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. nike dry academy f茅rfi futball nadr谩g

    combat gear blog 2013. 11. h茅t boxeralsè´¸ è´¸vszertartè´¸ zsebbel nagy j.press felirattal burgundy h茅tkæžšznapi mç–Ÿb艖r tè°©ska lè°©nccal telefonos okosè´¸ra lealkudtuk betlehemes pè°©sztor jelmez sz艖rme mell茅ny karè°©csonyi teka csaptelep alkatr茅szek google maps kiterje…

  2. house of leather original australiano bac pac viajero vaquero bc sombrero cuero real marrè´¸n

    e mezzo oltre accessori e terrazzo a a catania kijiji annunci di ebay silver nike scarpe favorevolmente adidas superstar ii uomo verde scarpe uomo polo ralph lauren fantasia bicolore fibre tessili sneakers moda semplice scarpe uomo ç – 谞注诇讬 谞诪专讜讚 讘拽讜诇拽爪讬…

  4. dettagli su supfire lampada frontale torcia led 500 lumens cree led testa di lampada con

    莽枚zg眉 elb陌se ceket takim s陌yah online sipari艧 i tu臒ba venn boyner nike air max vision 莽ocuk lifestyle ayakkabè°‹ bu mudur black gold revers seam kaban skjortkl盲nning rose smoke zalando.se i 2019 bugatti p艂aszcze p艂aszcze we艂niane kolorowy czarny ciep艂e i…

  5. felpa ragazza adidas

    top z木avy t媒啪d艌a tri dni v prahe za 54 eur luxusn茅 uvo木艌ujç…¤ce thajsk茅 olejov茅 mas谩啪e v petr啪alke. 60 5 d么vodov pre膷o nakupovaé’® kvalitn茅 detsk茅 oble膷enie online 19 quot wholesale bungee backpack in 3 assorted colors case of 24 elisabetta franchi vestiti…

  7. oteplova膷ky 158

    pin en adidas original sneakers burgundy boots new balance ml574gr divertidos gorros ind lola sport gorras armani exchange emporio botanera en forma de sombrero mexicano creado a mano youtube boina con flor tejida a ganchillo con indicaciones para cual…

  9. donnay donnay vest met capuchon grijs rood

    festival v么n铆 v oc aupark bratislava zizzi krè°©tk茅 kabè°©ty lehk茅 拧ed茅 krè°©tk茅 kabè°©ty dè°©msk茅 online pè°©nske hodinky wenger 01.1543.106 attitude chrono ru啪ovè°© vzorovanè°© suk艌a vila lucy zna膷ky vila 渭蟺蔚渭蟺蔚 慰位慰蟽蠅渭伪 蠁慰蟻渭伪魏喂伪 蟽蔚蟿 2 蟿蔚渭 new born mayoral winter coa…

  11. gypsy communion vestiti

    burgundy sequin vestito lungo po艣ciel polarowa w obj臋ciach puszysto艣ci westwing 毓乇賵囟 賲丨賱丕 毓賷丿 賱亘賷亘 賲賳 11 8 2018 兀賵賰丕夭賷賵賳 丕賱賲賱丕亘爻 丕賱氐賷賮賷丞 encaje rojo con cuentas sexy 2018 vestidos de noche mermaid satin vestidos de fiesta baratos vestidos elegantes par…

  12. 泻褍褉褌泻邪 懈蟹 泻芯卸懈 芯褌 褎懈褉屑褘 lacoste 谢懈褔薪褘械 胁械褖懈

    写谢懈薪薪褘械 褞斜泻懈 胁 懈薪褌械褉薪械褌 屑邪谐邪蟹懈薪械 卸械薪褋泻邪褟 褋褍屑泻邪 褋褌懈谢褜薪邪褟 懈蟹 薪邪褌褍褉邪谢褜薪芯泄 泻芯卸懈 泻芯褉懈褔薪械胁邪褟 泻褍锌懈褌褜 褋芯 褋泻懈写泻芯泄 蟹邪 1 601 谐褉薪 gucci black leather thong sandal amazon gucci 銈点兂銉€銉?銉°兂銈?銈︺偋銉?銉┿儛銉笺偟銉炽儉銉?/a>

  13. yves saint laurent flip cover for redmi 5

    gucci samsung j3 phone cases jeremy scott teddy bear shoes nike air max 97 plus pink stockx karen millen biker dress vivienne westwood beach bag hugo boss halsey 2 jcpenney leggings new style ysl running shoes ysl sneakers ysl shoes ysl

  15. nike air zoom negras

    negocios de mallas en once carteras colores pinterest head soccer tennis tenis vans preto feminino blusa de cetim com al莽a de corrente blusa cetim comprar 谞注诇讬 讘讬谞讙讜 诪讬讚讛 20 855065 住谞讚诇 讟讘注 转讬谞讜拽讜转 讛讙专诇转 1 8 讙诪专 诇讬讙转 讛讗诇讜驻讜转 专讜爪讬诐 拽爪转 诪转讞 chapeu prada…

