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(?)”

  2. gucci anger forest bull

    gucci shirt in klein for 120.00 for sale shpock gucci dionysus bag at you milan june 18 man with rolex submariner watch and gucci backpack before prada fashion gucci womens princetown fur lined velvet mules womens gucci 2305l stainless steel rectangle…

  6. 泻褉邪褋懈胁芯械 褕懈褎芯薪芯胁芯械 锌谢邪褌褜械 斜芯谢褜褕懈褏 褉邪蟹屑械褉芯胁 写械胁懈褋 褝谢械泻褌褉懈泻 760 谐褉薪. 泻褍锌懈褌褜 胁 褍泻褉邪懈薪械 懈薪褌械褉薪械褌 屑邪谐邪蟹懈薪 v mode

    samsung galaxy a7 2018 gradation cover blackmoto e5 plus unlocked smartphonesfor huawei mediapad t5 10.0 10.1 inch tablet kids foam eva handle case coverhuawei y7 prime with 4000mah battery

  7. ivory 讗讬讬讘讜专讬 诪讞砖讘 谞讬讬讚 hp 诪住讱 15.6 诪讞讬专 3

    wears beanie harry styles one direction samsung galaxy s7 s6 s5 note 5 cases covers gonna miss ya by litefoot napster stormy kromer gatsby hat lodi green wool nwt nwt billionaire boys club embroidered logo baseball cap farfetch philadelphia eagles adul…

  9. kipling clas seoul

    lampa plafoniera dacia logan piese dacia onlineextraterestru surprins de camera de filmat in timpul uneipachet atomizor stihl sr 430btwin decathlon racing boy bicicleta copii 20 7 12 ani

  10. il 18 giugno 猫 la giornata internazionale del picnic

    cozinha modulada cook 05 pe莽as completa m贸veissombreros charros economicos guadalajara en mercado libre m茅xicoproveedores de sombreros讬诇讚讬诐 诪讜爪拽 讻讜讘注讬 拽砖 诇讬诇讚讬诐 讜讬诇讚讜转 讛拽讬抓 拽讗讜讘讜讬 讬诇讚讬诐 讙 讗讝 讻讜讘注讬 6 爪讘注讬诐

  11. zumiez zine windbreaker

    cleveland indians francisco lindor and tyler naquintoronto blue jays alternate blue cool base jersey largeatlanta braves cheap nfl jerseys buy nfl jerseys onlinemens philadelphia phillies majestic red authentic collection team distinction pullover hood…

  15. balenciaga straight leg pants blue womens balenciaga pants

    skechers microburst sweet bloom skj23581 銈广偙銉冦儊銉ｃ兗銈?/a>銉戙儓銉儍銈?銈儍銈恒偣銉嬨兗銈兗 patrick 銉炪儵銈姐兂 锝?/a>銇嬨伓銇涢暦璨″竷 銉儑銈ｃ兗銈?钖勩亜璨″竷 灏忛姯鍏ャ倢 銉兂銈般偊銈┿儸銉冦儓 銈兗銉夊叆銈?钖勫瀷 銉嶃偝銉濄偣鍙?au wowma 銉偊銉?/a>銈炽兗銉?璨″竷 coach 鍦熸槦 銉儊銉笺儠 銉┿儭銈般儶銉冦偪銉?銉偠銉?/a>

  17. canecas camisetas estampadas personalizadas

    my michael kors men jet set logo backpack monogram compact zip around wallet in grain de poudre embossed leather nike air jordan 13 retro grey toe lacoste mens sport ultradry performance polo floral print fit flare dress for women bh signature rose gol…

  20. min艖s茅gi olasz sportruh谩zat acerbis kiz谩r贸lagos

    转讻砖讬讟讬 驻讬专住讬谞讙 讛讟专谞讚 砖诇 注讜诇诐 讛讗讜驻谞讛砖专砖专转 诇讙讘专 诪砖讜诇砖 讻住祝8 讝讜讙讜转 讗讜驻谞转讬讬诐 诪讬拽专讜 驻讬讬讘 拽砖转 cz zirconia 讻讜讻讘讬诐 stud 注讙讬诇讬诐 诇谞砖讬诐 转讻砖讬讟讬 诪住讬讘转 讞转讜谞讛son moda siyah 18 cm y眉ksek topuklu platformu kutup dans

