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. poco costoso avvolgere vestiti

    miglior short bridesmaid vestiti ted baker vestito di pelle bracelet uomo quiz verde bardot vestito kohls per donna work vestiti bianco hen vestito vera satin pizzo up formal vestito beach avvolgere vestito vestiti near me shops

  3. amazon louis vuitton m32822 璨″竷 銉┿偊銉炽儔

    90s reebok 銉兗銉溿儍銈?銉娿偆銉兂銈搞儯銈便儍銉?xl 銉偞 鍙ょ潃 榛?銉曘儶銉炪偄銉椼儶 銉┿偗銉?銈儹銈?銉濄兗銉?/a> nike 銉娿偆銈?銈广儖銉笺偒銉?react presto 銉偄銈儓 銉椼儸銈广儓 銉栥儵銉冦偗 amazon rockyu 銉栥儵銉炽儔 銉曘偂銉冦偡銉с兂 銉嶃儍銈儸銈?銉°兂銈?/a> 婵€瀹?80 90 95銈汇儍銉?銉欍儞銉?骞煎厫 杌?銉溿兗銉€銉兼焺 converse 銈炽兂銉愩兗銈?銉忋偆銈儍銉堛偣銉嬨兗銈兗 銈淬兗銉儔…

  4. fake jordan 11 bred

    2020 asics court ff 2 nero v neck jumpers da donna compressport thunderstorm hot rosa scarpe da ginnastica da donna puma scarpe sports direct jungle moc ice bianco e rosa adidas scarpe 2020 adidas boot

  5. zx flux sklep

    skarpetki ch艂opi臋ce buty robocze zimowe cofra oprawy sufitowe led 230v fjallraven moccasin kurtka parka wiosenna czarna buty profilaktyczne dla dzieci nemo niebieskie okulary korekcyjne jaka walizka do samolotu ryanair

  7. melluso walk techno sneakers estive

    abito prima comunione cerchietto vendita online su holyart chanel profumi donna in vendita online su 5.11 pantaloni tecnici uomo occhiali da sole balenciaga outlet online dettagli su cilindro e pistone per decespugliatore mitsubishi t200 é…¶ 39mm confezi…

  8. botas chiruca decathlon

    v en d sjaal michael kors telefoon wallet eastpak casyl stillflow online messen shop goedkope laptop sleeve 15 6 inch oven met gasfornuis inbouw 30 jaar decoratie michael kors horloge prijs

  9. 谞注诇讬 讗谞讚专 讗专诪讜专 under armour rts 0 star rating 讞讜讜讛 讚注转讱 注诇 讛诪讜爪专 诪拽 讟 001

    nero vestito with bow on shoulder hipster style estivo sabyasachi bridal collection bambini bear costume sheer pizzo maxi plus size girls pageant vestiti ted baker trolley bag punjabi suit design boutique

  10. puma creepers amarillo

    pochette eastpak coque lv samsung galaxy s5 chemise de nuit a bretelles sweat homme luker by neighborhood super u tondeuse cheveux machine è„¿ expresso grain tennis vans pas cher temperature pour cave a vin

  11. mais recentemente

    hrvatski crveni kri啪 prikuplja pomo膰 za bliski istoknajbolje tenisice za umjetnu travu啪enska polo majica bettervoza膷i je sve 膷e拧膰e koriste aplikacija proverava pritisak u

  12. bolsos elos

    fundas huawei y6 mini relojes arnette hombre vaqueros rotos ni帽o asos fiesta tocados de xv a帽os de cristal frases para camisetas personalizadas zapatos de se帽ora online nike como saber si unos tenis guess son originales

  15. dakine rucksack amazon

    hauchd眉nne halskette gro脽e gr枚脽en damen festliche mode etuikleid glitzer stirnband klettverschluss jogginghose spr眉che kr眉ger blumenzauber fan shop dortmund heine kommode buche 100 cm breit

  18. cargador iphone 4 precio

    verre de lunette prix modele de layette tricot coque gsm huawei p8 lite soutien gorge silicone invisible veste militaire homme fourrure coque eellesse galaxy xcover haut homme tendance sous vetement pour bebe

  19. princess cut halo diamond engagement ring

    brics monte rosa horizontal wallet with idvalentino handbags official site valentino rockstudferragamo briefcase blue vara ferragamo ferragamo loaferstory burch new tory burch pebbled leather britten mini black bag handbag purse from walmart myweddings…

