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. nike x off white shop

    nike pink vest nike free rn ebay 2020 air pegasus 35 yeezy 700 static rep onitsuka mexico triple negra nike trainers 2020 dualtone racer nike air max speed turf boys puma trailfox vapor glove 2 znackove okuliare gucci tri膷ka s potiskem super babi膷ka dè°©…

  4. paginas de lesbianas maduras

    collection caroll 2016 2017 echarpe fabriqu茅e en france coque versace prix samsung galaxy j4 fundas hacer carcasa movil con foto juegos de vestir embarazadas en traje de ba帽o adrianna papell vestidos amarillos cortos cobertores para tablet 7 auriculare…

  5. scarpe calcio per erba sintetica

    lauren szoptatè´¸s melltartè´¸ feh茅rnemç–Ÿ v茅d艖fè´¸lia microsoft lumia 535 1db ujjlenyomat mentes akciè´¸s mustang f茅rfi vè°©szoncip艖 hivatalos under armour n艖i legging leggings fitness futè°©s f f ez眉st szandè°©l 30 as kæžšrkef茅s hajszè°©r铆tè´¸ feh茅r fekete szinç–Ÿ melln茅l k…

  6. stoli膷ky n谩bytok tulip plus

    ply拧ov茅 hra膷ky z pohè°©dky tlapkovè°© patrola levn媒 propaga膷n铆 big star pè°©nsk茅 espadrilky hn臎dè°© dar膷ekov茅 rybè°©rske predmety lululemon festival bag nimbus white lululemon bags louis vuitton bags authentic louis vuitton vivienne fashionable jansport mini bac…

  7. manteau droit femme gris

    checkerboard vans light pink adidas superstar 11 yellow chellysun slip on running flat sneakers ecco biom fjuel mens purple sac michael kors bandouliere pas cher foulard en soie pour hommes chemisier ralph lauren pour femme jogging femme grande taille…

  9. saint laurent sequin vestito

    girls manica lunga rosa vestito new latest designer gown fortnite costumes per bambini wi臋cej na moim blogu t锚nis asics tiger shaw runner burberry majica mu拧ke majce frock per le signore amazon christening abiti for godparents outfit blu blazer avvolge…

  11. fermob luxembourg stol med armlener til barn

    negozio per casuale adidas zx flux adv asymmetrical pantaloni caldi donna chanel 255 timeless sé…¶mandstré…¶je opskrift ingelise bamser til hunde se udvalget hos romerikes blad mannen bak verdenssuksessen jeg sov med ny osprey ultralett drysack 3l ryggsekk…

  13. cute mom e daughter abiti

    giallo colour party frocks ladies shirtwaist vestiti adidas invernale abiti r&m richards embroidered sequin panel gown short bodycon prom vestiti czarne czy bia艂e adidas superstar beige wool cappotto blu scuro blu striped asymmetric vestito free people…

  14. asos little nero vestito

    miglior compression pants for men patike nike air max command m 629993 012 pierre topaze prix 丨匕丕亍 賳丕賷賰 賲賷乇賰賵乇丕賱 x 賳賷賲丕乇 2019 丕丨賱賶 乇賯氐 亘賳丕 毓賱賶 丕賱卮丕胤卅 verde filipiniana gown petite gauze maxi vestito

  17. new marco pantaloni tuta da uomo in cotone bianco

    karen neuburger womens pillow talk long sleeve maxi dress friends and itty bitty simple flat solid color sandals fashion in 2019 vendita bici online biciclette elettriche da corsa e mtb maglia running manica lunga mr sport 诪砖拽驻讬 砖诪砖 砖诇 cartier papabuy…

  18. seduce 3000 s pu

    detsk茅 nè°©u拧nice cutie c1556 10 20 x 1 poti拧t臎n茅 ç…¤pletov茅 拧aty 膷ernè°© s leopard铆m potiskem bpc roshe Zapatos mens nike air force 1 x off white negra air max 1 grand piano 2020 best jordans white penn state sweatshirt red converse slip on sneakers nike ai…

  20. trouser pantaloni

    id kd gucci formal Schuhe wei脽e nike free run 2017 red low top Schuhe Preis Schuhe louis vuitton adidas nmds kids vans new era schwarz leather wellies golden Rosa Kleid nike rkk air force 1 patriots youth softball cleats nike zoom rev basketball obuv 啪…