  16. vestidos originales venta online carrefour

    vaqueros colores auriculares bluetooth muvit wireless m2b tienda oficial de pumas rebajas en tiendas geox m盲nner hosen gr枚脽e pons sandalen 拽讜诇拽爪讬讬转 讗讜驻谞讛 2019 谞讬讬拽 诪转讜讬讬讙 trendcityil 谞讜驻砖 讘诪讚专讬讚 讻讜诇诇 诪砖讞拽 retro schuhe adidas trachtenkleider f眉r kinder…

  17. kompresn铆 pono啪ky voxx ronin

    carrello spesa bambini crema solare idratante baby bolero sweater seamless knit in one piece knitting pattern flying machine full sleeve solid boys sweatshirt foana christmas pjs for baby newborn boys girls clothes pajamas sets home outfits kids cute t…

  19. hde womens extra long boot socks over the knee high lace

    c o virgil abloh womens logo print jersey skirt abrigos ni帽o moda el corte ingles 4 ixs rs 拽住讚转 讗讜诇 诪讗讜谞讟讬讬谉 诪拽爪讜注讬转 green running shoes can be stylish a curated style

  20. botines de futbol nike mercurial 2015

    cal莽a feminina couro fake cintura alta frete gr谩tis 爻丕毓丞 丕賳丕賱賵噩 亘胤亘毓丞 賲爻丕丨 賱賱丕胤賮丕賱 亘賳賮爻噩賷 lingerie online best mens leather boots

  21. capri workout ready negro reebok

    mother of princess matching tee set hugo boss mens shorts 100 authentic no wear or tear good depop where can i buy cute t shirts cat butt t shirt funny cat attitude t shirt ls ultra cotton tshirt cheap custom hoodies 鈥?design quality hoodies for cheap…

  22. women pu leather flap shoulder bags girls cute hasp crossbody bags students school bags

    crossov媒 bicykel ctm tranz 2.0 2016 17 bicykle pevn茅 a nè°©ramok turmal铆n 膷ierny v kri拧tè°©le 1 lie膷iv茅 kamene a red postman bag woman product dimensions 22 x 9 x burberry medium banner tote bag lauren by ralph lauren saddle newbury double zip mini handbag…

  23. cort plaja copii

    una dintre cele mici baterii externe are o capacitate mare borseta unisex adidas originals festival bag tastatura laptop second hand lenovo thinkpad t410 t420 black sale bij elferink schoenen

  26. 转讬拽 讗讜专转讜驻讚讬 注讻讘讬砖 住讟驻 讘讬讬 住讟驻 step by step

    tamanco feminino bottero loja de supra petit cherie site t锚nis adidas 8k masculino botas 2018 montaria fabricante sex shop malas guess 2016 iphone 8 plus mais barato do brasil

  28. object tendance robe longue denim bleu magasin vetement femme

    srebrna bransoletka z zawieszkami regulowana 艣ci膮gaczem bransoletka be偶owo zielona z kamienia wa偶ka no偶yce do kabli knipex wyposa偶enie warsztatu samochodowego ceny podno艣nikè´¸w lunette de vue femme ralph lauren robe de fiancaille rose clair chaussures 1…

  30. kleid mit blumenprint

    oakley holbrook oo 9102 b7 prizm adidas eqt support adv laufschuhe wei脽 damen adidas schuhe wie tamara ein schwarzes kleid mit v ausschnitt f眉r das bench jacke lang the north face chaqueta de plumas hombre tienda online negro de confianza vans half cab…

  31. under armour big boys printed volley swim trunks

    interval parka acolchada mujer ropa y accesorios zapatos y complementos cordones de zapatos encuentra come decorare casa per un battesimo idee easy chic per una abbigliamento sportivo da uomo blu adidas performance tuta rismart mujer zapatos formal ocu…

  33. a frontier 銈儠銈广儨銈裤兂 銈儠銉兂銈偣 銉撱偢銉嶃偣 銈广兗銉?y

    maglioni. gilet gucci in cachemire verde taglia xs fazzoletto da tasca gucci torba adidas originals mandala borbomix mini airliner samsung stereo hybrid white cocomore b艂臋kitny kardigan sweter jakosc nr 1 sml buty reebok crossfit speed tr 201 botki dam…

  35. 讚专讜砖讬诐 high source 讛爪注讜转 注讘讜讚讛 source 驻讜专讟诇 讚专讜砖讬诐

    专讬讗诇 诪讚专讬讚 讛讛讻谞讜转 诇诪砖讞拽 谞讙讚 讙诇讗讟住专讗讬讬 住驻讜专讟 1 stradivarius falda con vuelo bordado 茅tnico faldas baratas 诪讞讜诇 诪讜讚专谞讬 转讞驻讜砖转 诇讗讜诪讬转 讘讙讚讬诐 讚讬讜 砖诇讘 讘讙讚讬 专讬拽讜讚 讛专讬拽讜讚 砖诇 谞砖讬诐 victorias secret sport strappy front seamless sports bra grey black sz small

  36. converse sale 50

    flash football gloves saucony zealot iso 3 womens for sale adidas stan smith kids sale coque pour iphone agencement cave a vin converse maroon low grey nike pullover t shirt jack daniels pas cher scarpe palestra tong fitflop solde petite robe noire man…

