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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture How appropriate: :-) http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091012/ap_en_ot/us_elvis_auction Talk about a "piece" of the action -- and get a look at those prices! Sorry, but this was worth giggles. Rochelle At 03:14 PM 9/23/2009, rochelle altman wrote: >Stella, you wrote: > >>Are pilgrims to Graceland part of a community with a shared >>history? I'd say not, but perhaps I'm being influenced by my >>personal beliefs... >> >>Stella > >Oddly enough, they are. > >The vast majority of Presley fans are in the same cohort, both in >terms of age and similar cultural contexts. The trips to Graceland >*are* pilgrimages. As Terrence pointed out, they do feel some kind >of "magic" merely to touch something their idol held. (I did not >make a copy of the student's paper, so I can't give you the bib she >collected on this.) There are still reports of "Elvis sightings." >Elvis that was, that is, not as he would be if he lived to over 100. >I tend to think that by holding a ""piece" of something he used they >feel they are keeping him alive. This known worship of a singer-idol >is why Marjorie's students could connect with her example. >>> >>>Coincidentally, just yesterday I saw a television advertisment >>>for one of those part-work thingies: this one is devoted to >>>Presley, and comes with "replica artefacts" from Graceland. >>>There may not be a literal belief in "wonder-working or salvific" >>>properties (to use John Dillon's phrase), but there clearly is, >>>for some, a kind of magic (for want of a better word) in >>>possession: how else does one explain the ability to keep >>>re-releasing recordings, for example, and have some of the same >>>people buy them; or the enormous prices attached to items that >>>have a direct link to performers (e. g., John Lennon's old guitar >>>string, in one case I recall)? >>> >>> >>>Terrence Lockyer >>>Johannesburg, South Africa >>`***************************************** >>Dr Stella Rock >>Senior Research Fellow >>Department of History >>University of Sussex >>Brighton BN1 9QL >>Email:[log in to unmask] >>http://www.sussex.ac.uk/history/profile17617.html ********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html