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. vidaxl kunstig juletre 180 cm

    2017 yeni bahar deri giyim kadè°‹n standè°‹ yaka deri ceket kè°‹sa ceket ince tasarè°‹m mor giyim eski adidas krampon p艂aszcz zimowy cropp top 8 r臋cznie wykonane ozdoby choinkowe modne wn臋trza 澶у畤瀹?vivienne westwood 閵€娌炽儣銉兂銉堛儵銈︺兂銉夐暦璨″竷galaxy澶?/a> 鏄?銉嶃儍銈儸銈?銉氥…

  2. ako k煤pi钮 iphone na aliexpress 1. slovensk媒 ali

    膷铆na zè°©kazkov茅 vodotesn茅 zimn茅 turistick茅 topè°©nky s vibram tielko nike dri fit cool tank nike vaporfly 4.0 skechers cleats air jordan 1 x off white precio rvca pantalones cortos 14s jordans 2019 nike stefan janoski og negra 2020 athleta cardigan nike a…

  3. fenty slide ons

    mizuno wave rider 10 oro 亘賵丕亘丞 丕賱賮噩乇 兀賵賳賱丕賷賳 yalla plus 賲卮丕賴丿丞 賲亘丕乇丕丞 乇賷丕賱 賲丿乇賷丿 tri膷ko s potla膷ou ruce d臎tsk茅 t cool vestido curto colcci estampado listra verona preto babadotop

  4. 銈炽儘銈儐銈ｃ儍銉夈偄銉戙儸銉?銉兂銉斻兗銈?銉儑銈ｃ兗銈规柊鍝佸悓妲?銈般儸銉肩郴

    en ucuz bebek spor ayakkab谋lar谋 bu mudur en 艧谋k bayan tak谋m elbise modelleri moda elbise 涓彜 銈广偗銉笺儷姘寸潃 2鐐广偦銉冦儓 甯藉瓙浠樸亶 amazon 骞搁亱銇お闄?銈广儖銉笺偒銉?骞煎厫 銉欍儞銉?瀛︾敓 骞煎厫 灏戝勾 sznurowana koszulka z bawe艂ny h67 szary sisley p艂aszcz puchowy schwarz q11

  5. 2018 yeni stil hava yast谋k adam basketbol ayakkab谋 a莽谋k spor

    kurtka barbour new eskdale s 2101 najmodniejsze bluzki damskie 2018 bluzka blouses fashion 銈广優銉涖偙銉笺偣 鎵嬪赋 浜烘皸 銉ゃ儠銈偗 3e é—ˆ?銉儑銈ｃ兗銈?銉栥儵銉炽儔銇腑鍙ゅ搧 鏂板搧 鏈娇鐢ㄥ搧涓€瑕?amazon 銈儵銉笺偗銈?銈广偪銉炽偊銈с偆 銉兗銈?stanway lace 鏈夊悕銉栥儵銉炽儔 鑹搧 鍥界敚 銉兗銈儷 regal é—ˆ?榛?22.5 銉曘儶銉炪偄銉椼儶 銉┿偗…

  6. 2 sporters haarbanden diadeems roze en grijs

    brand shop axes gucci watch men gucci ya126312 silver black buy gucci brown leather gg cage flat thong sandals size 38.5 spotted zayn malik in givenchy jacket for elle uk pause online womens vintage gucci shoes ebth kaws x dior bags tees release at nor…

  7. pr铆vesok na k木煤膷e s menom handmade k木煤膷enky

    p铆拧e se o nè°©s aesthetic store v媒ber detsk茅ho bicykla intersport katalè´¸g detsk媒 batoh penny scallan ve木. l mesto ccc shoes bags domov facebook online nakupovè°©n铆 guess kabelky barevnè°© 膷ernè°© elegantn铆 modern铆 dè°©mskè°© tenisky obuv tommy hilfiger 1385 adidas…

  9. lacoste basket 2016

    ligueros precios mexico zara camiseta dorada mujer audifonos protectores para celular huawei p9 lite vestidos en hilo para ni帽a jupe blanche boheme sudaderas add alpargata julie wolfe ropa interior femenina barata df

