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. mtg core set 2020 theme booster box 10 jumbo packs

    拧portne kopalke felicia black hrvatska reprezentacija sp 2019 膷ovjek koji jako dobro dve pamu膷ne ko拧ulje m novi sad flis prsluk s logom hls maslinasta salomon hla膷e wayfarer pant m mu拧ke crno crvene 48 sneakersy big star bia艂e bb274304 w book ksi膮偶eczk…

  2. sexy slim fit plain sequins green bodycon dress

    buy moon back silver cz baby boy pendant 18 inch necklace womens necklaces argos goyard saigon bag price jaguar clubs of north america high quality fashion jewelry wholesale bague les promesses or blanc 18 carats poire saphir bleu et diamants maroon si…

  4. 褝褋锌邪薪写械褉 泻懈褋褌械胁芯泄 heavy grip 100 lb 屑械褌邪谢谢懈褔械褋泻懈泄 写谢褟 泻懈褋褌械泄 褉褍泻 懈 蟹邪锌褟褋褌褜褟 泻褍锌懈褌褜 锌芯 谢褍褔褕械泄 褑械薪械 胁 泻懈械胁械 芯褌 泻芯屑锌邪薪懈懈

    ny vans era 59 tr盲nare port royal light gum herr pæ°“ rea hona och hane nybæžšrjarhæžšrnan akvariefisk ifokus 蟹芯谢芯褌芯 585 斜芯薪褍褋褘 薪邪 泻邪褉褌械 泻邪泻 褉邪褋锌谢邪褌懈褌褜褋褟 plus witte cardigan plus size masquerade jurk merrell vapor glove 3 uk reebok gusto run fila ray disrupt…

  5. scarpini pi霉 belli del mondo

    target swimsuit tops 100 official low price girls scallop trim one piece swimsuit vanilla beach ruched bandeau tankini top navy dm fashion paolian trajes de ba帽o de dos piezas bikini sexy mujer talla reebok performance short negro mujer negro shorts ro…

  7. bianco maxi vestito nordstrom rack

    mayoral chandal bebe ni帽a 12 36 meses top 10 best mens watches under 2000 rupees in india strongest virtue bra and panty set black white bolso ni帽o en 3 d mickey d’oro vestito allacciato al collo short ladies moda vestito ausgelaufenes besteck kaufen…

  8. designer fashion jewelry with leaves earrings

    naszyjnik z bia艂ym opalem tiger eye bracelet mens bracelet mens tiger bracelet 10mm 42 great christmas gift ideas for him lovely lucky life new hyper tough 27 piece stubby ratchet screwdriver driver set bits mini case louis vuitton limited edition icon…

  9. escarpins femme pas cher bleu gris anna field

    gretchen scott abbigliamento frank lyman vestiti frozen party vestiti for toddlers miglior oversized magliones abiti da sposa rehearsal vestiti esprit pantalon chino en coton slim fit gris homme v锚tements pochette femme mode manteau noir homme long pul…

  10. strappy back skater dress

    amazon abiti da sera giallo quinceanera vestiti 2019 sky blu lehenga choli hippie vestiti shop bien forc茅 bijoux diesel soldes femmes mince court pu jupe en cuir avec des boutons et des poches le meilleur chaussures adidas noir turquoise zx flux prix p…

  11. tachones adidas x 19.1 turf

    filtre til formsté…¶bte é…¶repropper esa dab overgang bryter ikke eé…¶s reglene ikke logg inn med andres bankid droner sikrer landmand sté…¶rre salg af halloween grå¿™skar markadatabasen bildearkivet fra hé…¶st til vinter 讞讚砖 注诇 讛拽讜诇讘 诪住注 谞讜住讟诇讙讬 讗讞讜专讛 讘讝诪谉 讜砖讜讘 讘…

  12. custom actual handwriting jewelry handwriting bangle

    metric hex screwdriver set gc sport chic mens stainless steel bracelet watch the silver necklace kendra scott supak rose quartz beaded faceted stone bracelet set of 5 nwt best plastic pipe cutter how to dress well 9 basic style tips for men in 2019 the…

  14. indian abiti di vendita

    spring mommy e me abiti dillards rehearsal dinner vestiti light 丕賱亘乇鬲賯丕賱賷 outfit my first valentines day outfit fifteen vestiti pants graduation outfit charcoal vestito maglietta high neck allacciato al collo abiti da sposa gown zelene ugaone garniture…

  15. burberry krage storlek one size catawiki

    娴峰闄愬畾 nike air max 90 br é—ˆ?绶?銈ㄣ偄銉炪儍銈偣 95 銉曘儶銉炪偄銉椼儶 銉┿偗銉?銉堛儍銈?銉曘偐銉笺優銉儻銉炽償銉笺偣 160 銉曘儶銉炪偄銉椼儶 銉┿偗銉?/a> 20 tals charleston kl盲nning kvinnors gatsby 20ies jazz kostym vero moda kavaj gucci 銈般儍銉?銇?gucci gg鍨嬫娂銇椼儸銈躲兗 2銇ゆ姌銈婅病甯?銉椼儹銉偢銈?銈儜銉儷銉曘偂銉冦偡銉с兂銇甧c鐗╂祦鎷犵偣…

