Sara Gustafson
Individual Blog Post #1
4-22-2020
Gayle Wald’s article on Rosetta Tharpe, explains the false narratives that connected
to Tharpe’s career. Namely, the statement that Tharpe is a “blacked-up Elvis in drag”
alludes to Elvis as influencing Tharpe when it was the other way around (Wald, 158).
Similarly, false narratives had a role in shaping the Hollywood punk scene as mentioned
in Michelle Habell-Pallán’s article. It was accepted that the Hollywood punk scene was
colorblind. However, Alice Bags opposes this belief and states that the East LA punk
scene was founded “once the Hollywood scene became closed and unwelcoming,”
(Habell-Pallán, 262). This statement reveals the intricacies of this music scene and
contradicts the idea of an accepting, tolerant community.
to Tharpe’s career. Namely, the statement that Tharpe is a “blacked-up Elvis in drag”
alludes to Elvis as influencing Tharpe when it was the other way around (Wald, 158).
Similarly, false narratives had a role in shaping the Hollywood punk scene as mentioned
in Michelle Habell-Pallán’s article. It was accepted that the Hollywood punk scene was
colorblind. However, Alice Bags opposes this belief and states that the East LA punk
scene was founded “once the Hollywood scene became closed and unwelcoming,”
(Habell-Pallán, 262). This statement reveals the intricacies of this music scene and
contradicts the idea of an accepting, tolerant community.
I find this idea of false narratives and their massive role in culture and history
fascinating. How is it so common that we create these untrue stories and take them
as facts? From these articles, I believe that society is completely tethered to this
idealistic culture, so much so that we cannot simply reveal the truth behind our
misconceptions. This makes me think of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” because
we cannot “break the chain” from these false histories. Additionally, Elvis Presley’s
“Suspicious Minds” relates, but also contradicts my opposition to taking historical
narratives as fact. He says that “we can’t go on together with suspicious minds,”
when I believe that we do need to consume these narratives with a suspicious mind.
We must question and analyze what we have taken as truth and break free from
our connection to false narratives.
fascinating. How is it so common that we create these untrue stories and take them
as facts? From these articles, I believe that society is completely tethered to this
idealistic culture, so much so that we cannot simply reveal the truth behind our
misconceptions. This makes me think of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” because
we cannot “break the chain” from these false histories. Additionally, Elvis Presley’s
“Suspicious Minds” relates, but also contradicts my opposition to taking historical
narratives as fact. He says that “we can’t go on together with suspicious minds,”
when I believe that we do need to consume these narratives with a suspicious mind.
We must question and analyze what we have taken as truth and break free from
our connection to false narratives.
“The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDG2m5hN1vo
“Suspicious Minds” by Elvis Presley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxOBOhRECoo
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