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The “Is Elvis History” seminar at the University of Memphis was part high-toned academic exercise and part salt of the earth fandom.

The assembly explored Elvis Presley’s bridge from popular culture to bona fide historic figure. Participating were Presley pals, pundits and published professors who mainly agreed that Elvis deserves a place in history more lofty than where he now resides.

“Elvis is the last repository for political incorrectness,” said seminar organizer John P. Bakke, U of M professor emeritus. Bakke organized his first Elvis seminar in 1979, and met mostly indifference from academia.

“It’s easy for the country to ignore Elvis Presley,” said the seminar’s keynote speaker, American contemporary culture critic and Princeton lecturer Greil Marcus. He also said it’s just as easy to forget the historic contribution of nine black students who integrated Central High School in Little Rock.

“Elvis Presley had the same courage,” Marcus said in comparing Presley with the students, arguing that both stepped out of their class structures and initiated societal change.

The folksy yarns were provided by Sam Phillips, founder of Sun Records, who acknowledged that his gift was mining the gold within Presley.

A question from the 120-plus, standing-room-only audience asked if Presley could have become the icon he is today had he been discovered by another producer. Phillips regaled the group with a few historical accounts of Presley’s beginnings, but eventually answered with a very certain “no.”

“I think he would have gone to a quartet, and loved it,” said Phillips.

University of Mississippi professor Michael Bertrand expounded on the thesis of his book Race, Rock & Elvis near the end of the seven-hour seminar, which sold out more than a month ago.

“It’s much easier to lampoon Elvis Presley than to take him seriously,” Bertrand said. “That was because of where he came from. He didn’t fit into a nice picture (of a typical Southern, working-class man).”

U of M film professor Allison Graham went further. She pointed out that at the same time “the Mississippi man is getting an international reputation . . . as a pariah,” Presley was showing the world a much more positive image.

- Donnie Snow: 529-2556