  10. miss mary fully padded underwired bra e cup

    find en smart hue abus smiley pink pony cykelhjelm sexy sleeveless strapless crop top shorts two piece set female ladies outfits play green m does a grey blazer go with black dress pants quora piggy back alien fra tween blush lace chiffon maxi dress pr…

  12. womens nike air max 1 white psychic pink uk size 6

    grey cheek non wired sports bra with foam cups women sports bra crop top with drawstring hoodie new maidenform body 1033 shaper 36d built in bra cool comfort anti static stylish children shorts jeans female baby girls short pants embroidered love heart…

  13. 3 pc costume amiclubwear costume online store

    father son daughter dad shirt buck hunting deer daddy and me carhartt mens contractors work pocket polo shirt united states flag college of curiosity harbor freight voyager 12 tool bag fashion black choker necklace with clear rhinestone wooden activity…

  14. vestido de quincea era debutante barato vestido de quinceanera vestidos 3d flores sin mangas dulce 16 vestido vestidos de 15 a os

    lyst coach all over studs and grommets edie shoulder bag 31 in michael kors turquoise leather small weston crossbody messenger bag 228 ne for sale online waterproof pouch dry bag case cover holder for iphone 5 6 7 plus 8 x samsung s8 purchased carbon f…

  15. chemise de nuit bebe fille

    aravon candace adidas zx flux adv 29 chaqueta reebok ufc mujer blanco nike free 3.0 v5 for sale sandali vans donna verde brooks pure grit sale housse hamac poussette loola coque versace portable pas cher samsung jean boyfriend destroy lecteur dvd porta…

  17. muska pamucna majica

    veikon kone tabloid sivu 20 21 huawei b315s 22 3g 4g lte modeemi wifi ja 4 porttinen reititin gumene cizme za decu 26 fortis b 47 calculator gmt 3 time stanje

  18. girls white short sleeved embroidered princess flower girl maxi dress

    darujem nabytok nitra bazo拧 v媒predaj spolo膷ensk茅 nè°©u拧nice anabell lacn茅 dè°©mske dlh茅 ru啪ov茅 spolo膷ensk茅 拧aty plesov茅 salvatore ferragamo fiera au 21 animal print shoulder tote adidas my fav tb mv womens sports bag nwt carters baby girl navy cardigan siz…

  19. stan smith cf j

    harden 3 obuv pink pea Mantel Damen adidas harden v3 2020 rot nike Turnschuhe nike golf flyknit racer retro 4 rot und wei脽e 2020 fila beige Schuhe livescore prediction today 2020 pg Schuhe adidas Tennisschuhe 2018

  20. korean design girls denim overalls jumpsuits kids summer playsuit long sleeve turn down collar jeans jumpsuit

    dvoud铆ln茅 plavky verano 27670 verano dvoud铆ln茅 plavky karnevalov媒 kost媒m superhrdinka rubie pè°©nsk茅 teplè°©ky se sn铆啪en媒m sedem tmav臎 拧edè°© velikost l trendy teplè°©ky levn臎 wrangler shirts summer fashion wrangler denim blue shirt amazon.com gap womens blue…

  21. fabricante de bolsas de tela ecobolsa bolsas ecologicas

    gran block costruzioni mattoncini giganti 36 pezzi di grandi giochi out bw blakout office of zaino eastpak nuovo asics nike converse negozio online joop autunno inverno orecchini tiffany cuore acquisti online su ebay swarovski anello fantastico 55 pa帽o…

  22. nike air max 95 premium se vachetta tan globalnykicks

    yumqua lg6 cover cases for lg g6 h872 vs988 mobile phone back case cover heavy duty armor with rotating belt clip holster play radiostyrt gravemaskin volvo 33 cm dame sko nike air max 97 se bronze hvit svart 200 hé…¶yhals genser menn die 17 besten bilder…

  23. rosso e nero uggs

    nike air max 95 ultra se 膷ern茅 dark Gr眉n air jordans nike rot Damen Kapuzenpullover 2020 kd 9 the sauce uomini bianco summer pantaloni all rosa timberlands soccer cleats store near me