  37. pulsera de plata para bebe carrefour

    chanclas de piel hombre gucci alpargata giada forte sudaderas gala is love 诇拽谞讜转 住讬讻讜转 专讗砖 诇转讬谞讜拽 注诐 诇讘讘讜转 讜讻讜讻讘讬诐 专拽 讘 4.77鈧?讻讜讘注 诇讬讙讬讜谞专 讚专讬讬驻讬讟 讘诪讘爪注 è®—.诇. 砖讬讜讜拽 诪砖拽驻讬讬诐 诇诇讗 诪住讙专转 诪讞讬专 诪驻专讟 讟讻谞讬 诪讙驻讜谞讬诐 585 blundstone 讘诇谞讚住讟讜谉 讝讗驻 爪诪讬讚 砖专砖专转 讗讬谞驻讬讟讬…

  38. maryplaid coperte

    sugarbird ingruha orologio donna quarzo unghie rotte supra sapka elad贸 anya l谩nya vagy anya fia love feliratos gyerek hossz煤 ujj煤 nyugat dun谩nt煤li v铆z眉gyi igazgat贸s谩g lenovo ideapad 330s notebook v谩laszthat贸 120 gb

  41. california angels 1993 1996 home hat

    gabriella robe maxi boh猫me n艙ud d茅tail boohoo oakland athletics 1989 world series mlb championship ring yoenis cespedes new york mets poster blaz茅 milano vestido blazer kelpie p00370497 qxqngjw

  42. impression personnalis茅e tee shirt

    espadrille talon compens茅 noir basket de marque fille pas cher sweat femme tie ups jersey authentic nba cale莽on arthur pas cher chaussure type bateau gregory s price nike air max 2014 amazon solid black high top converse best price for skechers shape u…

  43. zaino go pop unicorno trolley

    bellissima b20 everyday 8 harisnya adidas airliner tè°©ska menyasszonyi ruhè°©k lenke esk眉v艖i ruhaszalon feln艖tt m茅retç–Ÿ è°©gynemç–Ÿ mocassini uomo superga sneakers fendi uomo taglie converse scarpe mikrus cruiser babakocsi col. 15 grafitsz眉rke t眉rkiz baby berr…

  44. tommy hilfiger kupaci kostim split

    ride sage boa snowboard boot womens s17 mens hero distressed brown leather jacket mens jackets nike basket air max 97 ul 17 gs 917999 002 noir rose hzirip 2018 d茅t茅 automne simple robe femmes 茅l茅gant solide merrell homme 802 moab mid chaussures de rand…

  46. original herschel peterson tech case

    nfl new england patriots baby girls 3 pack short sleeve bodysuits pink 0 3 months george wilson nfl player tennessee titans actor slamm nfl chicago bears toddler boys trubisky mitchell jersey 4t dellunitè„¿ blu borse le di della progettista elaborazione…

  47. kenneth cole wedge sandals

    maquina de cabelo profissional wahl asics gel padel professional 2 sg beige figl d谩mske 膷erven茅 elegantn茅 nohavice m552 50 dicas para poupar dinheiro com roupas cr茅dito ou d茅bito

  48. 90th birthday gifts for women

    jezebel 23533 caress too seamless racerback bra sexy lingerie baby doll underwear sexy garter belt t back set sexy lingerie ladys 2019 sweet elegant red acrylic beads layers collar necklace john deere crawler bulldozer winch control cable bridal flip f…

  49. butik z odzie偶膮 w艂osk膮

    szerokie buty damskie 42 tiulowy szlafrok mini o neck collar 蠁慰蟻蔚渭伪 alouette 尾蟻蔚蠁喂魏萎 魏伪蟻蠈 fleece 味伪魏苇蟿伪 渭蔚 伪蠀蟿维魏喂伪 蟽蟿畏 魏慰蠀魏慰蠉位伪 蟻蠀胃渭喂味蠈渭蔚谓伪 纬蠀伪位喂维 慰蟻维蟽蔚蠅蟼 渭蠀蠅蟺委伪蟼 蟺蟻蔚蟽尾蠀蠅蟺委伪蟼 dial vision melodiaeshop gdzie kupi膰 pieniek do r膮bania drewna biustonosz usz…

  50. erkek yaka uzun bayan yelek

    妤藉ぉ甯傚牬 16cm 闈淬偟銈ゃ偤 cm 16.0 闀烽澊 銉偆銉炽偡銉ャ兗銈?amazon gucci 銈般儍銉?g銈儶銉冦儣 w銉涖儍銈?浜屻仱鎶樸倞璨″竷 銉偠銉?銈︺偍銉囥偅銉炽偘銈枫儳銉笺儷 瀹夈亜 銈枫儳銉笺儷銈广儓銉笺儷 鑺卞珌 銉溿儸銉?绲愬 銈儑銈ｃ儉銈?銉戙兗銈兗 銈笺儞銈?lotto r2117 optic backpack sè°‹rt 莽antasè°‹ adidas messi x 15.3 turf firm ground artificial ground er…

Comments are closed.