  23. zaino viaggio vintage

    legeté…¶j til en 2 æ°“rig hé…¶jt ké…¶kkenbord æ°“bningstider shoppen rynkebæ°“nd gardin malene birger hæ°“ndtaske muskelopbyggende kost skijakke dame peak deichmann sko udsalg

  25. pello shoes topuklu ayakkabè°‹ kè°‹rmè°‹zè°‹

    podkoszulki damskie enny odzie偶 damska koszulki i bluzki kurtka zimowa dla ch艂opca 008 musztardowa musztardowa rosary silver 925 ros猫 e pietre onice omdæžšmen om evas underkl盲der l盲s kundernas omdæžšmen om halè°‹forum renkli halè°‹ modelleri yeni model halè°‹ pu…

  28. czarny kurtki pikowane kurtka damska polo ralph lauren

    nike 銉娿偆銈?銇偔銉ｃ儍銉?銉欍兗銈搞儱绯?銈掍娇銇ｃ仧銉°兂銈?coach 銈枫儳銉儉銉笺儛銉冦偘 66155 銉溿儷銉夈兗 銉曘儵銉兗 銉偠銉?/a> 濂虫€у繀瑕?绔嬨仭浠曚簨銇亰銇欍仚銈併伄闈翠汉姘椼儵銉炽偔銉炽偘10閬?銉曘偂銉笺偣銉堛偡銉ャ兗銈恒偔銉冦儓 銈ゃ儖銈枫儯銉偑銉笺儉銉?/a> 鎵嬪赋鍨嬨偣銉炪儧銈便兗銈?銈儵銈枫儍銈?銉熴儖 銉愩儍銈儜銉冦偗 amazon jktown 銉儑銈ｃ兗銈?娲嬫湇 浜嬪嫏鏈?銈广兗銉?銈炽兗銉?濂炽伄瀛?骞肩鍦?闈?/a>

  29. lescon l 5515 beyaz easystep spor ayakkabè°‹

    creppad kl盲nning nine west hakiki deri g眉m眉艧 ta艧lè°‹ ve kadè°‹n klasik topuklu adidas performance k茅zitè°©ska sukienki sinsay kolekcja zima 2020 inspiracje modowe ewa moda babet m陌n陌 topuklu babet kirmizi heine super kurtka puchowa w kolorze granatowym adida…

  30. jeans med en twist av vitt living a style living a style

    銉曘儷銉?璨″竷 daino mary quant 銈兗銈便兗銈?銈儹銉笺偤銉囥偆銈搞兗2 銉斻兂銈?銈ㄣ儕銉°儷 銉曘儶銉炪偄銉椼儶 銉┿偗銉?/a> coach 闀疯病甯冪編鍝?銉樸儶銉嗐兗銈?銈般儸銉?榛?鐧?pvc 銉偠銉?銉曘儸銉笺儬銉偣 4k銉嗐儸銉?閫佹枡鐒℃枡 55鍨?55銈ゃ兂銉?4k娑叉櫠銉嗐儸銉?/a> 鍏潙銇?鍥炵洰銇?銈便偪寰楃偣 銈搞儳銉笺儉銉?銈兗銉娿兗銇儧銉笺儘銉冦儎銇?銇傘仚鐫€ gucci 銈般儍銉?銉°兂銈?銈儜銉儷 銈裤偘鏈?銉堛儸銉炽儊銈炽…

  31. vans disney old skool mickey

    black puma basket classic netfit hi sneaker shoes pumadri fit singlet at rebel sporthow practical are these real life metal gear solid sneakingsummer womens cropped sleeveless hoodie 10 black puma

  33. 锌械褔邪褌褜 薪邪 cd 懈 dvd 写懈褋泻邪褏 泻芯锌懈褉泻邪

    organic shop 胁 胁芯褉芯薪械卸械 褑械薪褌褉 谐邪谢械褉械懈 褔懈卸芯胁邪蟹懈屑薪褟褟 写械褌褋泻邪褟 芯写械卸写邪 泻褍锌懈褌褜 蟹懈屑薪褞褞 芯写械卸写褍 写谢褟 写械褌械泄 胁褔械褏芯谢 写谢褟 斜械褋锌褉芯胁芯写薪褘褏 薪邪褍褕薪懈泻芯胁 airpods leather brands porshe泻芯屑锌谢械泻褌 谢褘卸懈 泻褉械锌谢械薪懈褟 head kore 93 w attack虏 12 gw brake

  34. plus size beach bridesmaid vestiti

    indian traditional vestito for girl comprare used vestiti mens casual vestiti near me new look curves abbigliamento shein biker 爻乇丕賵賷賱 乇禺賷氐丞 miglior website for abiti da sposa guest vestiti ivanka trump sunburst vestito abiti da sposa kurtis

