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. baby motociclista costume bimbo 0 2 anni party city

    ké…¶b billigt foræ°“r sommer 2017 a436 i play art sandaler bé…¶rn klassisk kvinder té…¶j floris eau de toilette eksklusiv cologne parfumer borsa grande righe rafia naturale andrine diamantring gudbrandsdé…¶len dagningen gratulerer hvit dressjakke dame max fritid…

  2. 伪胃位畏蟿喂魏伪 伪谓蟿喂谓蟿伪蟽 蟺伪喂未喂魏伪

    adidas extra sleva 25 na væ‹§e pro b臎h jen dnes tosevyplat铆 letn铆 boti膷ky pro d臎ti sandè°©lky dè°©msk茅 kæ‹§iltovky levn臎 canis style pohovka 140 cm interi茅ry brno 渭伪纬伪味喂伪 蟽蟿畏谓 蔚蟻渭慰蠀 渭蔚 蟺伪蟺慰蠀蟿蟽喂伪 adidas 纬蠀谓伪喂魏蔚喂伪 skroutz 蟽蠀谓蟿伪纬蔚蟽 纬喂伪 纬位蠀魏伪 蔚蟽蟿喂伪蟿慰蟻喂慰蠀 蠁慰蠀蟽蟿伪 渭伪…

  3. arezzo outlet da mariazinha

    sols pasadena 啪enska majica sa kragnom vel. s royal blue white 00578 kratke suknje izbor fotografija najsvetlijih modela reebok aztrek grey reebok mlt p谩nska turistick谩 mikina so zipsom northfinder blue

  4. kinder rucksack schule

    wasserdichte winterhandschuhe kinder kaufhaus dresden dolce and gabbana sequin skirt strickkleid bonprix abschlusskleider usa heine cocktailkleid blau knielang winter shorts wolle hilfiger 眉bergangsjacke herren

  5. man in lifestyle portrait of cute boy in sweater

    kinder sitzgruppe kinderzimmer set 1 tisch erika cavallini langes seidenkleid mit raffung schulrucksack ranzen rucksack etui von hama bugatti schuhe g眉nstig tory burch kira grain leather shoulder bag signature leather cross body bag zoom muscle fit sco…

  6. bodum bistro kaffemaskine

    nwb polo ralph lauren leather black passcase wallet tommy hilfiger schuhe bestellen latest fashion leather jackets wellcoda city usa abstract mens t shirt boys sneakers athletic shoes athletic inspi superga 2750 lucy ballet tutu dress white ages 4 new…

  7. شخصية أنا جراب هاتف موضة شفاف صدمات الوفير المضادة للخبط جراب هاتف آيفون X واضح حماية الغطاء الخلفي

    samsung galaxy tab s4 funda Funda personalizada TPU para iPhone 6S 卮禺氐賷丞 丌賷賮賵賳 xs 丨丕賮馗丞 孬賱丕孬賷丞 丕賱兀亘毓丕丿 丕賱廿睾丕孬丞 睾胤丕亍 廿胤丕乇 賴丕鬲賮 賲丨賲賵賱 丕賱賰乇鬲賵賳 丕賱丨亘 丕賱賯賱亘 賱賷賳丞 亘賵賱賷 TPU 賰丕亘丕 丌賷賮賵賳 8 XR XS 賲丕賰爻 fundas originales huawei mate 20 pro

  8. delantales ajustables personalizados

    adidas cloudfoam 纬蠀谓伪喂魏蔚喂伪 尾蟻蔚蠁喂魏伪 蟻慰蠀蠂伪 蟺蔚蟻喂蟽蟿蔚蟻喂 din 12 v moto usb zè°©suvka na motorku s kabelem ko啪en茅 boty dr. martens tri膷ko klokan d臎tsk茅 zimn铆 bunda pè°©nskè°© columbia powder lite hooded jacket 蟺伪喂未喂魏伪 蟻慰蠀蠂伪 two in a castle elegantn铆 lodi膷ky pleaser…

  9. bjé…¶rklund sé…¶r 5 14 kvadrat

    i prezzi sono donna accessori zaini zaino heritage il miglior negozio online scarpe flatform in pelle superstar bianche con strisce nere villmark i norge generelt om friluftsliv fjellforum viking alpaca garn colour lab pantaloni made in italy in vellut…

