I Come From Nowhere(?)

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. szexi st铆lus煤 ruha

    kontaktlencse betegs茅gek 铆gy meg eg茅szs茅gkalauz bose soundlink ae ii f眉l kæžšr茅 illeszked艖 fekete bluetooth fejhallgatè´¸ szexi t眉rkiz nyomott mintè°©s bikini 茅kszerdoboz afas0053 d white fotè´¸album k茅pkeret scudotex 433 kompressziè´¸s 40 denes harisnya mandala…

  2. choix lunettes visage

    chaussure ergonomique femme chaussure richelieu homme italienne vapormax pour bebe ensemble pantalon et top table ronde et chaise de cuisine raquette roger federer maillot soldes valentino basket solde

  3. coque chanel samsung a65

    les tropeziennes pointure 35 coque yeezy xiaomi site coque jordan iphone modeles coque nfl bumper iphone 6 survetement bmw motorsport homme achat equipement handball pull noir chaud femme robe la femme

  4. party fiesta san valentin

    la nueva camiseta del barcelona 2019 air jordan 1 mid comprar fundas iphone 7 rose gold 32gb fundas gold roses zara precio de vaqueros hombre reparar pantalla iphone 6 precio funda protectora iphone 4s pantalones guess dama precio

  5. essenza dekbedovertrek fleur roze

    herenkleding pagina 44 van 66 online shop herenmode byoux set ketting met oorbellen hartje bestel uw canvas shoppertas met rits ray ban aviator wayfarer zonnebrillen voor 80 tim van steenbergen zwart jas vest la bottega skiny boxershorts van een mix va…

  6. kit ferramentas jardinagem

    nike shox preto e dourado venda com cart茫o de cr茅dito blazer feminino classico lancheira infantil plastica camisetas regatas importadas olympikus joe 309 polo netshoes vans preto com cinza

  7. 讟讘注转 讗拽讜讜诪专讬谉 讟讘注转 讝讛讘 讗讘谉 讗拽讜讜诪专讬谉

    falda cuero marca zarakenneth cole negro marino cultura cinturè´¸n negro azulgorra gabardina poliester 6 gajos tipo f.1 en quilmes oestehombres de invierno chaqueta parkas abrigo largo

  8. paiement des jours feries pour cdd

    veste polaire homme intersport mode diesel cartier tank must bomboogie doudoune femme chemise blanche femme burberry bensimon elastique femme pas cher mens trolley case comprar adidas ultra boost 3.0

  9. sac a dos eastpak dreamland

    nike rose air max 97 voyance gratuite en amour sweat femme banana republic housse de coussin 50×70 manteau bensimon achat vetement en ligne pas cher homme deguisement mariage coque extra fine iphone 7

  10. nike air max shoes for sale

    nike free flyknit 4.0 mens green asics gel ds trainer 19 hombre rebajas marche scarpe running americane asics gel nimbus 2 homme france vans authentic v canottiere diadora donna rose t shirt poulet t shirt homme beige

  11. puma rebel sweat short p谩nsk茅 kra钮asy s 59246503 featured 68

    æ‹§koda octavia 2 automat swiss military hanowa 6278.09.001 dè°©msk茅 hodinky nafukovac铆 kruh innovagoods blue donut bonami hodinky citizen eco drive one nejten膷铆 solè°©rn臎 napè°©jen茅 d铆v膷铆 anti mosquito kalhoty silta navy nakupujte online levn臎 tri膷ka s motive…

  12. pantofole gucci mariodannashop

    ecco fara lage sneakers zwartroze ondergoed meisjes kleding vergelijk kooppatek philippe nautilus serviced by patek philippe 2019adidas stan smith schoenen zwart adidas offici毛le shop

  13. graduation shirt

    cat in the hat full ride universal studios in orlando florida retired bookie trucker hat cat in the hat voice adult new era dale earnhardt jr. 9fifty snapback trucker cap under armour ua survivor fleece beanie mens 2018aw training saying packet corresp…

  14. geldbeutel herren klammer

    lenceria negra con encaje alpargata likely sudaderas mujer jd bolsos grandes de tela mujer pinterest comprar pantalones hombre online invitaciones de boda para playa zapatos granates precio de reloj para iphone

  15. us polo assn zapatillas zapatos para hombre

    kevan jon ceiba bardot vestito no boundaries strapless vestito express slip vestito a line v neck vestito pegla igra膷ka za devoj膷ice praktik tools ekscentri膷na brusilica ptq075 vans plecaki allegro sportowe bikkembergs zapatillas hombre

  16. leather garment bag suit last call

    smart cover holster for huawei mediapad m5 lite 8.0clear shockproof soft silicone cover case for huawei y5 y6 y7 prime 2018 y9 2019loungefly hello kitty black faux leather purse lgcasetify neon sand liquid case for iphone xs max flame

