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. tee shirt femme blanc uni

    arhiva bodiji za bebe mony design tommy hilfiger tenisice bijela podloga za presvla膷enje beba disney bela okt nike classic line 17 æ‹§kolski ruksak ru啪i膷aste boje kupovina czym karmi膰 psy rasy jack russel terrier royal canin blog tanie buty damskie na wi…

  2. h谩tizs谩k el艖l cipz谩ros ez眉st delka bag

    2017 a legjobb bluetooth fejhallgatè´¸ vezet茅k n茅lk眉li u1 ipx7 sz铆nç–Ÿ cs铆kos n艖i halè°©sznadrè°©g n艖i short berlin pamut diapolo bahama swarovski kæžšves b艖r karkæžšt艖 ive jewelry swarovski orsacchiotto bianco peluche outlet k way salopette a gonna di jeans calze…

  3. femme large d茅bardeurs bretelle casual decontractee haut de

    pr铆sluæ‹§enstvo ku kè°©vovarom 銉嬨儓銉鍏蜂笅椐勭瀹屾垚鍝併伄鍟嗗搧涓€瑕?閫氳博 yahoo 銈枫儳銉冦償銉炽偘 賲丕 è³´è³· 兀爻亘丕亘 賮卮賱 毓賲賱賷丞 夭乇丕毓丞 丕賱兀爻賳丕賳 丕賱賲夭賷丿 b臎啪eck茅 boty adidas adizero boston 6 v媒prodej blankyt boty music is my life b铆l茅 pè°©nsk茅 stylov茅 tri膷ko 204141 pè°©nsk茅 speciè°©ly ea7 emporio…

  4. vestido de noiva branco medio vestidos femeninos sem

    kofer za alat jf plasti膷ni 23 woby haus online muske plitke cipele nike air uptempo 97 online adida superstars homme dr martens art boots nike roshe comprar 丕賴丿丕賮 賵賲賱禺氐 賲亘丕乇丕丞 亘乇卮賱賵賳丞 賵睾乇賳丕胤丞 賮賷 丕賱丿賵乇賷 丕賱丕爻亘丕賳賷 賰賵乇丞 trak za u拧esa fanny

  5. superga sg outlets

    veste femme cuir et fourrure coque jordan chassis iphone 6s chaussures desmazieres espadrille havaianas enfant long pardessus femme ou acheter son pc de bureau mocassin sans lacet coque fendi samsung grand prime 5 robe de soir茅e 2018 dentelle longue un…

  6. saldi the north face

    park ii knit short nb ræžšvidnadrè°©g xl f茅rfi deichmann f茅rfi tè°©ska unlimited feh茅r n艖i sportcip艖 n艖i ç…¤j olasz s m halvè°©ny rè´¸zsasz铆n nadrè°©g felina comfort el艖formè°©zott melltartè´¸ sportcip艖 versace collection nero nero oro f茅rfi audio technica ath m50xbt bl…

  7. magasin de chaussure nike

    solde jean levis homme argos consultants 26.04 tops femmetop en jersey rose poudr茅 paris gilet adidas homme. s dè°©mskè°© kabelka tamaris elsa 3072191 098 black comb. handbag 3072191 098 black comb. elsa handbag inuovo pantofl铆膷ky kalhoty b铆l茅 letn铆 kalhot…

  8. pochette eleganti nere

    megn茅zt眉k a deichmann legç…¤jabb dandy kollekciè´¸jè°©t globalplaza f茅rfi modell pè´¸zol k茅k farmer 茅s barna cip艖k kæžšnnyç–Ÿ stç…¤diè´¸ f茅rfi nadrè°©gsz铆j fekete hasznè°©lt kismama esk眉v艖i ruha cut and sew f茅rfi hosszç…¤ ujjç…¤ pè´¸lè´¸ fekete sz眉rke polaroid n艖i polarizè°©lt naps…

  9. donde comprar adidas yeezy boost 350

    osprey raven beige crossbody bag asics tiger hoodie kids green womens sandal styles new balance 311 womens 2014 scarpe adidas ultra boost gold edition femme forte vetement chapeau panama fedora combinaison courte femme ray ban enfant 2 ans

  10. air max 180 ultramarine 615287 100

    bolsa chanel caviar vintage pedro apresenta sua cole莽茫o de sapatos e bolsas de couros o projeto original da lona bordado bolsas femininas luva de boxe muay thai feminina naja animal print cobra 12 oz porteur b茅b茅 winnie svecana haljina od muslina sa od…

  11. coque lv samsung galaxy edge plus

    reebok pump silber velvet adidas shoes horse drawstring bag nb 996 p煤rpura mujer curry 5 45 adidas climacool revolution maillot de bain deux pi猫ces enfant pantalon pantacourt femme black orange backpack cute briefcase tote bags bebecar poussette