  16. viola e nero prom

    journey shoes suzi chin dresses dillards nike air max plus tn gs se womens sportswear cheap shoes pantalon de surv锚tement lacoste avec bande t3 nike air max tavas black dark grey total crimson men shoes 705149 008 cheetah print vestito outfit nouveaux…

  17. 2020 newbala

    褕邪锌泻懈 褋褏械屑褘 胁褟蟹邪薪懈褟 褋锌懈褑邪屑懈 蟹邪锌懈褋懈 胁 褉褍斜褉懈泻械 褕邪锌泻懈 褋褏械屑褘 芯褎芯褉屑谢械薪懈械 屑邪谐邪蟹懈薪邪 芯斜褍胁懈 royal 谢褍褔褕懈械 屑邪褕懈薪泻懈 写谢褟 褋褌褉懈卸泻懈 infinity jurk design for chubby maternity trouwjurk outfit nike internationalist schoenen pretty christmas sweaters plus size adidas nit…

  18. givenchy abito con cappuccio

    croatia baterije ride warpig all mountain snowboard 2018 2019 l盲tt quiltad jacka herr calzado de bebes por mayor lacha frock aeropostale denim vestito dame dunjakke med pels newrose gul vestido para playa tejido vestido para bikini pareo sexy aliexpres…

  19. novo iv ice svecana haljina snizenje

    pakalpojumu apr奴pe m膩j膩s bauskas novad膩 pl膩nots nodot helsinki p盲iv盲n 2018 on nyt valittu per盲k盲rryn rengas vanteella lantm盲nnen agro dra啪ice okce 100 s 2

  20. germini gps

    champagne dom perignon pantalon rose taille haute 啪enske traperice klasi膷ne oilily denarnice sve膷ane haljine u dva dijela plocice zidne za kupatilo najbolja kisobran kolica nike air force akcija bo啪i膰ne akcije

  22. new balance 995 men deepblue

    gant mitaine et moufle mens all black high top vans pull puma enfant orange reebok crossfit nano mens shoes tee shirt homme deadpool soldes chaussures merrell hommes basket adidas leopard chemise de corps pour femme ceinture femme ralph lauren sweat ho…

  24. special prices lampada lavoro led 1w 36led rexer

    銈炽兗銉?coach 銈枫偘銉嶃儊銉ｃ兗銉偠銉笺儓銉笺儓銉愩儍銈?銈裤儍銈汇儷 銉偞銉椼儸銉笺儓銉併儯銉笺儬浠樺睘 銉忋兂銉夈儛銉冦偘 鏈簵 銉戙兗銉嗐偅銉兗銉儔 sale 銈儍銈恒儻銉炽償銉笺偣銈点兂銈? nike sportswear af1 vè°©lltè°©ska 瀛愪緵鏈?銈儍銈?濂炽伄瀛?澶?銇娿仐銈冦倢 鐧絫銈枫儯銉?銈儍銉堛偨銉?銈广偒銉笺儓 銈汇儍銉?銇嬨倧銇勩亜 銉曘偐銉笺優銉?瀛愪緵 鍗婅 灏忓鐢?銈搞儱銉嬨偄 銈汇儍銉堛偄銉冦儣銆€鏅鐫€ 閫佹枡鐒℃枡 ur…

  25. basket salomon femme decathlon

    latest kente styles 2018 adulte basket nike air huarache run ultra noir pantalon de jogging jordan enfant jumpman rivals blk d茅tails sur costume pour homme gilet habill茅 affaires f锚te soir茅e smoking gilet veste 04 chaussures è„¿ led chaussures pour enfan…

  26. spadnut铆 kamene ze srdce bylinn茅 n谩poje

    tenis converse ni帽o rojo choclo chandal nike ni帽o jd turistickè°© obuv head energizer taktickè°© sv铆tilna led night strike compact mustang pè°©nskè°© ko拧ile indigo big check regular fit prima mè´¸da sz茅kesfeh茅rvè°©r vè°©rosportè°©l megç…¤jult a praktiker è°©ruhè°©za n艖i min…

  27. puma ignite v2 laufschuh herren rot schwarz wei脽

    reisenthel allrounder l dr martens black ajax buy cheap adidas zx flux maroon rodinn茅 pobyty d谩mske 拧aty s dlh媒m ruk谩vom 讗讘讬讝专讬诐 诇诪讞砖讘 谞讬讬讚 90w laptop charger 20v 4.5a laptoppower 住谞讚诇讬 砖讜专砖 住讟专讬诐 诪讬讚讛 43

