I Come From Nowhere(?)

Andre, , , ,

My dissertation–if you hadn’t already gathered–focuses on the convergence of popular and classical music streams that informs much of Frank Zappa’s music. This confluence means different things in different places (for both Zappa and his audience), but it seems to me to be a defining characteristic that runs through all of his work. My questions here are: Why would this be such an important aspect of his work? and, What influenced him in thinking this way?

Strictly Genteel

On the one hand, Zappa was trying to establish for himself a reputation as a composer of serious art music. His reasons for this are, of course, open to debate, but Zappa was always quick to point out that his ambitions were aesthetically motivated. He was introduced to the modernist music of Stravinsky and Varèse around the same time he began collecting blues and R&B records. Zappa recognized that the disparate styles were commonly seen to be at odds with one another. But since both appealed to him personally, he tried to share this experience of music free from social implications. The obvious way of doing this would be to synthesize these different styles in his own work.

On a slightly different angle, it seems to me that the obvious appeal (and associated cultural capital) of being a respected artist was an equally significant factor. Zappa clearly admired Stravinsky and Varèse (and Webern and Cage, among others) and that he would want to model himself on his “idols” almost goes without saying.

But where does this all come from? What streams (cultural, social, musical) does he fit into? Despite his claims to originality, it seems unlikely that Zappa developed in a bubble.

To begin with, I suspect it may have had something to do with the conservative cultural climate of Southern California in the 1940s and 50s. Zappa saw this environment as oppressive and felt claustrophobic in the rural deserts communities of his youth. For me, Zappa’s self-identification as an outsider is neatly summarized in this 1970 photograph by John Olson of Frank posing with his parents Francis and Rosemary in their home Frank’s Los Angeles home [thanks Corné!]:

Zappa with parents

(Of course, by 1970 Frank had long been out of the house so this picture doesn’t offer an authentic vision of Zappa’s youth. Nonetheless, I think the picture captures much of the spirit of Zappa and his rebellious culture at odds with conservative values, while at the same time offering some ambiguity as to who really belongs in this environment.)

While still a child, he found refuge in the modernist avant-garde. (He would delight in his mother’s recoiling at the sound of Varèse’s sirens being played on the family turntable.) These composers offered a safe mode of rebellion for Zappa in a remarkable way. They were accepted artists–undeniably respectful members of society–whose music had a similar effect with adults to what teenagers experienced with heavy metal in the 1980s.

But I don’t think it ends there. As significant as his rebellion against perceived conservative oppression was, I think there’s something deeper. In discussing when the dichotomy between classical and popular entered the American consciousness, Paul Charosh writes:

We would be mistaken to assume that this division between types of music reflects a simple division between two sets of listeners, one group seeking edification and uplift from classical music and a separate group looking to popular music for a cure for the blues. Some favored light music over serious; others preferred classical music to the popular; but many enjoyed both types of music on different occasions, for different purposes.[1]

Charosh is referring to mid-18th century listeners, but this characterization seems to have some resonance with Zappa’s sentiments a century later. Is this a constant stream in American musical consciousness? Did Zappa inherit this dual validity of opposing musical streams?

For that matter, who else was a part of this? Zappa consistently sought to establish himself as being counter-counterculture. But even as he defined himself against the hippie movement and the politics of the New Left in the 1960s, he took certain aspects of their motivations as his own. Can we consider Zappa to be a part of these movements even if he explicitly denies accepting them?

For now, these thoughts are very preliminary. I don’t have the answers to these questions. (Yet!)

References:
[1] Paul Charosh, “‘Popular’ and ‘Classical’ in the Mid-Nineteenth Century,” American Music, Vol. 10, No. 2 (Summer, 1992), 126.
I Come From Nowhere(?)

32,946 thoughts on “I Come From Nowhere(?)”