  12. d谩msk茅 outdoorov茅 kalhoty loap ze 100 bavlny

    zanussi hasznè°©lt m茅lyhç–Ÿt艖 tiszafæžšldvè°©r programok 0 darab 435 darab 50 km kæžšnyvjelz艖 k茅sz铆t茅s hè°©zilag archives manè´¸ kuckè´¸ diadora uomo speed star iii scarpe tennis club dettagli su bracciale donna pietre rosa cipria lilla oro dorato ciondoli catena anel…

  13. casas bahia fortaleza fone

    jogo de cama promo莽茫o qual a melhor loja de relogios da internet lenceria vestido de novia talla zapato recien nacido cadena oro 750 nike air max 90 ultra 2.0 flyknit hombre all star azul couro ropa para casamiento civil reloj s3 gear traje de coctel m…

  14. dettagli su tiffany co argento sterling grande cuore serratura 16 collana astuccio

    obi bombki dekorowane bia艂o srebrne 4 szt 100 mm 陌kinci el adidas 35 numara erkek spor ayakkabè°‹ sneaker 70 puma suede beyaz renk ba臒cè°‹klè°‹ spor ayakkabè°‹ spor ayakkabè°‹ miss cix simli kadè°‹n e艧ofman takè°‹m 2027 altè°‹n petzl headlamp actik trail running acces…

  15. gilet long rose fushia

    water carrying backpack sweat 脿 capuche beverly hills polo club lisseur 250 degr茅s mizuno wave exceed sl saucony echelon 4 hombre marron chaussures pediconfort gear3 vestes en jean coque jordan mini s5

  16. zaino pelle bershka

    brautkleider auf kommission adidas originals stan smith w brillen online testsieger burton schulrucksack metalhead clementoni vs ravensburger ciabatte sandalo donna cappello liu jo prezzo giochi da calcio per bambini occhiali da sole prada uomo 2015 gu…

  17. vestiti bimba 3 4 anni e maglietta a roma kijiji annunci di ebay

    tri膷ko k暖艌 patriot krè°©lovsk媒 modr茅 sandè°©lky american tourister bon air spinner l solar yellow led sv铆tilna jesen u japanu mp meridijan putovanja plo膷a za crtanje redox 膷epice nike sb fisherman 064 dark gray heather white nejlep拧铆 spodn铆 prè°©dlo adidas d…

  18. lacoste銉┿偝銈广儐 銉濄儹銈枫儯銉?銉°兂銈?銉溿兗銈ゃ偤銈点偆銈?l1812

    mens the north face tanken waterproof jackets navy lc waikiki kadè°‹n spor ayakkabè°‹ black morhipo 銈汇儍銉堛偄銉冦儣 銉娿偆銈?nike 銉°兂銈?pk 銉欍兗銈枫儍銈?銉堛儵銉冦偗 銈广兗銉?涓婁笅銈汇儍銉?861781 1901 銈搞儯銉笺偢 瑁忚捣姣?閫佹枡鐒?au wowma 銉偊銉?2016 air jordan 銈ㄣ偄銈搞儳銉笺儉銉炽偄銈搞儯銈广偪銉栥儷 銈广優銉笺儓銉曘偐銉?銈便兗銈?鎵嬪赋…

  19. slip on noir vans

    dr. martens bottes 101 vintage blue vintage femme homme d茅tails sur v paris manteau femme fourrure noir nike classic cortez baskets en cuir noir 749571 011 homme noir chaussures de course en cuir tendance running respirantes chaussures era 59 vans 注讙讬诇…

  20. coat donna

    orecchini punto luce brillanti calendario avvento natale accessori per scarpe jack jones abbigliamento uomo only e sons jeans borsa armani trapuntata asics tigreor nere gialle si猫lei reggiseni scarpe basse armani omai vestiti sneakers donna 39

  21. marque de mode pas cher chaussures femme palladium baskets

    pull mcs 100 laine homme en soldes vans homme bleu e sac è„¿ dos voyage en oxford imperm茅able è„¿ eau chaussures era 59 vans basket reebok classic leather spirit violet pantalon asics homme la s茅lection jogging running homme nike air force 1 07 qs orange b…

  22. les meilleurs ordinateurs portables asus

    casquette supreme noir veste en jean homme grande taille maillot de bain taille 56 statut agent territorial fonction publique etui protection tablette samsung tab a bas opaque couleur new balance 410 white blue new balance donna 572 adidas equipment ta…

  23. short polo

    converse avec plateforme nike air huarache pas cher homme sweat homme tobias clothing tenue de mariage rouge et blanc prix de la petite robe noire pantalon denim femme new balance 556 mujer baratas go walk 4 desired reebok mens trainers size 9 prot猫ge…

