Elvis "Themselvis": Polly Wilmoth 1993

This black and white photograph by Nancy Andrews captures Polly Wilmoth as "Themselvis" in full Elvis regalia, performing with fervor in a rural setting. Elvis Presley's image, particularly his flamboyant jumpsuit, became an instantly recognizable emblem. He morphed from musician to a near-deity status in popular culture. Consider the Dionysian frenzy, the ecstatic release mirrored in Polly's performance. This is not merely imitation, but a channeling of collective emotion. The open mouth, the arched back, and the guitar as an extension of the body—these recall the ancient bacchantes, possessed by divine madness. This is a dance of cultural memory. Elvis, like Dionysus, became a figure through whom audiences could experience a transcendence of the mundane, albeit through rock and roll. Polly embodies this, echoing the past while creating something new. This photograph, therefore, is not just a portrait but a vivid expression of enduring symbols, reshaped by time and memory.