  23. vetement annee 90

    coque balenciaga samsung galaxy m9 coque jordan iphone modeles sprinter botas de futbol sala paginas de venta de ropa bebe chausson sweat homme mitchumm industries sac kenzo tiger taille femme chaussure us rampe escalier int茅rieur imperm茅able femme cap…

  24. spigen tough armor black samsung galaxy s10

    d谩mske 拧t媒lov茅 拧aty s mot铆vom kvetov v谩ha na bato啪inu wings v谩ha na bato啪inu je pink high boots white chiffon maxi dress negra sabbath cap triple black vapormax utility white lifeguard shirt 2020 nike air vm black

  25. kari traa klå¿™r barn

    g sport max tiller sé…¶ndagsæ°“pent bedrifter akuttpost barn og unge helse bergen hæ°“ndteller tally man bisgaard hjemmesko i uld m velcro græ°“ klodser lyd ké…¶b friendtex striktré…¶je str. xxl ræ°“hvid dukkelift fra fly me to the moon skruuk asics sko gel lyte iii…

  27. camo pants with b铆l茅 stripe

    grey a 膷ern茅 nike batoh b37899 2020 pale r暖啪ov茅 boots 2009 hyperdunks st艡铆brn茅 ysl heels nike air vapormax flyknit pink karen millen Blau jumper michael kors Trainer sale mens zoom pegasus

  28. 魏慰渭蟺蟻蔚蟽蔚蟻 伪蔚蟻伪 蟺蟻伪魏蟿喂魏蔚蟻

    j. e. purkyn臎 university building emo tyrkysov茅 plesov茅 拧aty d臎tsk媒 sv臎t kojeneck谩 ko拧ilka s prop铆n谩n铆m s vy拧铆van媒m l铆me膷kem mujer trajes profesional y sacos set de blusa y pantal贸n 蟺伪蟺慰蠀蟿蟽喂伪 纬喂伪 尾慰蠀谓慰 eshop 魏伪尾伪位伪

  29. zapatillas new balance fucsia

    scarpin salto 2 cm sommer kleider kaufen pvc regenmantel damen g眉nstig clarks herren winterschuhe kleidung super g眉nstig online kaufen zapatos con suela de goma para ni帽as zapatillas asics piel

  30. kr谩tke 拧aty na predaj

    maxi sukn臎 chelsea modern媒 dizajn bytu nè°©vrhy interi茅ru aj 3d programy ekonomick茅 michael michael kors dè°©mskè°© lodi膷ky na podpatku mens royal azul zip up sudadera aj1 negra blanca reebok npc 2 2020 puma bmw cap 2020 moncler shirt puma nova grl pwr 2020…

  33. 閫佹枡鐒℃枡 姝ｈ鍙栨壉搴?銈儭銉偒瑁?chums 銉併儯銉犮偣 hurricane top original 銉忋儶銈便兗銉?銉堛儍銉?銈儶銈搞儕銉?闄愬畾搴楄垪銇伩璨╁２ 銈广偊銈с儍銉?銉戙兗銈兗 銉堛儸銉笺儕銉?銉椼儷銈兗銉愩兗 usa bamboo ville

    marco tozzi 2 28328 22 38 r贸偶owe sanda艂y wyprzeda偶 slipy m艂odzie偶owe 60002 wadima bielizna nocna damska etam bezp艂atna przesy艂ka w zalando casual stijl effen kleur meerdere zakken broeken peter kaiser 53833 pumps rood van camp converse all star ox scho…

  34. new modal athletic field messenger laptop bag gray

    sandali gioiello argento tacco medio abiti da cerimonia foggia vestito maniche corte zimn茅 mtb tretry dmt wm1 black silver orange objednej si softshellov茅 bundy od zna膷ky icepeak mu啪i karbonov媒 kryt pro apple iphone 6s 6 plus 膷erven媒 matn媒 saint lauren…

  35. glitter balenciaga shoes

    拧aty bonprix v superstar jan lid茅 jedè°©lenskè°© stoli膷ka olympia kikask under armour 膷iapky doplnky klobç…¤k pè°©nsky novinka po木ovn铆cke potreby argali dè°©msk茅 vychè°©zkov茅 boty na voln媒 膷as s煤钮a啪 o najkraj拧铆 zè°©ber sere膹 online prodè°©m outdoorove obuv chlapci obu…

  36. converse core crew sweatshirt

    brooks cascadia 6 brown adidas zx 500 shoes brooks vapor 5 womens orange zx flux verve femme soutien gorge adhesif pour dos nu marque de vetement c souris pour ordinateur portable dr martens womens 1460 patent championes adidas hombre

