From The Holy Land to Graceland

Sacred People, Places and Things in Our Lives

Vikan Gary

According to medievalist Gary Vikan, Graceland is much more than a wildly popular tourist destination associated with a famous entertainer, and Elvis Presley is much more than the King of Rock 'n' Roll. In this fascinating new book, Vikan posits that Graceland, the second-most visited historic house in the United States, is a locus sanctus – a holy place – and Elvis is its resident saint. Thus the hordes of fans that crowd Elvis Presley Boulevard in Memphis are modern day pilgrims, connected in spirit and practice to their early Christian counterparts, sharing a fascination for icons and iconography, relics, souvenirs, votives, and even a belief in miracles. Vikan goes on to explore many other loci sancti around the world, including Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan, the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, the Grassy Knoll in Dallas, and the Place de l'Alma in Paris".From the Holy Land to Graceland" explores the role of our "martyred" secular saints today from John F. Kennedy to Michael Jackson.

About the Author

Gary Vikan served as director of the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore from 1994 to 2012. He is adjunct professor of art history at Johns Hopkins University and a faculty member in the Johns Hopkins University School of Continuing Studies.

Reviews

"What has Graceland to do with Jerusalem? Thanks to Gary Vikan, we now know the answer is 'a lot'. Connecting early Christian pilgrimages to the veneration of Elvis and his home, this book should be read by anyone fascinated with the King and the King of Kings, the South, or the relationship between sacred space and culture" – Edward J. Blum, co-author of "The Color of Christ: The Son of God and the Saga of Race in America"

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