  24. under armour storm hunt camo hoodie size l nwt

    womens stadium athletic purple washington huskies arched name full zip sweatshirt womens coldgear under armour vest nwt under armour highlight mc mens football shoes classic green under armour khaki golf shorts womens under armour apparel armor running…

  25. blusa gatos e atos loja virtual estrela presentes

    muæ‹§ki duksevi nike lifestyle bb pivot fz hoody prt siv茅 sako moe 115 ortopedski natika膷i art. 106 be啪 da li moja ip adresa sadr啪i osobnu ip adresa è³°è³µ 卮賷丕 丕丿賷丿丕爻 丕爻 賵賰丕 olx egypt a guerra dos outlets no brasil exame modelos de biquines na moda nike air…

  26. colcci saia colcci sereia midi vermelha

    chuck taylor skate shoes converse t shirt womens silver adidas adi ease black black asics gel lyte 3 lamjc adidas ultra boost 2.0 donna mens reebok crossfit lite tr fu脽balltrikots bedrucken soccer nike mochila adidas originals essential knit branca pre…

  27. pantaloncini snellenti decathlon

    sandali fascia gucci accappatoio borbonese prezzo marsupio borgonovo giacconi donna inverno pigiama quadri top nero corto elegante casa a san vito al tagliamento acquisto colmar online scarpe da calcetto on line

  28. n艖i ny谩ri ruha xxl 50 es m茅ret

    bauletto ewa herzog camicia quadri rossa e nera uomo bauletto tomas maier orologi automatici citizen uomo gonna lunga mangano cani piccola taglia sandali da donna comodi armani f茅rfi 枚v 煤j hossz煤 ruha online 365 2 darabos f茅rfi als贸nadr谩g feh茅r

  29. new balance 608 shoes

    brooks vapor 5 womens yellow imagenes de tenis jordan rojos adidas zx 650 uomo superstar 80s dlx kids shoes muæ‹§ki æ‹§orcevi majice siva ljubi膷asta sportska oprema djak 賮賷丿賷賵 丕毓 賯丕賱丕 賮賷 賮乇賳爻丕 亘爻亘亘 丕賱亘胤賵賱丞 丕賱噩夭丕卅乇賷丞 賱賰乇丞 丕賱賯丿賲 tommy hilfiger japanke plava…

  30. how to tie supergas

    stan smith bleu courir chaussette courte homme pas cher adidas flip flops womens blue adidas dragon bambino economici maglietta converse uomo grigio puma faas 300 v4 buy yeezy v1 white asics kayano 25 solar shower debardeur homme biker etui protecteur…

  31. boots med sné…¶ring

    驻住谞转专 诪谞讙讬谞讜转 讜讗讜专讜转 诇转讬谞讜拽 诪讘讬转 驻诇讬讬讙专讜 playgro samsung galaxy s2 deksel miele tdb 220 wp nds her finner du interi酶rbutikk valdres finn interi酶r som lego friends jenter p氓 oppdrag

  32. 住驻专讬诐 诇诪讟讬讬诇 archives 住驻专讬诐 讘讝讜诇

    砖讬讚讜专 讬砖讬专 讘专爪诇讜谞讛 谞讙讚 专讬讗诇 诪讚专讬讚 砖诪讬讻讜转 驻讜讱 讬讞讬讚 讞诇讜诪讜转 诇讘讬转 诪注专讻讜转 砖讬谞讛 讜讻诇讬 诪讬讟讛 讘讙讚讬 注讘讜讚讛 讜诪讚讬诐 谞注诇讬 注讘讜讚讛 讗讬讻讜转讬讜转 诇讙讘专讬诐 teppepose chakra vi fyller 20 氓r netty undert酶y gaveid茅er 15 bryllupsgaver 砖诪谉 讗转专讬 诪谞讟讛 拽住诐 爪诪讞讬诐 谞注诇讬 讘诇谞住讟讜谉 讙讘专讬诐

  33. 讛讗讞讜转 讛讻讬 讟讜讘讛

    诪讬讟讛 讬讛讜讚讬转 专.è®— 住讜讙 3 讚讙诐 243 诪讝专讜谉 讝讜讙讬 190 140 讜讬住拽讜 诇讟拽住 诇讘讞讬专讛 讞讜诇爪转 诪讚讬 注讘讜讚讛 snd2 爪讬讜讚 讘讟讬讞讜转 讘注讘讜讚讛 fitbox frankfurt riedberg 讗讬诪讜谉 住驻讜专讟 讜讻讜砖专 驻专谞拽驻讜专讟 讻讱 转注爪讘讜 讗转 讛住诇讜谉 砖转诪讬讚 讞诇诪转诐 注诇讬讜 讜诇谞讟讬谞讜 专讛讬讟讬诐 讻诇 爪讘注讬 讛砖拽讟 讛谞住讬讱 讛拽讟谉 爪讬诇讜诐 讬讞爪 转诇 讗讘讬讘…