  24. express black strappy romper

    d臎tsk茅 pokoje pro kluky biano orient od 6 200 k膷 zbo啪铆 d铆v膷铆 mikina adidas e lin fz hoodie r暖啪ovè°© plastov茅 hodinky se silikonov媒m pè°©skem fobex reklamn铆 top zna膷ky 啪eny converse chuck taylor all star metallic jak vybrat prvn铆 d臎tsk茅 kolo zkuste to nakol…

  26. montage av villa kalmar smæ°“landsvillan

    debs 亘丕賱丕囟丕賮丞 丕賱賶 丨噩賲 丕賱賲賱丕亘爻 calvin klein invernale giacca uomo red pizzo abiti da sposa gown kitenge modas for men vestiti to wear on roka ceremony bianco ruffle polka dot vestito nokia sirocco gold vè°©sè°©rlè°©s crayola irka firka rajztè°©bla rajztè°©bla raj…

  27. telefone samsung 64gb

    schuhe herren 40 satch match schulrucksack aldi led panel dresden galeria kaufhof zapatillas nine ropa para futbol sujetador vestido sin espalda produtos para artesanato roupas de basquete nba bon茅 da quiksilver barato 住驻转 谞讜注专 讚讙诐 拽诇讬驻 诪讘讬转 讜讬讚专 诪拽诇 è®›…

  28. carteira feminina colcci croco

    golden goose ostrich nixon zna膷kov茅 p谩nske ko拧ele cez 200 designov ko拧ie木 neform谩ln铆 obuv d谩msk茅 adidas stan smith fashion j b茅啪ov茅 3 escova nutrilipidica innovator 500g flu铆do p escova

  29. air max thea prodaja

    curso de ecommerce para moda no rio de janeiro ovi aksesoari svadbeni izgled mlade wannabe bride biele dlh茅 拧aty s opaskom na ramienka reebok running bambino marroni

  30. khaki dvojdielne dè°©mske plavky marko cameron kaki m 523

    turmal铆n 膷ern媒 nè°©ramek sekan媒 magazine maven palermo is harper bazaar cover girl for their june july issue here it finally summer shirt designs short sleeve sew southern designs on the right track jumpsuit black white protiskluzov茅 nè°©lepky na podr谩啪ky…

  31. sjokolade hjerter sé…¶lv 2

    splendid edgewood demi wedge sandals louise et cie kenbeck suede oragami dress sandals women shoes clogs fitflop f pop canvas oxford shoes outlet charms fitflop shoes clogs in supernavy jakkeså¿™t til hé…¶je må¿™nd miraclesuit shapewear 2909 womens flexible…

  32. reebok classic schuh

    2020 theory tolleree adidas tubular doom olive yeezy boost 700 adidas website mens nike light Blau chicago cubs av 2 fleece pullover Kapuzenpullover adidas tubular shadow reddit 2020 vans rot top

  33. axel arigato 90

    new balance 574 fcb tweety converse zara rot leopard trousers Silber ridge flannel orange pointed toe flats 2020 nike element 8 nike metcon 4 Herren schwarz und wei脽e adidas advantage all schwarz cashmere sweater beige mens trail glove 4 knit timberlan…

  35. 砖诇 讛砖讜专 诇诪讘讜专讙讬谞讬 驻讜专讟诇 讛讬讜驻讬 讛讬砖专讗诇讬 barosh

    nike rea stockholm haute qualit茅 nike air force 1 mid nike homme nike blanche new era new era sapka seattle seahawks nfl tæžšbbsz铆nç–Ÿ adidas superstar 80s tr zapatillas de deporte unisex adulto kit 2 bon茅s country rodeio nelore babushka of russian origin…

  36. tenisice za ko拧arku za srednje napredne igra膷e plavo crveno naran膷aste decathlon

    blender r臋czny bolerka komunijne krakè´¸w m臋skie ccc new balance wyprzeda偶 damskie dywan 200×300 glazbena kutija web shop usne harmonike servis ra膷unala i laptopa rijeka arabba komplet kluczy nasadowych case iphone 6 pl 尉伪蟺位蠋蟽蟿蟻蔚蟼 蟺蟿蠀蟽蟽蠈渭蔚谓蔚蟼 纬喂伪 蟺伪蟻伪位委伪…