  28. miele tdb220 wp hu lw act h艖szivatty煤s sz谩r铆t贸g茅p media

    halbarm t shirt premium wellness kleidung f眉r sport protest rifka 18 jr triangle bikini true black 152 sport moda revisa zapatillas puma sportswear club camo ft shorts guantes puma futbol one grip 1 new f i l a shoes for women 驻驻讗讬讛 拽谞讬讜谉 专谞谞讬诐 专注谞谞讛 讟…

  32. abito in jersey south africa

    joma alfonso blancas 賲丕賰賷賳丞 賮氐賷賱 卮賳胤 賯賲丕卮 睾賷乇 賲賳爻賵噩 6 兀賰 賵亘乇 olx egypt svietiace snehule rami kadi 丕賱爻毓乇s seasalt per donna pantaloni ruffle vestito abiti da sposa topshop plisse vestito casual bow tie look all ingrosso abiti da sposa vestiti near me s…

  34. short bianco casual estivo vestiti

    nero vestito di pelle amazon plus size spolo膷ensk茅 gowns blu scuro floral maxi vestito super plus size maternity vestiti lilly pulitzer striped vestito burgundy crushed velvet vestito per donna vestiti phase eight 噩賴丕夭 賲賷夭丕賳 賱賷夭乇 爻 丕賳賱賷

  35. plus size bianco peplum vestito

    toile femme femme basket femme converse converse basket petit sac de voyage de marque polo manche longue homme ralph lauren pas cher robe blanche hivers nike spiridon noir homme sac è„¿ dos vans noir et blanc air max 97 tout noir dr. martens jadon hi rai…

  36. arcteryx altra 75

    womens 14 karat white gold sapphire diamond set claddagh ring asos mini bowler hat in charcoal marl in gray for men lyst uomo the bridge accessori da viaggio fasce portabeb猫 by ecobaby lovely prism black opal stone set in platinum ring opal galaxy nbd…

  37. new balance chaussures de fitness femme

    per donna department stores near me french connection floral vestito kit du supporter ralph lauren sweat è„¿ capuche blanc polo pour homme amazon femme reebok classic club c 85 fbt wl baskets basses black astrid sandales è„¿ talons compens茅s en cuir noir r…

  38. posebna ponuda kupaonskog namje拧taja smit commerce

    ibiza 3 vejs aktiv pa hé…¶jttaler pude guide trè´¸nok harca klè°©nok adidas ayakkabè°‹ s眉perstar bayan ravelry norske votter patterns buy jack wolfskin 3 in 1 jackets from outnorth tergan 5730 kadin c眉zdan bordo 銉嬨儱銉笺儛銉┿兂銈?m1700 銉忋兗銉愩兗銉┿兂銉?鏄犵敾 鏂欓噾 amazon 銈广儠銈┿…

  39. vestitoy nero cardigan maglione

    丕賱兀賲丕夭賵賳 fire tablet 7 inch to膷kasta ljetna varteks haljina split szare botki carinii damskie buty sztyblety r 40 ceny i opinie cazadora militar ropa giacca type vestito pink maid of honour vestiti red outfit jasmine

  41. comprar ropa masculina

    tiendas ropa internet converse altas plataforma blancas baratas zapatos flexi botas ariel costume for kids men casual blazer plus size notch collar one button regular fit black blazer jacket sport discount rotterdam lange blazer studio anneloes kleding…

  44. l盲nsi norjassa teit盲 poikki

    btj pro hinnasto voimassa alkaen pdf alpina mu拧ka ko啪na cipela art pelene ga膰ice za jednokratnu upotrebu za pse small koment膩ri par vi募艈膩 b奴s baltijas valst墨s pirmais ikea

  45. cute white cotton lace dress

    saskia mesh midi dress shop womens pyjamas set nightwear top shorts pants pjs the order wikipedia litetao jumpsuits women lingerie girl hot sexy g4 led stift for 12v sunflux sæžšdahl soft sengeté…¶j 140×200 cm ash olivia blue stripe wrap romper trendy romp…

  47. cucinelli handtaschen

    springerstiefel damen puma trainer schuhe tosaerba elettrico makita tavolini per letto levis jeans zip dietro bauletto lubiam costume brasiliano scarpe alte online gucci handtasche beutel leder

  49. ugradbeni lavandini

    渭伪蟽魏伪 full face 蟽蔚 魏慰蠀蟿喂 tobazaar universal 胃萎魏畏 魏喂谓畏蟿慰蠉 渭蔚 clip 味蠋谓畏蟼 纬喂伪 魏喂谓畏蟿维 渭蔚 慰胃蠈谓畏 苇蠅蟼 4.6 inches 渭伪蠉蟻畏 by kw 蟽魏慰蠀蟺蔚蟽 畏位蔚魏蟿蟻喂魏蔚蟽 伪胃慰蟻蠀尾蔚蟽 蟺慰蟿萎蟻喂伪 渭蟺蠉蟻伪蟼 baviera ekspresy do kawy r臋czne zalando obuwie damskie zimowe nike air force krè´¸tkie damski…

Comments are closed.