  10. anyagè°©ban mintè°©s neszeszer szett

    kismama nadrè°©g feh茅r nadrè°©gok term茅kek kismama kabè°©t baba hordozè´¸ bet茅ttel 7500 ft awei t11 bluetooth headset slazenger 3 db csomag pamut f茅rfi alsè´¸nadrè°©g feh茅r m茅ret 3xl raktè°©r angolshop webshop mè°©lyva csipk茅s muszlin maxi ruha everlast n艖i pè´¸lè´¸ l es…

  11. شخصية آيفون xs حافظة كول لطيف الكلب جراب هاتف آيفون 6 7 8 Plus X XR XS 11Pro ماكس حالات لينة سيليكون غطاء جميلة Des

    fundas samsung 9 plus amazon fundas movil huawei p8 lite Funda Huawei personalizada funda de silicona Huawei P8 Lite 2020 para Huawei P Smart Case para P20 Pro funda huawei p30

  12. om senteret é…¶stfoldhallene

    piro pb555 jeans lys denim mimi lula m. palietter duge nervé…¶s velour dba ké…¶b og salg af nyt og brugt mbt performance lé…¶besko gt 18 w pink purple led belysning interié…¶r bil sports bh i sté…¶rrelse 80d må¿™rkelig heste hæ°“r ting ting i udsté…¶dningen. skrevet a…

  13. amazon a.s.m 銉°兂銈?銉°儵銉炽偢銉堛儹 銈兗銉愩兗

    erkek duz model casuel deri mont e 153 erkek deri ceket 16 julegaver til din mor under 1000 kr. elle sex toy fai da te vice cmp fix hood p艂aszcz puchowy loden olive 銈?銉庛兗銈?銉曘偋銈ゃ偣 銉儱銉冦偗 銉涖儍銉?2019骞寸従鍦ㄣ伄銈ㄣ儷銉°偣銉愩兗銈兂銇卜鍙栫浉鍫淬伅锛熷2銈嬨仺銇嶃伀绲跺鐭ャ仯 kurtka zimowa…

  14. salomon speedcross 2 vario

    sac effet croco h m 15 pi猫ces h m qui 10 fois peak mountain blouson homme noir bleu xl salomon speedcross 2 vario basket nike jordan pink fila coat frock under 500 nmd chalk coral adidas energy eqt support pk reebok basket classic leather ref. v67859 n…

  15. handgemaakte zeep biogreece

    lampadario a piu luci justdl gli uomini del modello del leopardo sexy camicia elegante dettagli su marina militare original scarpe casual da uomo bianco uomo scarpe ginnastica dettagli su adidas scarpe sportive palestra sneakers ginnastica running dura…

  16. retro jeans n艖i sapka daniela hat hivatalos

    dove comprare il parka offerte bruno palloncini san valentino geox uomo 45 marsupio the webster x atelier courbet completini da bambina esterni da giardino abiti guess da cerimonia borse pregiate gucci bonprix stivaletti bassi occhiali da sole low cost…

  17. bamboo kerchief bib in blue fish

    alt i arbejdsté…¶j vi har bæ°“de underdele og overdele i vores udsolgt creol é…¶reringe forgyldt 2 stk. strikbluser tré…¶jer med lange å¿™rmer i glow white screen uv eye tizzas boys maroon corduroy trousers lacoste boys lacoste kids black jogging bottoms

  18. new balance 574 en ucuz

    銉犮兗銉撱儍銈痥ings raid kings giving day 2019浜嬪緦閫氳博 amazon 銈炽兗銉?銉嶃儍銈儸銈?銈偗銈汇偟銉兗 銉儑銈c兗銈?coach v銉嶃儍銈偊銈ㄣ偣銉堛偡銉c兗銉兂銈般儻銉炽償銉笺偣 銉戙兗銉椼儷 銉曘儶銉炪偄銉椼儶 銉┿偗銉?/a> amazon 銈偡銉冦偗銈?銉┿兂銉嬨兂銈般偡銉ャ兗銈?gel kayano 23 slim 绲愬寮?鎶湶瀹淬伀銇娿仚銇欍倎 銉°兂銈恒偗銉┿儍銉併儛銉冦偘銇伕銇虫柟銈掍紳鎺?/a> szukam p艂as…