  1. pantaloni slim de femei slim jegging

    褋薪械卸薪邪褟 泻芯褉芯谢械胁邪 褉邪褋褋褉芯褔泻邪 芯褌蟹褘胁褘 屑褍谢褜褌懈褕械褎 u800 silver 懈薪褌械褉薪械褌 屑邪谐邪蟹懈薪 芯斜褍胁懈 锌芯谢褜褕邪 薪邪褉褍褔薪褘械 褔邪褋褘 hublot 2 瀹屽叏闃叉按銇у饱銇嶃倓銇欍亜 浣庡北銉忋偆銈伀銇娿仚銇欍倎銇櫥灞遍澊 銉°儸銉?lff 銉撱偢銉嶃偣銉愩儍銈?銉°兂銈?鏈潻 3way 闃叉按 鎾ユ按 妤藉ぉ甯傚牬 銉淬偅銉堛兂 銈ㄣ偗銉儣銈?銉欍儷銉堛伄閫氳博 set 4 jocuri logica rochie de s…

  2. 蟺伪蟺慰蠀蟿蟽喂伪 纬喂伪 蠂慰蟻慰

    blommig adidas jacka lackf盲rg pris dansk design lampor winter is here. la nouvelle collection sports d hiver test茅e basquettes nike airmax 270 noir sparks homme adidas chelsea fc rouleau de film autocollant en vinyle 伪谓未蟻喂魏维 蟻慰蠉蠂伪

  3. cinghie con fibbia

    dje膷ja kolica baby design husky sva oprema kao nova nike nike dri fit head tie 2.0 black white gel semipermanente colori orologio sector collezione 330 chrono ref. r3273794001 braccialetti con perline vintage braccialetti neri con open road collection…

  4. clich茅 beachwear luxury swimwear with matching cover ups

    mercury row modern contemporary accent wall mirror 賳爻丕亍 毓賲賱賷丞 丕鬲亘毓 兀丨賱丕賲賰 乇丕毓賷 亘賵 爻丕毓丞 賲毓氐賲 1 賯胤毓丞 丕賱賵丨卮 è²™ 孬毓亘丕賳 è²™ 賵乇丿丞 è²™ 夭賴乇丞 丕賱賵卮賲 丕賱賲丐賯鬲 è²™ 丕賱丕氐亘毓 è²™ 丕賱兀匕賳 è²™ 丕賱乇賯亘丞 è²™ 乇噩賱 è²™ 廿賲乇兀丞 è²™ 胤賮賱 賲毓丕賱噩 賵丨丿丞 丕賱賲毓丕賱噩丞 丕賱賲乇賰夭賷丞 乇亘丕毓賷 丕賱賳賵丕丞 AMD FX Series FX 4300 FX…

  7. black food containers with clear lids

    acoustic audio aa5170 home theater 5.1 bluetooth speaker system 700w with powered sub vintage hair band brooks adrenaline gts 19 car stereo system touch screen ballet flats with wedge heel wooden baby crib for sale converse bia艂e trampki damskie z gumo…

  8. michael kors mk3179 runway slim horloge

    pandora bedels kopen sale pompoen halloween esprit silver dames horloge 36 mm esprit yoek cardigan teddy paars grote maten mode balr zwembroek maat l merkkleding overige disk za odr啪avanje ravnote啪e 100 za pilates decathlon top model kemijska olovka ge…

  9. byta glas klocka

    kniha dyslexie texty a hry pro d臎ti s dkny pe艌a啪enka bryant new zip around sutton sivè°© zna膷ky dkny klack hry pre deti od 4 rokov benfica maillot domicile 2018 2019 neuf lunettes kenzo vinted veste gilet bicolore nike homme taille manadlian homme pantal…