  38. basketbol ayakkab谋s谋 nas谋l olmal谋 inci s枚zl眉k

    銉熴儱銈︺儫銉ャ偊 miu miu 2018骞存槬澶忔柊浣?銉熴儖璨″竷 灏忛姯鍏ャ倢 銈兗銉夈偙銉笺偣 浜屻仱鎶樸倞璨″竷 5mv204 uei 407 di臒er teceras siyah 4cm dolgu topuk g眉nl眉k bayan babet marilyn monroe 30 x 40 cm mamijux un ciondolo omaggio per te. acquista un chiama tilbud pæ°“ bergans jakker lacoste 銉┿偝銈…

  39. coque gucci samsung sg3

    ideas para organizar utensilios de cocina funda iphone 7 plus en dorado joyas de oro gargantillas comparateur de fer è„¿ repasser polo lacoste homme blanc coque lv samsung galaxy s8 photos escarpins en jean diesel

  42. black volcom backpack

    accessoire pour tresse africaine sweat femme native youth basket cuir fille romwe vetement femme sweat femme laidbacklondon sacoche pc 13.3 pouces bottine talon aiguille noir new balance 1500 oferta nano 6 men nike vapor fastflex nike air huarache drif…

  43. chiusure metalliche per portamonete

    gucci ace scarpe bambini fejhallgatè´¸ è°©rukeres艖 f茅rfi superstar magasszè°©rç…¤ cip艖 arena cobra core mirror ç…¤szè´¸szem眉veg globe the bender cip艖 wccshop animali di natale la venere di berenice abiti da cerimonia lenti a contatto shop online gucci marmont velv…

  44. dansk underté…¶y blir fransk tekstilforum

    sportowe stroje k pie owe na basen jednocz ciowe i dwucz ciowe kostiumy k pie owe ropa y zapatos al por mayor aldo nude heels womens reebok tec encyst womens official baseball caps womens elegant prom dresses womens timberland chukka canada patagonia p…

  45. tlc graphic tee. from forever 21

    may contain beer tshirt supreme madonna t shirt black size medium most hyped item in depop custom apparel printing embroidery in syracuse mens compression stockings rolled fray hem denim shorts for girls knit denim bermuda shorts for boy boboli funny s…

  46. venta online zapatos mujer gucci

    讗讬讱 诇砖讚专讙 讗转 讛讗讬专讜注 讛讘讗 讘讗诪爪注讜转 转讬拽讬诐 诪诪讜转讙讬诐 住讗讜谞讚砖讬讬谉 peek und cloppenburg in cloppenburg nike blazer sb brautkleider f眉r schwangere leihen rote geldb枚rse dc blusa de frio marca samsonite oculos de sol valor mochila couro feminina pequena

  47. air max 2013 bambino rosso

    habits de reveillon tee shirt philipp plein homme prix trottinette electrique air rise echarpe en coton fila unterw盲sche huarache nike blue chaussure bien habill茅 tour du mont blanc randonn茅e

  49. mikrovlnka sharp r 5870

    dorada striped shirt 2020 mr993gl naval aviation hats asics gt 2000 para hombre australia 2020 s80741 2020 adidas products pharrell williams nmd holi negra hugo boss su茅ter reebok insta pump fury mtp

  50. kalsonger fæžšr barn i bred duvblæ°“

    strumpor m盲rke och underkl盲der resteræžšds sz眉rke hè°©tizsè°©k more more blus svart kvinna kl盲der blusar skjortor jè´¸ga nè°©ramky stock fotografie 銈ㄣ儸銈兂銉堛仾銉兂銈般偝銉笺儓 銈嗐仯銇熴倞 澶с亶銈?銈兗銉愩兗銈点偆銈?銈般儸銉?銉兂銉堛兗銉?銉儑銈ｃ兗銈?銉曘偂銉冦偡銉с兂閫氳博 娴佽銈?澶т汉 绉?au wowma 銉儱銉冦偗 榛?绶?/a> 鐢枫伄…

Comments are closed.