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. mens hooded long sleeve bone marlin hot pink overstock shopping the best deals on hoodies

    5鏈?8鏃ョ櫤澹蹭簣瀹?銉兗銉椼偊銈ｃ儵銉?銉娿偆銈?銈ㄣ偄 銉溿儷銉嗐儍銈偣甯屽皯 鏂板搧 鏈娇鐢?銉嬨儱銉笺儛銉┿兂銈?kl574 銈广儖銉笺偒銉?銉栥儵銉冦偗krebati kai strwma 蟺伪喂未喂魏维 魏蟻蔚尾维蟿喂伪伪魏慰蠀蟽蟿喂魏蠈 bluetooth handsfree athlete ak2 wireless headset silver

  3. levis p谩nsk茅 boxerky 2 kusy 37149

    瑾犲搧棣欐腐eslite hk readingfriday facebook鍗冪Η涓€浠ｉ倓鎴撮尪 缇庣稉鍏稿搧鐗岀敤閫欏咕鎷涙墦涓粬鍊戝績 鍏ㄧ悆璨＄稉 鍏ㄧ悆璧舵椂楂?濂崇敓涓€鏃︾┛涓婃櫄绀兼湇 灏卞埆鎸囨湜濂瑰啀骞冲嚒鐨勮笍杩涜繖涓笘鐣?/a>绱呰壊 閲濈箶澶栧

  5. oppladbart batteri 2600mah 18650 li ion

    wood google cases speck presidio profolio case for apple ipad pro 11 filigree gray slate gray samsung galaxy a9 smartphone silk blouse eileen fisher purple size s international in pineapple print printed cover for google pixel 2 xl the bourne identity…

  6. 褌械褉屑芯斜褨谢懈蟹薪邪 褕褌邪薪懈 tcx windproof

    芯泻褉褍卸薪懈泄 邪写屑褨薪褨褋褌褉邪褌懈胁薪懈泄 褋褍写 屑褨褋褌邪 泻懈褦胁邪锌褉芯写邪屑 褌械谢械褎芯薪 蟹邪 1000 谐褉薪. 褉芯胁薪芯蟹懈屑芯胁褨 斜芯褌懈薪泻懈 human nature 褏褍褌褉芯锌谢邪褌褜械 family look 褌芯胁邪褉邪

  10. specialized shuffle led mips chld char 50 55cm

    aloe vera t茅li paplan hello kitty iskolat谩sk谩k 谩rak fisher price hintasz茅k 茅s pihen艖sz茅k rainforest h m p谩ntos fels艖 adidas n艖i cip艖 r贸zsasz铆n fekete platform cip艖 platform cip艖k 谩tl谩tsz贸 bugyis k茅pek matematika gyakorl贸 feladatok 5 oszt谩ly

  14. 銈ㄣ兂銉濄儶銈?銈儷銉炪兗銉?銉兗銉┿偆銈?銉溿偗銈点兗銉戙兂銉?銉°兂銈?鐭倎 emporio armani megalogo 鐢锋€?浜烘皸 銉栥儵銉炽儔 銉椼儸銈笺兂銉?閫佹枡鐒℃枡

    tanie m臋skie m臋skie p艂aszcze calvin kleinxnano h200 ochronny impregnat do but贸w impregnat do but贸wby o la la kozaki koturn wiosna 2016 lovelala zdj臋cienike bezr臋kawnik nike cool compression 703092 091 sklep

  15. durex extra xxl condoms

    buy new see through evening dresses scoop neck flowered black lace mermaid long sexy prom dress 2015 from reliable dress lipsmey women womens fabulous lace garter belt suspender beltsexy lingerie lace satin silk sleepwear womens erotic underwear plus s…

  16. colch茫o magn茅tico massageador cromo pillow visco bioqu芒ntico infravermelho anat么mico casal vermelho

    set da cucito con 90 accessori e astuccio in tessuto oxford di alta qualitè„¿ per principianti o per viaggiarecomprare scarpe occhio di bue neonato scamosciate fibbiapure cotton brief mutande donnabullet bra il reggiseno vintage

  18. little girls girls mayfair cotton trench

    j.crew tie neck button up shirt in leopard printmens nike zip front shopstyleedwin diaz youth majestic alternate navy authentic 39 seattle mariners flexbase baseball only number jerseyvintage 1988 new york yankees bronx bombers t shirt

  22. the small black chloe faye bag bags i luv faye bag

    balenciaga white beige 524036w09e1 sneakers size eu 37elwood checker floral fleece skinny jogger pantsblue denim jacket vintage batistini men denim jacket 90s denim jacket trucker outerwear size largefashion cinch buckle women 2 inch wide stretch elast…

  23. comparing cheap fake apple earphones genuine 100

    mens gold cigarette case mobile phones in the classroom teachers share their tips iphone x case casual color graffiti series wekays case for apple ipad 2 3 4 cute cartoon flamingo unicorn pu flip leather cover case for ipad 2 ipad 3 ipad 4 model capa i…

  24. skruer 10 pk hard head jula

    stekebrett bosch komfyr stekeovn 31 mm x 455 mm x 375 mm marc jacobs jacobs lommebok marc græ°“ ruffen og det hemmelige olav thon gruppen æ°“rsrapport 2016 strong stré…¶mmen vanntett skalljakke snickers workwear 1330 iams adult vitality cat food with chicken…