  10. baby shower disposable tableware

    毓丕賱賷丞 丕賱噩賵丿丞 1.5 賲鬲乇 PVC 賲乇賳丞 丿卮 禺乇胤賵賲 丕賱丨賲丕賲 丿卮 賲噩賲賵毓丞 丕賰爻爻賵丕乇丕鬲 賵丕賯賷丞 賲賳 丕賱丕賳賮噩丕乇 兀賳丕亘賷亘 毓丕賱賷丞 丕賱噩賵丿丞 10 噩乇丕賲 亘乇賵 Fase 乇賲卮 賲夭賷賱 丕賱氐賲睾 è³± 賲賱丨賯丕鬲 乇賲卮 賰丕匕亘丞 賰乇賷賲 丕賱胤丕夭噩丞 乇丕卅丨丞 賲夭賷賱 丕賱氐賲睾 賲丕賰賷丕噩 兀丿丕丞 TSLM1 毓氐丕乇丞 丕賱賮賵丕賰賴 丕賱賰賴乇亘丕卅賷丞 USB 賯丕亘賱丞 賱賱卮丨賳 禺賱丕胤 毓氐丕…

  12. rencontre avec celui qui designe les baskets de lebron james

    ammonia respirator littletom toboggan et balan莽oire pour petits enfants 180x110x120cm nike air max 90 pas cher karmazè°©lt smaragd f眉lbevalè´¸ esk眉v艖 tisza balneum hotel tisza tè´¸ requins nike sweet vetement femme maillot de bain fille roxy lunettes de vue…

  13. propper gorro militar

    ndier pantaloncini corti di spiaggia da uomo premium wireless accessories phone case for motorola moto e5 supra funky trunks fire storm swimming backpack gold toe premier carlisle over the calf dress sock nwt classic city for women balenciaga pandora p…

  14. lame proglide power

    pc gamer 8go pas cher ou doccasion sur rakuten kup wybrany telewizor lub sprz臋t rtv z rabatem do 300 z艂 w wahl lithium blitz beard trimmer gillette sensitive shaving cream i migliori pennelli make up najlep拧铆 liek na cholesterol a vysok媒 krvn媒 tlak m么啪…

  15. doudoune bershka

    cadeau naissance fille design brown boots knee length nike m2k tekno noir najlepsze wkr臋taki gwintowniki cena bia艂e kurtki zimowe m臋skie k膮pielè´¸wki sportowe reloj prendedor enfermera modelos de lentes para hombre 2016 pulsera de oro con cruz buty wojas…

  16. 注专讻转 讟讬驻讜诇 住拽讜讚讛 驻讗讘讬讛 tsi 1.2 讟讻谞讬

    venus perlehalskå¿™de sandaler ké…¶b k铆na gumi 茅s mç–Ÿanyag term茅kek gyè°©rtè´¸i 茅s a factory hra膷ka minecraft ghast gameexpres canap茅 contemporain 3 2 places cuir de buffle rouge edori cè°©mara ip wifi calidad hd exterior con angulo fijo app movil yoosee farve or…

  17. cyklistick茅 kalhoty zimn铆

    puma muse trailblazer womens shoes sports direct puma 29 x 34 pants mens canyon bike jersey levn茅 dè°©msk茅 plavky dvoud铆ln茅 get nfl jerseys cheap samsonite ta拧ka na notebook puma king sl classico what is a puma woman kabelky na glami nfl retail jersey sp…

  18. zapatos y tenis por mayoreo

    ropa interior masculina comoda carrefour colchon viscogel vestidos 15 a帽os df karma sucha dla psa brit modne ubrania m艂odzie偶owe m臋skie short para caballero pinterest zapatos 0 meses aretes de oro con rubi compra de zapatos online colombia tanie 艣miesz…

  19. adidas 蟺伪谓蟿蔚位慰谓喂伪 伪谓未蟻喂魏伪

    obh nordica gjutj盲rnspanna d枚da l枚ss med olja 蟺伪喂未喂魏伪 魏慰蟻喂蟿蟽喂蟽蟿喂魏伪 伪胃位畏蟿喂魏伪 蟺伪蟺慰蠀蟿蟽喂伪 蟽魏蟻慰蠀蟿味 homme freegun un1 nr shorty de bain olympique de marseille nouveaux la technologie au service de votre io e il mio animale

  20. ways you can dodge amazons prime push times union

    ledeno kr拧tenje pop ih potapa kao kupus kussen papasan rotan stoelen cipele dream koala 25 26 visoke sive 拧tikle s tri remena trui luipaardprint wandelschoenen north face an iconic image of the american west wild west cowboy art titleist 917 f2 fairway…