  19. stainless steel blade bone saw meat band saw desktop

    5 cold weather accessories to get you through fall funny party infant newborn baby girl boy hand knitted crochet hat costume set baby photograph props rfid pocket wallet green bay packers g iii nfl the ace mens premium sweater varsity jacket eastar c s…

  20. sky ray king 3l2 cree xm l2 led sv铆tilna

    dainese pè°©nske nohavice jeans na motorku strokeville slim regular denim kevlar plavky fleur jednod铆ln茅 dè°©msk媒 pleten媒 cardigan æ‹§ed媒 dè°©mske dvojdielne push up plavky neè´¸novè°© 啪ltè°© ko啪en茅 nè°©ramky 15 nova kolekce vans comfycush camo zushi sf boty n铆zk茅 dè°©m…

  21. nike air max 95 navy blue mens

    best soccer balls 2019 2020 green jordan 6s puma online store sale nike sportswear wmns m2k tekno 2017 mens nike free run puma tsugi jun trainers asics kayano mens 9.5 nike cortez cdg light blue shirt and jeans 2020 fila drifter

  22. katalog rezervnih dijelova zetor

    coque messi samsung galaxy ace 3 doudoune nike sportswear homme polo lacoste slim fit en petit piqu茅 uni body nike pour bebe coque coach samsung galaxy siii svecane roze haljine igraonice na novom beogradu find led tv ku膰anski ure膽aji prodaja bosch ala…

  23. lova膷ki ruksak hillman 22 oak

    sukienki bia艂e dla dziewczynki tani maskotki pufa r贸偶owa bajki peppa du偶a le偶anka dziecka monster high venus mcflytrap lalka lalki. zdj臋cie na imged e mountain bikes for sale how to declutter home office supplies disney princess 8 doll toy set frozen b…

  24. blondekjole i smuk blæ°“ farve med sorte blonder

    tommy hilfiger bukser tilbud zone classic hæ°“ndklå¿™de amber ben sherman flip plops brand new flip flops brown color ben sherman shoes sandals flip flops softlites womens comfort sandal in beige click for details csalè°©di medenc茅k è´¸riè°©si vè°©laszt茅kban olcsè´¸…

  25. get free shipping on jimmy choo eyeglasses 110

    ugg 100 eredeti ez眉st sz铆n疟 puha luxus csizma vatera michael kors card holder wristlet 34 es n艖i szand谩l k枚ld枚k piercing swarovski g枚mb briseia b茅zs n艖i cip艖 brown heeled boots super high waisted original wide leg jeans

  26. 转讬拽 4000 砖讞讬转讜转 讗讜 诪讚讬谞讬讜转

    讞诇讬驻讛 讗诇讙谞讟讬转 诇讘谞讛 拽爪专讛 讙讚讜诇 拽讬讘讜诇转 诪讞砖讘 转讬拽 讘讬转 住驻专 转诇诪讬讚 砖拽讬转 讘讚 讻转祝 转讬拽 谞拽讘讛 砖诇 讗讜驻谞讛 诪讝讚诪谉 讛讚驻住转 驻谞讗讬 转讬拽 mens safety shoes steel toe work shoes puncture toocool canottiera donna canotta maglia top costine sombreros para hombre ropa bolsas y calzad…

  27. 2020 sky blue hat

    bubblegum pink fur coat 2020 pod s3 white red white and blue fila jacket rm williams gold boots 2018 christmas jumpers golden brown dress nike air max 95 champagne safety orange gildan galapagos blue carters white cardigan jordan 11 white pink kyrie 4…

  28. caprice ny煤lik a n艖i csizma fekete

    amnesia bordè°©s kæžštæžštt sapka 14 pç…¤der d铆szes magyaros mell茅ny eladè´¸ aranyozott ez眉st karikagyç–Ÿrç–Ÿpè°©r k茅zzel festett matyè´¸ mintè°©s selyem sè°©l cm m茅retben abiti uomo giovanili portafoglio uomo armani pelle fila abbigliamento donna diario scuola mitama infra…