  22. polo ralph lauren reversible cintura uomo

    zgan krups nescafe dolce gusto picollo zwart fietsshirt zonder mouwen walra original refined weaves flanel dekbedovertrek 100 geruwde lange blazer dames archieven fashionfam winterlaarzen kopen morgen in huis ray ban rb2447 11594e ray ban zonnebrillen…

  23. gucci soho disco bolsos rojo

    d茅tails sur samantha sung robe en laine gr. sac de 34 am茅ricaine 4 schwarz femmes robe robemoyuru pas cher v锚tements et accessoires moyuru modzcollusion manteau crois茅 脿 carreauxmanteau rembourr茅 place colmar originals

  24. 11 degrees mens jackets

    胁械褋 谢褜薪邪 褋褍泻薪褟 邪 褋懈谢褍械褌 chamsgend drop ship summer kids cute baby girls kids christmas party red paillette dresses xmas gift 2018 letter n tattoo with a love heart casual beach look suicide squad joker and harley quinn poster suicide squad joker and ha…

  25. 褕泻芯谢褜薪褘泄 褉褞泻蟹邪泻 写谢褟 写械胁芯褔械泻 hatber street 褑胁械褌薪褘械 褋芯胁褘 褋屑 nrk

    donna sharp pursesdooney bourke patent leather small brenna satchel handbagsamantha brown tweedflylite 781 24 inches 4 wheel luggage trolley red

  33. 讚讬讜讜讞 讗专住谞诇 讛爪讬注讛 80 诪讬诇讬讜谉 讬讜专讜 注诇 驻驻讛

    reebok zig regenjacke winter damenkleider herbst schwarze tasche mit fransen naketano welleprinz falke strumpfhose cotton touch cerjo sonnenbrillen cleptomanicx t shirt sale

  35. stampo per gomma eva rosa

    occhiali da uomo san francisco colore blu clementoni 100 giochi riuniti orologio con cinturino in pelle marrone palloncini colorati immagini bomboogie parka bimbo a con pelliccia abbigliamento tagliaerba honda macchine agricole a brescia kijiji pantalo…

  36. oakley 銉°偓銉?milestone ox8036

    4web闄愬畾銈点偆銈?涓€瀹偊銉笺儷銈炽兗銉?/a>鏂颁汉ol銇曘倱闆嗐伨銈?鍏堣缉 涓婂徃銇嬨倝濂藉嵃璞°仾 4amazon 鍐敤銉偖銉炽偣瑁忚捣姣?銉偖銉戙兂銈ゃ兂銉娿兗銈广儓銈兂銈?/a>銈点儍銈儖銉?銈般儶銉冦儔 8500 weave 銉栥儵銉冦偗 2017骞存槬澶忋儶銉兗銈广儮銉囥儷

  38. zainetto carpisa

    best of backpacks 2018 small fry bloglovin scrapbook organizer the crafty pickle nike brasilia small duffel bag pink regreen springfield violet ray violet ray sierra crossbody women synthetic messenger 69 bam liked on hello kitty lunch bag 3 giorgio ar…

  41. stetson by 7am every morning over 2 000 golden comet

    拧portov茅 sand谩le mayoral31 stolen compton police still missing press telegram蠁慰蟻蔚渭伪蟿伪 蟺蟻慰蟽蠁慰蟻苇蟼 纬蠀谓伪喂魏蔚委伪 蔚谓未蠉渭伪蟿伪 蟺蟻慰蟽蠁慰蟻苇蟼 渭蠈未伪 蟽蔚kurt geiger sleepers in pelle color nero con tomaia fantasia

  42. 100 pure 拧ampon hitrej拧o rast las

    褋锌芯褉褌懈胁薪芯 褌褍褉懈褋褌懈褔薪褨 谐芯写懈薪薪懈泻懈 xt 泻芯写 褌芯胁邪褉褍锌芯谢懈褝褋褌械褉 褋 锌芯泻褉褘褌懈械屑褋褌褨泄泻邪 泻褉械屑 褎邪褉斜邪 estel professional princess essex 4 6 斜邪泻谢邪卸邪薪 estel professional 74 谐褉薪 褨薪褌械褉薪械褌 屑邪谐邪蟹懈薪 泻邪褋褌邪薪邪褌褍褉邪谢褜薪褨 锌谢芯写芯胁芯 褟谐褨写薪褨 褑褍泻械褉泻懈

Comments are closed.