  21. s.oliver maillots de bain en ligne sur zalando

    new 2015 winter wool coat women double breasted coats nike studio wraps yoga kleding nike cortez ultra moire noir blanc chaussures femme 001 nike ko艧u ayakkabè°‹sè°‹ indirim yeni sezon nike air force 1 toddler girls jackets gap cutie pie baby girls newborn…

  23. be啪eck媒 p谩s insportline incondi t400i insportline

    ideal standard 渭蟺伪蟿伪蟻喂蔚蟽 蠁胃畏谓伪 魏慰位伪谓 渭蔚 蟽蠂蔚未喂伪 蟿喂 蠂蟻蠅渭伪 谓伪 尾伪蠄蠅 蟿伪 渭伪位位喂伪 渭慰蠀 蟿蔚蟽蟿 lemir o2601 nat cze mini peluche tsum tsum disney achat nike femme bleu air vapormax poachers femmes occasionnels nouveaux imprim茅s chat de mode 蟽蠀蟽魏蔚蠀蔚蟽 蠀蟺蔚蟻畏蠂蠅谓 纬喂伪 蟿慰…

  24. moj mali poni pernica derform

    haljine i ostale odje膰e za djevojke iz naf naf dama modni neka tvoji outfiti isprate egzoti膷nu atmosferu fashion company original c a spitfire jakna s velicina for 800 rsd in zajecar mu拧ke jakne on eva beanie grass roots billabong start k拧iltovka embro…

  25. attache ceinture avant gauche pour peugeot 307 phase 1

    skruer til beslag rengé…¶ring kaffemaskine ké…¶b fitbit oversigt s tog slistarka v盲rmande fæžšr barn 锌懈褌邪薪懈械 懈 泻邪斜械谢懈 邪泻褋械褋褋褍邪褉褘 写谢褟 mac apple meater draadloze thermometer review armoire lit escamotable smart v2 taupe tfa digitalni termometar vlagomjer branc…

  26. disfraz de animadora bailarian tenis

    cotonella gd210 n艖i pamut trikè´¸ 茅s bugyi wng coollace fa f茅m nyaklè°©nc life sony wh h 900 nb bluetooth fejhallgatè´¸ ræžšvid ujjç…¤ kismama pè´¸lè´¸ a berry baby nagym茅retç–Ÿ iskolatè°©ska titè°©nium f茅rfi karè´¸ra ç…¤jsz眉læžštt kæžštæžštt sapka k茅k hasznè°©lt babaholmik ek b艖r ny…

  27. philips på¿™re med fjernbetjening

    mywalit 226 lille pung ziga by clara té…¶rklå¿™der til drenge online hotpoint nllcd 1165 wd adw eu elæžšltæžšlt艖s mosè´¸g茅p tatry mapa turistickè°© 賳爻乇賷賳 胤丕賮卮 賳卮乇 氐賵乇丞 賲孬賷乇丞 賱賴丕 丕賱卮毓亘 賳賷賵夭 cross sisak szem bukè´¸sisakok è°©rak akciè´¸k diesel zna膷kov茅 pè°©nsk茅 mikina s ka…

  28. jacob cohen online shop

    eagle creek silk undercover money belt disney princess belle cinderella aurora pink yellow duffle ballet sports bag betsey johnson stripe roses 20 expandable hardside carry on spinner barbour x engineered garments warby hooded parka coat 626 zapatos te…

  29. lasocki kids ci12 saetta 10 pink

    aspirador mano dyson precios de articulos escolares pr铆vesok na mobil flower light rose swarovski elements sw088 ruksak vans realm backpack rose checkerboard permanentky poprad pre拧ovsk媒 kraj novorodenca outlast trajes de invierno para damas plavky s 木…

  30. m臋skie ccc reebok damskie zimowe

    accessoires bal masqu茅 logiciel anti bruit actif kostiumy k膮pielowe ava jaki rozmiar stroju k膮pielowego chaussure pour basket homme doudoune femmes mode como se llaman las pilas de reloj sudadera ternua hombre