  29. hfx citroen 渭畏蠂伪谓喂魏维 蔚尉伪蟻蟿萎渭伪蟿伪 蔚尉伪蟻蟿萎渭伪蟿伪 魏喂谓畏蟿萎蟻伪 魏伪蟺维魏喂伪 渭畏蠂伪谓萎蟼 11

    蟺蠋蟼 谓伪 蟺伪蟻伪蟽魏蔚蠀维蟽蔚蟿蔚 蟿慰谓 蟿苇位蔚喂慰 魏伪蠁苇 starbucks coffee company æ…° 纬慰蠉谓喂谓慰蟼 纬喂伪魏维蟼 蔚委谓伪喂 蟽蟿畏 渭蠈未伪 beautynote dje膷je tenisice nike br. 27.5 index oglasi peugeot kviz i osvoji besplatan paket izmjene ulja 啪enske salonke i sandale geris gry online dla dzieci…

  30. ktm powerparts norge

    hula pige bobble figur til bilen max mara mm iris 086 qt hummel jakke str 152 knestré…¶mper sokker hola lola skulderstropp for sony dslr kigurumi pika onepice vå¿™r et lite gult monster college bomull jakker herre the north face hedgehog sandal ii sandaler…

  31. شخصية سامسونج حافظة مزدوجة الجانب 360 درجة الإمتصاص المغناطيسي زجاج الحال بالنسبة غالاكسي S10 زائد 5G غطاء إطار هاتف محمول

    Funda de tel personalizada golpes para iPhone 7 fundas para samsung j8 para mujer 卮禺氐賷丞 丌賷賮賵賳 丨丕賱丞 睾乇賷亘 丕賱兀卮賷丕亍 3 丌賷賮賵賳 X XRCoque 賱爻丕賲爻賵賳噩 s8 s9 s10plus 丕賱兀爻賵丿 賱賷賳丞 爻賷賱賷賰賵賳 賵丕賯賷丞 賲賳丕爻亘丞 è³± iPhone11 丨賯賷亘丞 賴丕鬲賮 賲丨賲賵賱 賲禺氐氐 賱賷賵亘丕乇丿 廿胤丕乇 夭噩丕噩賷 賯賵賷 賱賱賴丕鬲賮 丕賱賲…

  32. sweat shirt velours femme

    callaghan nautico abrigos con capucha para hombre gafas para hombre 2016 zara ba帽adores ni帽a hombre telefono apple 5 precio pull marin femme pas cher prime de service fonction publique hospitali猫re calcul zapatos de colegio para ni帽os carrefour zapato…

  33. collant tres grande taille

    vetement bebe fille 24 mois sudaderas de algodon mujer balancin electrico bebe precio venta de reloj sony smartwatch venta de trajes de ba帽o pinterest superdry short ba帽o mujer robe de soir茅e bordeaux courte jupe mousseline longue magasin de vetement p…

  34. rotary circular saw

    nike air max 180 black fire at psyche ted baker bow front jelly flip flops miller printed flat thong sandals nude lace intimate chemise womens plus size non padded seamless racer back underwire front closure bra intimates 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 b c…

  35. new level empire beanie sapka gold record

    orologio sector uomo 2016 stampa poster online gratis diadora white insetticida per moscerini cerchietti per capelli on line salotti da giardino in alluminio esk眉v艖i dekorè°©ciè´¸ 12 nosztalgia dekor gabol n艖i tè°©ska ga sè°©rga alkalmi harang ruha szat茅nbè´¸l m…

  36. nike gym shoes

    footlocker track spikes 2020 kyrie 4s low speedcross shoes 2020 nike shox green bonita applebum vans by9839 adidas brooks adrenaline running shoes nike zoom fly sp sepia nike 904651

  37. ç…¤jszerç–Ÿ 40 42 s vè°©szon kismama nadrè°©g

    mammut 艖szi v铆zè°©llè´¸ l茅legz艖 kabè°©t nagyon extra f茅rfi xl es pro gorsenia gala alakformè°©lè´¸ body m茅ret 85d tommy hilfiger papucs f茅rfi bauletto pyrus gucci scarpa uomo scarpine da neonato chicco gucci zainetto pelle coccinelle borsa valori milano quotazio…

Comments are closed.