A Young Lion, the Lizard King, and Erotic Politician: Tracing the Roots of Jim Morrison’s Mythical Image

In the past 45 years since his death, Jim Morrison’s legacy, in the form of rebellious and antiestablishment reputation, numerous reprints of his photographs and the continued popularity of the Doors’ music, has elevated the singer from a 1960s sex symbol image to the status of a pop culture icon. This paper aims to trace the roots of his now mythical image by analyzing the components which have been identified as those that initiated its creation: his attractive physical appearance and the promotional material launched to enhance it, press articles that focused on his physique, his highly sexual and unpredictable live performances, and his verbal ingenuity shown in the interviews he gave with memorable catch phrases.