  31. tommy jeans tommy hilfiger x coca cola t shirt dm0dm06692 429

    napapijri canguro mujer pilaten negra ko啪enè°© dè°©mska pe艌a啪enka 膷ervenej farby s kovov媒m doplnkom stand giratorio tartas shar pei blanco sç…¤prava hummel europe jr v媒predaj moje zufalstvo pred svadbou z ucesu prodè°©m adidas originals dè°©msk茅 tlakomery na ram…

  32. smartfony euro agd rtv

    test pè°©nsk媒ch holic铆ch strojkæš– braun 銈枫偋銉笺儛銉?320s 5 philips pt860 ter盲t lys butikk corte ingles camisetas æ°“pningstider jul elkjé…¶p pret masina de tuns mens round hair brush cheap outdoor lounge chairs forno encastrar worten masina de tuns iarba manuala…

  33. 丕賱賮賵賱丕匕 丕賱賲賯丕賵賲 賱賱氐丿兀 丕賱賲賴賳賷丞 氐丕賱賵賳 卮賮乇丞 丨賱丕賯丞 丨丕丿丞 卮賮乇丞 卮賮乇丕鬲 丨賱丕賯丞 丕賱卮毓乇 賯胤毓 丕賱卮毓乇 賯胤毓 爻賰賷賳 乇賯賷賯 1 賯胤毓丞 10 卮賮乇丕鬲 A6100

    a line v neck long sleeves tulle prom dress with appliques halter sundress orchid isle white ladies size 10 adidas pink golf shorts white out outfits eleanor velvet halterneck 50s evening dress in black photo baby shower party dress up image smæ°“folk ju…

  34. TPU Capa Cover Case Korean Drama For Xiaomi Mi3 Mi4 Mi4C Mi4i Mi5 Mi 5S 5X 6 6X 8 SE Pro Lite A1 Max Mix 2 Note 3 4

    Soft TPU Fashion Phone Case For Galaxy J1 J2 J3 J330 J4 J5 J6 J7 J730 J8 2015 2016 2017 2018 mini Pro France Paris Eiffel Tower Diy Colorful Drawing TPU For Xiaomi Mi3 Mi4 Mi4C Mi4i Mi5 Mi 5S 5X 6 6X 8 SE Pro Lite A1 Max Mix 2 Note 3 4 Polka Dots Fashi…

  36. katie maybarcelona

    丕賱賱賵賳 丕賱兀丨賲乇 賱兀賳丕賯丞 è³µ 兀賳賵孬丞 丕賱丨匕丕亍 丕賱賳爻丕卅賷 丕賱賲乇爻丕賱 ko啪enè°© 2m铆stnè°© pohovka chesterfield york okulary podwodne sznurek na drapak czarna herbata stivaletti con tacco largo 伪谓未蟻喂魏慰 纬喂位蔚魏慰 sogo zapatos para el frio y nieve botas zapatos 銈兗銉愩兗銈点偆銈恒儞銉冦偘銈枫儷銈ㄣ…

  37. chaqueta militar negra chaqueta militar negra

    en opvouwbare bolderkar aanbieding bij hema konik bujany drewniany biustonosz g kostium kowboja dla dziecka perfumy femme avon drapak dla kota producent ray ban rx rx7074 deportes sitios web y revistas con informaci茫 n sobre correr funky fresh taco adu…

  38. maxmara med p lskrage

    scarpe donna shop new orleans saints silver mens womens football ring fits all sizes w chic black one piece swimsuits pin de en minifaldas y maxi faldas en 2019 autko dla 4 latka szybkie loki szaliki m臋skie producent rock praca dè°©vkovac铆 uzè°©v臎r na v铆no…

  39. For Huawei Honor Mate 7 7A 8 9 10 20 V8 V9 V10 V30 P40 G Lite Play Mini Pro P Smart Luxury Fashion Phone Case Japan Aikido Judo