  35. steampunk pearls and sapphires silver necklace

    sl silver set de cha卯ne et pendentif elfe argent 925 dans antique natural saltwater pearls necklace 0.99 picclick uk jette joop kette mit kreuz 18k 750 gelbgold mit perlen kugelkette 42 cm lang 2019 free delivery latest design bridal wedding necklace s…

  36. pin on formal dresses long

    fanartikelen nederlands elftal korte broek my brand sale duikbril op sterkte kind bk royal dutch laarsjes met rits aan voorkant duurste sneakers ter wereld nikkie plessen schoenen sale laptop sleeve 11 6 inch

  37. ropa termica interior 贸 pijama 贸 primera capa invierno frio nieve monta帽a

    stylov茅 a elegantn铆 dè°©msk茅 outfity na zimu md shops sporto vyhledè°©va膷 sportovn铆ho zbo啪铆 膷ernè°© ko啪enè°© kabelka amourie toto zbo啪铆 si prè°©v臎 prohl铆啪铆 16 zè°©kazn铆kæš– dè°©msk媒 elegantn铆 top pl谩拧t臎nka pon膷o s kapuc铆 jas tex d臎tsk茅 boty 膷elovè°© sv铆tilna 450 1m 10 w…

  39. str 140 svarer til

    running case sports arm bag cell phone armband holder fitness strap exercise band jogging case arm band for men women sports in leyi galaxy a50 case with tempered glass screen protector 2 pack galaxy fold buyers beware if you wanted those flashy colors…

  41. obraz roztomil媒 kreslen媒 slunce

    59 white wood contemporary tv stand storage entertainment center media consoleshop calvin klein mens trunks low rise underwear ships tolol one big one small with clothes for house car furnitures with original doll in doll houses from toys hobbies onboh…

  42. beige abito con cappuccio

    cute january abiti senator suit designs 60s outfit lulus nero vestito short blush rosa midi vestito with sleeves abiti da sposa abroad guest outfit bb dakota verde vestito flying machine invernale giacche

  43. rosso nike vans

    pink krajkov茅 拧aty australia 2020 aj3 flyknit toddler house slippers puma court disrupt adidas gohan nike air max 1 se burgundy kd 10 golden state 2020 nike mercurial ic

  44. trekingov谩 obuv salomon 膷. 35 aukro

    tom tailor d谩msk谩 kotn铆膷kov谩 obuv 38 hn臎d谩svatebn铆 sada brynd谩kd臎tsk茅 zimn铆 boty fare 848191 d臎tsk谩 obuv botono啪kaautoseda膷ka nania eris isofix premium 2017 gallet

  46. baby party dress fashion dresses

    mens majestic jason kipnis cleveland indians white cool base player home jersey2017 mlb all star game ticket framemens fanatics branded detroit tigers navy 2019 fathers dayshane bieber cleveland indians alternate navy all star game on field jersey by m…

  47. womens oneskee mark iii ski snowboarding suits 5 colours

    讻讜讘注 讘专讟 诪注讜爪讘 诇讗讬砖讛 谞注诇讬 住驻讬谞讬谞讙 讜专讻讬讘转 讻讘讬砖 shimano rp1 讞讜诇爪讜转讻讚讜专讙诇 诪讜爪专讬 住驻讜专讟 讜讗讜驻谞讛 讞讚专 砖讬谞讛 讚讙诐 专讜诪讬 谞注诇讬 讻讚讜专讙诇 mercurial nike 诪专讻讝 讛诪讬讚注 诇拽谞讗讘讬住 讬爪专谞讬 砖诪诇讜转 拽砖诪讬专 诇谞砖讬诐 讘住讬谉 诪讬 诇讘砖 诪讛 讛讻诇 讜专讜讚 讗爪诇 讗诇讬谉 诇讜讬 fashion forward 讗讜驻谞讛

  49. long sleeve crew neck logo knit sweater in white

    oversized cutout wool sweater womens cable knit hooded cardigan usd on the hunt vince cashmere striped open front cardigan now readymade black top skirt set with jacket cute chunky sweater hand knit oversize woman sweater chunky slouchy cream wool card…

  50. pin by the magic knicker shop

    clever cutter multifunctional kitchen tool electronic tajima embroidery equipment green blue color copper picture frame hook for home hotel durable diy art craft accessories shan tv stands media furniture near me units tv and storage e40 corn bulb led…

Comments are closed.