  38. alix the label in onze winkel

    teplè°©kovè°© souprava hip hop digitalni sat sencor sdc 4600 bijeli dè°©msk茅 boty adidas levn臎 adidas originals handball spezial welcome to the party uag case for samsung galaxy j7 black glitter protective ipad mini case purple zoom small monogram saint laur…

  39. taquetes adidas blancos

    verre sur table code reduction amazon dvd perfume hombre precios gucci mujeres mayores de 50 a帽os haciendo el amor joyas alianzas oro sweat femme julie thevenot coque eellesse galaxy s7 edge plus etagere de table les mod猫les des chaussures chaussures a…

  40. kyrie 5 nero blu

    orange pointed toe flats 2020 nike element 8 vans leather slip ons 2020 reebok og adidas samba super bianco donna air force 1 size 6 bianco jeans nero shirt puma thunder spectra x hyuna nike blazer with zipper 2020 teal pumas

  41. valise cabine lulu castagnette pas cher

    protege note 4 jean paul gaultier vetements coque samsung mwc sweat è„¿ capuche kingsman x tag heuer sweat è„¿ capuche zcd montreal marque casque bluetooth pyjama snoopy fille veste nike tech fleece homme survetement ferrari sac mac douglas soldes 2018 hog…

  42. sort steampunk korsett topp small 2xl

    habit vest dba billigt og brugt herreté…¶j f眉rstenberg dame dameunderté…¶j shop suprema icon persol solbriller i til må¿™nd fra boozt bestikk korvo pæ°“ nettet hos oss finner du bestikk korvo koffert dame weekendvesker best pris pæ°“ bjæžšrn borg ja for him edt 50…

  45. 2020 asics spree

    nike air max 97 vapormax verde 2020 blue camo vest nike benassi jdi black kendrick lamar nike cortez 3 wmns air jordan 1 high og snowboardy snowboard zima intersport katalè´¸g dè°©mske turistick茅 topè°©nky predaj salomon ellipse 2 gtx w dè°©msk茅 batohy a sport…

  46. light blu spaghetti strap abito da ballo

    nordstrom bandage vestito abiti senza maniche cycling tops culmination vestiti for 8th grade pertini enkellaarsjes blauw blauw laarzen asics koszulka damska ss top asics diva blue r. m pè°©nsk媒 kabè°©t 拧edè°© casual nero e bianco attire cute vestito stores n…

  47. royal 1 tyæžštuoli

    lenovo v130 14ikb kannettava tietokone 14 darba ap模膿rbi hards individu膩lie aizsardz墨bas l墨dzek募i patike za decu n sport pastelne i ne啪ne boje za sobu va拧e bebe bravacasa magazin

  48. mama spanx maternity tights

    lyst pretty ballerinas ella slippers in metallic fitflop skinny womens sandals o c butcher nike headquarters skyline skyline engineering a new york city department of buildings licensed concrete testing laboratory gucci stripe polo shirt size m retail…

  49. schicke pullover kaufen

    mega bloks first builders lil vehicles peter police car ty beanie boos ty beanie boos dazzle the cat lego groot and rocket this guy heres our booty after se carisma kapuzen strick pullover herren knit hoodie pulli sweat autumn cashmere t shirt mit u au…

  50. eastpak owen dots eastpak iskolatè°©ska

    鍐柊浣?銈广兗銉?銉曘偐銉笺優銉?鍗掓キ寮?鍏ュ湌寮?澶с亶銇勩偟銈ゃ偤 鍏ュ寮?nike 銉娿偆銈?銈ㄣ偄銈恒兗銉犮偄銉儠銈?銇婂彇銈婂瘎銇涘晢鍝?/a> converse 銈炽兂銉愩兗銈?all star j hi 銈兗銉偣銈裤兗 銉忋偆銈儍銉? 銈儯銉冦儓銉炪兗銈亴鍙剾銇?銉儑銈ｃ兗銈?銈广儖銉笺偒銉?銉椼兗銉?銈ㄣ偗銉笺儓 銈搞儯銈便儍銉堛伅銉炪偣銉?銉°兂銈烘湇銈炽兗銉囥倰澶т汉銈夈仐銇忔竻娼旀劅銇傘倠 puma 銉椼兗銉?銉堛儸銉笺儖銉炽偘銈搞儯銈便儍銉?銉°兂銈?銉…

Comments are closed.