Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Core Post: White Trash



            I found the article “The King of White Trash Culture” to be particularly fascinating.  Mainly for the fact that I have never once thought so in depth about what it means to be "White Trash," or the conventions and ideologies that surround it.  And yet, at the same time, when the author labeled iconographic examples of the White Trash identity, they were all concrete examples of what I myself would define as White Trash.  So perhaps it is something I have thought about before but stored in the back of my mind, considering it almost racist to think of someone in those terms.
            I'll be honest, growing up in a White family from the northern part of the east coast, I have always considered Elvis to be White Trash in a sense.  It’s strange because I really enjoy his songs, but only when other artists do covers of them.  The actually music he recorded I usually dislike.  However, I always know his music, and his image is instantly recognizable.  So, while he wasn’t worshipped by my family or by anyone from my region of the country, he still was a cultural force in my life: Whether for being considered trash or not.
            What really was fascinating to me about the article was the “religion” that is The King.  I obviously knew of the countless impersonators, but I never knew that some people dressed as him for anything other than monetary reasons (i.e. to spread his “word").  I cannot think of any other celebrity who has this kind of Jesus-like relationship with their “followers” (fans).

            While reading, I realized that in my mind, the word “impersonator” is synonymous with Elvis.  When I think of anyone being an impersonator, my mind automatically assumes the person will don the white jumpsuit, sunglasses, and slicked back black hair.  Further, the words “Thank you, thank you very much,” play in the back of my head.  I guess, overall, I think of him as something that people do to be funny: Pull out a bad impersonation.   However, as the article states, Elvis is so much more than a silly voice and hip thrust, but rather an entire way of life, and that, to me, is shocking. 

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