  17. converse star player 35

    pijamas mujer en once mustang chico coches de paseo carrefour bolsa deporte atletico de madrid zapatillas craghoppers blazer azul marino para hombre adrianna papell vestidos amarillos cortos venta mayor pijamas

  18. gucci unskilled worker t shirt in blue lyst

    camping feest lampionnen pakket 30 stuks kopen vleugels maxi groene vleugels met diamanten eetkamertafel wit rond sarkarijobs staande lamp aanbieding sensunique damesschoenen schoenen ralet werkmap begrijpend luisteren en woordenschat kopen smi46as01e…

  19. pentax kikkert fb zoom 6

    ruffles flare sleeve open front long coatmacondoo womens double breasted outer bow tiespeed strength black heart womens long sleeve leather shirt blackclearance offers find clearance bargains john lewis

  20. sondeur elite 7

    deportivas granates hombre carrefour pantalones de vestir moda 2016 fundas lx3 p smart zapatos azul marino ni帽o comunion reloj gps garmin forerunner asics tiger negras reloj para blogger audifonos aiaiai

  21. miksi polkupy枚r盲n levyjarrut

    pret odu aizkari durv墨metwinning pieejams video ieraksts no vebin膩ra parvai zin膩ji videore模istratori j膩re模istr膿 cilv膿ks un autoar墨 asv naudu piesaista par velti dienas bizness

  22. billige kalendergaver og pakkekalender til bé…¶rn

    outlet store online la sportiva genius scarpette da pigiama camicia da notte di seta bretelle donne estate sexy sport boots shoes sneakers running adidas questar ride original man black core ralph lauren donne nero i lo scudetto 猫 sempre juventus l nik…

  23. hybrid rocket puma

    replay jeans jeto zugpendelleuchte antik daunenjacke frauen schwarz damen weste sommer herrenschuhe 43 g眉nstiger silberschmuck online kaufen heine apricot online shop damen jacke leichte daune

  24. colrovie floral mesh vintage sexy slip women black halter cut out backless lingerie 2017 slim sleepwear semi sheer lingerie slip

    khaki green double breasted wool blend long pea coatslondon womens designer bags patent bag shoulder bag celebrity style tote bag large stylish handbagnext chocolate suede bag madly indianfitted blazer black ladies h m ca

  25. weide szilikon sz铆jas f茅rfi kar贸ra anal贸g 茅s lcd kijelz艖vel feh茅r

    tech e mail letæžšlt茅se ingyenes szoftverrel doca n艖i alkalmi tè°©ska pepe jeans n艖i k茅zi vè°©ll laptop tè°©ska tè°©skè°©k n艖i n艖i style co edi csipkebet茅tes magas铆tott ejtett nyakç…¤ blake hamis eml茅kek sci fi kæžšnyv kritika sz铆nvè°©ltè´¸s pè´¸nis felemè°©s nadrè°©g reginas d…

  26. design modern custom t shirts in 5 hour by

    ae marvel graphic tee cheap graphic tee shirts wu tang clan hello kitty on sale preggers funny pregnancy announcement new mom t shirt t shirt custom champion 50 50 eco zip hoodie design full zip sweatshirts aden t shirt printing machine personalised t…

  27. veste en sweat zipp茅e marine

    sainsbury abbigliamento sale emerald verde allacciato al collo neck vestito miglior qualitè„¿ vestito camicie baby pink block heels black and white equality shoes ted baker green satin dress pizzo e beads keeva vestito convertible avvolgere vestito canad…

  28. 砖讟讬讞 讬讜讟讛 讗讬拽讗讛

    heine versand festkleider casio uhr armband 爪讬驻讬讜转 诇讻专讬讜转 注诐 讻讬转讜讘 gifted 讬讞讬讚讜转 诪住讬专转 讚讜讗专 讘驻转讞 转拽讜讜讛 讗讬讝讬 venta de ropa escolar por mayor sudaderas santiago gonzalez pantalones termicos monta帽a tocados para madrinas pelo corto empresas de cal莽ados em…

  29. dr. martens 1460 cut out

    upcoming air max continental 80 adidas black and gold top hat asics lightweight baby uggs kontaktn铆 煤daje cyklo 69 specialized concept store black and yellow ralph lauren polo shirt jordan 6 black infrared 2014 2020 dhgate yeezy 500

  30. fuzzy white bucket hat

    okuliare wind ff biela zelen谩 heine casual 木anov茅 nohavice s bavlnou heine nike presto 1998 vans panska obuv 膷铆na najlep拧ie poste木 dod谩vate木ov a v媒robcov low block heel sandals gold hickies laces 2020 tango durlast

Comments are closed.