvis’s art and image flowed diverse cultural currents: Scottish, Irish, and southern white music by way of hillbilly music; African and African-American music by way of the blues; post-war non-conformity by way of James Dean and Marlon Brando; carnival hucksterism by way of manager "Colonel" Tom Parker; and glittery nihilism and slick sentimentality by way of Las Vegas. In Elvis these diverse elements coalesced, shaped rock music, and contributed mightily to American culture during the latter half of the 20th century. Students will read Peter Guralnick’s acclaimed biography, Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley, along with selected readings on Elvis and musicians who influenced him. Class time will consist of discussion of recordings, video clips, and readings, along with group reports by students. Students will write several short reading responses and a longer paper, each exploring an aspect of Elvis’s work or its influences. There will be one optional Saturday field trip to two specialty music shops in the Bay Area. The seminar will encourage students to learn about a significant period in American cultural history. They will contemplate the complexity of that history and explore the possible connections between diverse -- and seemingly disparate -- cultural strains. Students will learn to read texts closely and to listen to music carefully. In addition, they will develop their skills in discussing and synthesizing various types of sources.

Format: There will be one optional field trip. Students will be expected to read weekly assignments, participate in class discussions, research topics independently, prepare and deliver group reports to the class, and write several short reading responses (250-500 words) and one longer paper (1000-1500 words) on the work of Elvis Presley, those he influenced, those who influenced him, or some related cultural phenomenon. Grading: Students will be graded on the quality of their written work (70%), on the quality of their reports (20%), and on their participation (10%).

About the Instructor: Dr. Johns received a Ph.D. in English and American Literature from UC San Diego. A Lecturer in the English Department at UC Davis since 1983, he has taught a variety of writing courses as well as courses in the modern American novel and introduction to literature. He has long been a student of American folk and popular culture, with a special interest in the links between roots music and popular music.