Remembering the King: Understanding strategic management of and participation in Elvis’ Death Week

IF 2.7 Q1 COMMUNICATION Public Relations Inquiry Pub Date : 2021-01-01 DOI:10.1177/2046147x20929670

Melissa L. Janoske McLean, Kelly Vibber

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Abstract

This exploratory qualitative study looks at Death Week, the annual commemoration of Elvis Presley’s death at Graceland in Memphis, TN, as a uniquely important part of tourism-based strategic public relations with a specific focus on the distinctive needs and considerations for dark tourism. Graceland, the second-most visited private home in the United States, offers a unique perspective on relationship building and maintenance, where the focus is less on awareness of Graceland and Elvis, and more on the continuation and generation of relationships to maintain interest across generations. Interviews were conducted with three public relations practitioners connected to Memphis or Elvis Presley Enterprises and 17 Death Week Candlelight Vigil participants, to better understand the promotion, delivery, and evaluation of a dark tourism experience. The impact of neo-tribes, a specific type of fandom, is also discussed as an important factor in continual relationship building with Death Week participants. The article concludes with suggestions for deepening the theoretical connection between dark tourism and public relations, and offers best practices for practitioners engaged in dark tourism relationship building.

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铭记国王:理解猫王死亡周的战略管理和参与

这个探索性质的研究着眼于死亡周，每年纪念埃尔维斯·普雷斯利在田纳西州孟菲斯的雅园去世，作为基于旅游的战略公共关系的一个独特的重要组成部分，特别关注黑暗旅游的独特需求和考虑因素。雅园是美国访问量第二大的私人住宅，它为建立和维护关系提供了一个独特的视角，在这里，人们关注的重点不是雅园和猫王的知名度，而是关系的延续和世代相传，以保持几代人的兴趣。采访了三名与孟菲斯或埃尔维斯·普雷斯利企业有关的公共关系从业人员和17名死亡周烛光守夜活动的参与者，以更好地了解黑暗旅游体验的推广、交付和评估。作为一种特殊类型的粉丝，新部落的影响也被认为是与死亡周参与者持续建立关系的重要因素。文章最后提出了深化黑色旅游与公共关系理论联系的建议，并为从事黑色旅游关系构建的从业者提供了最佳实践。

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来源期刊

Public Relations Inquiry COMMUNICATION-

CiteScore

4.10

自引率

11.10%

发文量

期刊介绍： Public Relations Inquiry is an international, peer-reviewed journal for conceptual, reflexive and critical discussion on public relations, supporting debates on new ways of thinking about public relations in social, cultural and political contexts, in order to improve understanding of its work and effects beyond the purely organisational realm. We interpret public relations in a broad sense, recognising the influence of public relations practices on the many forms of contemporary strategic, promotional communication initiated by organisations, institutions and individuals. The practice of public relations arises at points of societal and organisational change and transformation, affecting many aspects of political, economic, social and cultural life. Reflecting this, we aim to mobilize research that speaks to a scholars in diverse fields and welcome submissions from any area that speak to the purpose of the journal, including (but not only) public relations, organizational communication, media and journalism studies, cultural studies, anthropology, political communication, sociology, organizational studies, development communication, migration studies, visual communication, management and marketing, digital media and data studies. We actively seek contributions that can extend the range of perspectives used to understand public relations, its role in societal change and continuity, and its impact on cultural and political life. We particularly welcome multi-disciplinary debate about the communication practices that shape major human concerns, including: globalisation, politics, and public relations in international communication migration, refugees, displaced populations terrorism, public diplomacy public and corporate governance diversity and cultural impacts of PR the natural and built environments Communication, space and place The development and practices of major industries such as health, food, sport, tourism, technology.