CFA: Elvis and Philosophy: Essays Concerning the King

Call for Abstracts!

Elvis and Philosophy: Essays Concerning the King

Edited by Joshua Heter and Richard Greene

Abstracts are sought for a collection of essays on any philosophical topic related to Elvis Aaron Presley to be published with Wallace & Jacobs Press. We hope to receive a number of submissions concerning his music and movies as well as his persona, life, relationships, cultural impact, legacy, mythos, etc. Abstracts and eventual essays should be written for an educated but non-specialized audience (with an approximate length of 3,000 – 3,500 words). Potential topics include (but are not limited to!)…

Conspiracy Theories: Why do we believe in conspiracy theories? Can we explain why so many folks have claimed to see Elvis after he died?

Cultural Appropriation: What is cultural appropriation, is it always a bad thing, and was Elvis guilty of it?

Celebrity: What is celebrity worship, and why do we worship celebrities? Is it irrational to have admiration for Elvis and Elvis types? Does philosophy have anything interesting to say about fame?

Ethics: Is it at all ethically dubious to ignore Elvis’s more problematic relationships (e.g., with Priscilla)? Is there ever a line where consuming the art of a person of poor character is morally unacceptable?

Mythology: Who was Elvis, really? Can we distinguish between Elvis the man and Elvis the Legend?

Legacy: What is Elvis’s Legacy? How was it affected by his untimely death?

Philosophy of Love: What makes for a good love song? Why are so many songs centered around (romantic or other types of) love?

Psychology: Why do we listen to such sad Elvis songs (e.g., “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Blue Christmas”)?

Social Justice: What sort of legacy does Elvis and/or his songs have in regard to social justice?

Aesthetics: What makes Elvis’s brand of rock and roll so aesthetically appealing? Does his crossing of genres make him a more significant artistic figure?

Authorship: When judging Elvis as an artist, does it matter that he didn’t write hardly any of his own songs?

Spirituality / Religion: What are we to make of Elvis as a messenger for the Gospel? Who was Elvis the seeker?

Civil Rights: Did Elvis do enough to promote civil rights (given his connection to African American music)?

History of Philosophy: What would philosophers from history think of Elvis, his movies, and the music he created? Would any of them have been a fan?

Contributor Guidelines:

Mail abstracts (and any questions) to: [email protected].

1. Abstracts should be between 100 – 500 words.

2. Potential contributors must include a resume/CV for each author/coauthor.

3. Initial submissions should be made by e-mail as either a Word doc. or a PDF.

4. Deadlines:

Abstracts due by: June 1, 2026

First drafts due by: September 14, 2026

Final drafts due by: October 26, 2026

(Early submissions are encouraged and welcomed!)