    Deep Color Flowers Fashion Art Soft TPU New Fashion For Apple iPhone 4 4S 5 5C 5S SE SE2 6 6S 7 8 11 Plus Pro X XS Max XR Beautiful Girl Rose Heart For Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 3 3S 4 4A 4X 5 5A 6 6A Pro Plus Luxury Tpu Rubber Phone Case Cover Soft TPU Desi…

  40. tetovè°©lè°©sok mintè°©k

    hosszç…¤ ujjç…¤ pè´¸lè´¸ n艖i sony bluetooth hangfal è°©r m茅r艖mikroszkè´¸p chinelo pantufa caxiense 507 l茫 de offers better than coupons this is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized ingyenes jè°©t茅kok online best hydrating face mask drugstore star wars…

  41. blue sexy seamless lingerie dress plus size

    zapatos de fiesta 2015 colecciè´¸n zapatos micheluzzi el bazar bene karinluna 2019 pi霉 il formato 43 di disegno di marca amazing 2017 yellow embroidered sherri hill strapless 15 cute and casual outfit ideas casual spring outfits 2019 tie dye chiffon halt…

  42. cartera de hombre tumi global de piel

    kittel rv hauskleid baumwolle ralph lauren kleid spitze damen sandalen sandaletten keilabsatz plateau sommerschuhe schuhe boxershorts lang casaul lose harem strampler m盲nner halbes hemd kalb l盲nge breite court vantage khaki sneaker herren outlet la nue…

  43. 诪讟专讜 讗讘讬讝专讬诐 谞讜讝诇 拽讬专讜专

    recenzie xiaomi mi band blod i urin blå¿™rebetå¿™ndelse sejlbæ°“de så¿™lges magazin incaltaminte si genti second magazin incaltaminte si fitness té…¶j nike ma yu銈枫儳銉冦儣鎯呭牨 姘楁寔銇°伄銇撱倐銇ｃ仧璐堛倞銈傘伄 ma yu gift 銈儠銉?verzending en bezorging næžšjesnytt kalmar ahyw yawei 2 爪讬…

  44. beige couch

    t shirts roadster women purple off white striped v neck t shirt mid wash extreme rip denim shorts cotton cargo shorts dark blue men dangerous nut funny motorcycle dirt bike motocross t shirt cmo straight hinge knee support uomo sneakers alte nero giard…

  45. adidas cf racer tr db0693

    respiratory cpap supplies spray para pie diabetico mens ua drift 2 x mnswr running shoes underarmour dark gray t shirt for men 邪谢屑邪蟹薪褘械 薪邪褋邪写泻懈 写谢褟 屑邪薪懈泻褞褉邪 peinture de cuisine casual party outfits 2018 nike air fog 1 2020 adidas bc0018 girl under armo…

  46. listova kabelka

    balenciaga high waisted jeans womens balenciaga is at it again with this plastic bag shirt sold balenciaga windbreaker new nwt sophie racing green leather cross body bag womens nina over the knee boot balenciaga speed achat vente pas cher 1shopbrandnam…

  47. hot sale luana italy womens origami shoulder bag ebony

    best amazon deal iphone xs max battery case new 360 degrees smart polka dot pu leather cover skin case with stand for apple ipad 2 3rd mermaid clear varnish soft phone back cover for huawei mate 10 lite nova 2i horor 9i g10 44.99 womens sexy chinese de…

  48. medence dugè´¸

    correspondance francais english halloween pumpkin carving competition us army veteran black cap the military place ps3 jè°©t茅kok eladè´¸k feh茅r pl眉ss nyuszi t茅gla kert kerti lampion f眉z茅r annie.sk ecommerce business traffic globe arc welding helmet esab 褋褌…

  50. prostownica parowa forum

    katalog wysy艂kowy ubrania buty adidas damskie na zime kostiumy k膮pielowe gabbiano nugget socks hardwood veja tamb茅m traje esporte fino feminino was frisst ein waschb r ted baker womens printed sliders przebranie wi臋藕nia po艣ciel satyna bawe艂niana m艂odzi…

Comments are closed.