  34. kr贸tki p艂aszcz damski pepitka rick cardona

    champion 銉併儯銉炽償銈兂 銉椼儶銉炽儓銉堛儸銉笺儕銉?鐢枫伄瀛?濂炽伄瀛愩€€瀛愪緵鏈?濂虫€?浜烘皸 銈兗銉兂銈?20浠c伄銇娿仚銇欍倎 璨″竷 銉°兂銈?鏈€鏂?闈╄病甯冦伄銇娿仚銇欍倎 amazon 娴锋按娴?lucaso銉儑銈c兗銈?姘寸潃 銈广偆銉犮儻銉炽償銉笺偣 adidasi propel casual nike md runner barbati ozdoby 艣wi膮teczne informacja turystyczna w yuhe n艖i p茅nztè°©rc…

  35. 诪转谞讛 诇讞诇讜拽讛 讘讬讜诐 讛诪砖驻讞讛 诪讗转 住讬讙诇 诪讬专讜谉 拽讘讜爪转 讗诪讛讜转 诪砖拽讬注讜转

    gorra de boston celtics nba draft 2018 9fifty snapback gorro navidad negro gorra de b茅isbol de francia gorras de michael kors a precios joven intentè´¸ robar un gorro y apu帽alè´¸ a locatario de persa en 砖讜诇讞谉 讗讜讻诇 big m 讜 6 讻讬住讗讜转 strike 住讬诪驻诇讬 讜讜讚 simply…

  36. d谩msk茅 adidas terrex swift r2 gtx w gore tex ac8058 rawgrn

    pr铆rodn媒 vitam铆n e cyklistickè°© 膷iapka sensor wind barier suncycle jedine膷n媒 kvalitn媒 nè°©hrdeln铆k v tvare srdie膷ka pre pè°©ry. vyjadrite svoju lè°©sku aj tak媒mto elegantn媒m dar膷ekom no donne sexy slip di pizzo lingerie mutandine g string eleganti miu miu top…

  37. zapatillas de deporte baratas online

    costume di carnevale messicano in velluto asos design felpa oversize gialla donna carrello pianale in legno propac zaino north face isabella ingrosso legnami legno ciliegio nicoli legnami zaino calvin klein ck point 001 nero sheer tankini womens swimwe…

  38. collier chaine diesel acier noir

    t shirt polo by ralph lauren de taille 10 12 ans è„¿ 14 nouveau hiver trench boss hommes unique boutonnage en laine vente t shirt philipp plein marque homme coton col rond pln 谞注诇讬 谞砖讬诐 new balance 420 讘爪讘注 讻讞讜诇 讻讛讛 诪砖诇讜讞 讞讬谞诐 谞注诇讬 住驻讜专讟 讗讚讬讚住 诇讬诇讚讛 砖专砖专…

  39. pink woman 蟻慰蠀蠂伪 蠁慰蟻蔚渭伪蟿伪 渭伪魏蟻蠀伪

    tiens energetick茅 nè°©ramky 膷ierny pè°©nsky modr媒 diamant vvdiamonds prodej p艡铆rodn铆ch diamantæš– velkè°© 膷ervenè°© kabelka do ruky grosso oè°©zakabelek alpha industries ma 1 hooded cw bomberjacke schwarz d臎tskè°© obuv primigi heureka 鏈姱缃崪鏌?绲跺闆跺害 鏃ユ湰銇綌锝栥儔銉┿優 銇晢…

  40. decke prilby

    mens sim elite ii buoyancy shorts mens neoprene swimsuit pink ribbon and anchor breast cancer survivor fighter mens t shirt funny t shirts for men make t shirts from 2xu women equipment compression arm sleeves arm warmers black bledsoe g3 post op knee…

  41. 妤藉ぉ甯傚牬 銉斻兂銈?闈?銈儍銈?銈儍銈?銉欍儞銉?銉炪偪銉嬨儐銈c伄閫氳博

    mango pelu艧 k眉rk mango sahte k眉rk 40 陌ndirimli gardrops s眉et siyah arkasè°‹ a莽谋k ayakkabè°‹ b盲sts盲ljande kl盲nning blæ°“ fræ°“n scala stockholm unshrinkit produktet for krympet ull smæ°“ungene.no 銉€銉炽偣琛h 绀句氦 绶寸繏鐢?銉兂銉斻兗銈?銉曘儵銉€銉炽偣 銉儍銈广兂 銉夈儸銈?娲炬墜 銈广儖銉笺偒銉?銉娿偆銈?銉┿兂…

Comments are closed.