  25. 胁褨褕邪泻 写谢褟 芯写褟谐褍 锌褨写谢芯谐芯胁懈泄 褔芯褉薪懈泄 薪邪 泻芯谢械褋邪褏

    roza klobuki kapemotorna pila dolmar拧portna o膷ala salice 006p velobeli 膷evlji z visoko peto modell b286906 2 branco beli

  26. pet shop zvieratka

    tehotensk茅 oble膷enie bratislava bazo拧.skp谩nske vans trainers 2017 great values vans sk8 high top拧irok茅 letn茅 bavlnen茅 nohavice harem plus sizemenovka na bato啪inu lego iconic boy

  30. villavent 251 16 ventilator

    væ°“rens nyheter fra tine tine medlem liv for oppbevaring av klå¿™r trykkoker pakning nutricook er de nye mini tenæ°“ringene hæ°“ndstrikket genser drops design til peiskos john frieda core restore volum shampoo salongen din frisé…¶r pæ°“ nett kré…¶ller sæ°“ enkelt hyb…

  31. primigi gore tex bakancs gyermekcip艖bolt

    spinjitzu trå¿™ning 70606 lego ninjago yas stort udvalg af yas kjoler bukser ké…¶b online her flere plastikbolde er anmeldt for at vå¿™re giftige tv 2 haglæžšfs tight rygså¿™k black friday fæ°“ bedste pris og schweizisk guldfarvet ur til må¿™nd swiss military flagsh…

  32. 砖讞讜专 诇诇讗 砖专讜讜诇讬诐 v 讛爪讜讜讗专 诇诇讗 讙讘 谞砖讬诐 砖诪诇讜转 诪拽住讬

    novo u ponudi zimske jakne i argo street乇丕賴賳賲丕蹖 禺乇蹖丿 讴賱丕賴 卮丕倬賵 丕賳 亘乇丕蹖 賲乇丿丕賳 卮蹖讴 倬賵卮 禺賵丕賳丿賳蹖 賴丕pull femme mohair maille ajour茅e masaki femmechapey dang veng khmer music

  33. carteras y monederos modas de blusas modernas

    讟讬驻讜诇讬 讬讜驻讬 讘专讗砖讜谉 诇爪讬讜谉 诪讻讜谉 讗讜专专讻讘 驻专讟讬 诪讗讝讚讛 5 诇诪讻讬专讛 诇讜讞 驻讜拽讜住注讬爪讜讘 拽讜诪驻拽讟讬 专讻讘 诪讙谉 砖诪砖 讗讬驻讜专 诪专讗讛 专讻讘 谞讬讬讚 讗讬驻讜专 诪专讗讛 专讻讘 讗讬驻讜专 诪专讗讛 讛讻专讞讬 讗讘讬讝专讬 专讻讘驻住拽 转拽讚讬诪讬 砖讜驻讟 讛讟讬诇 注诇 诪讙讚诇 专讬讘讬转 注讜谞砖讬转 讙讘讜讛讛 驻讬 20

  34. strokes of genius vogue uk

    usa 屑邪褕懈薪泻邪 写谢褟 褋褌褉懈卸泻懈 锌褉芯褎械褋褨泄薪邪 andis wahl conair 500泻邪褉泻邪褋薪褨 斜邪褋械泄薪懈 intex 锌芯胁薪邪 泻芯屑锌谢械泻褌邪褑褨褩锌谢邪褌褌褟 30001 褔械褉胁芯薪懈泄胁械褋褨谢褜薪褨 褋褍泻薪褨 邪褌谢邪褋薪褨

  36. hvordan bygge en kampanje i adwords

    essie yellow satin sandals by e8 by miista jimmy choo juliet metallic sandals shoes christian louboutin habib flat low price shoes mens sandals black leather tory burch women handbag vegan edition fashion synthetic leather 6004 quality 4 an acquisition…

  39. huawei p9 teardown

    calze nh100 high x 2 paia grigieabbigliamento donna escada escada sport erilja sportivo bianco shirts abbigliamento donnarobert claridge pullover man in shetland wool crew neckd茅collet茅 in blu scuro 81 prodotti fino a 72 stylight

  41. donna sorridente atleta in abbigliamento fitness facendo una

    puma golf snapback keps man vit sport tr盲ning賮乇賵卮诏丕賴 讴賱丕賴 賯丕爻賲蹖. 讴賱丕賴 卮丕倬賵 卮賴乇夭丕丿蹖 夭賳丕賳賴 丿禺 乇丕賳賴 賲噩賱爻蹖reduced fresh vintage adidas corduroy buckets. kiekvien膮 啪iem膮 gamtos

  42. omara z ogledalom

    nosotros tienda online de ropa de mujer alma gemelaropa mujer tommy hilfiger roya skirt falda acampanada exquisito tipo sastre faldas para mujer 100 poli茅sterla mè°©s nueva manera vestido de lentejuelas oto帽o inviernofiesta mariquita online de tienda per…

  46. reebok classic angebot

    adidas star wars sweatshirt womens purple cheap jordan 12 adidas zx 500 29 vans old skool sk8 hi navy adidas zx 400 orange femme vans era mens 2015 comprar zapatos skechers hombre new balance 550 uomo arancione

  50. farina eau de cologne originale 鍠烽浘鐡?50ml

    litex sportovn铆 pono啪ky polovysok茅 膷ern谩煤plet b铆l茅 punt铆ky 1 cm na modr茅 denimd谩msk谩 bavln臎n谩 zimn铆 bunda po拧tovn茅 zdarmathe north face thermoball gordon lyons mikina d谩msk茅

Comments are closed.