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. vè°©rjè°©k vè°©sè°©rlè´¸ikat a debreceni bç…¤torboltok cep expo

    cheatwell games medence fed茅se az orszè°©g eg茅sz sz眉linapi feles 眉vegpohè°©r 60. sz眉let茅snapra sisustus saunapaneeli struktuuri sts whistler bakma parkatakki naisille brio smile yhdistelm盲vaunut turvakaukalo jalusta 15 yleist盲 harhaluuloa kissoista lue asi…

  2. red chief womens sandals

    under armour mens tech 2.0 long sleeve hoodie sale junior clothing leggings jd sports ua mens camo fill t shirt stealth gray l m fleet supply mens gold vest and bowtie 2020 lebron retro 4 pretty dresses for women fone de ouvido bluetooth under armour h…

  3. vero moda online

    chi chi curve from chi chi london stylish puma running shoes running shoes mens s0406105926 mens womens canada puma mens evospeed 1.3 lth puma mens smash v2 buck peacoat honey mustard ankle high fashion sneaker puma gv special sneakers inf black team g…

  4. 讙谞专讟讜专 诇讛砖讻专讛

    ontottvas edeny carte regalo amazon 诪转谞讛 讝讜讙讬转 讗讜驻谞讬讬诐 讞砖诪诇讬讜转 诪转讻讘讜转 专诪拽讜诇 住诪住讜谞讙 诇讟诇讜讬讝讬讛 诪讞讬专讜谉 讬讛诇讜诪讬诐 2016 crocchette cani ingrosso hyv盲t ulkoiluhousut 砖讜诇讞谉 讻转讬讘讛 诪讘爪注 讟讬住讛 诪讞讬驻讛

  5. medisana 谐褉邪写褍褋薪懈泻

    rep眉l艖modell eladè´¸ mç–Ÿanyag ev艖eszkæžšz è°©r hangszè´¸rè´¸ keret rohamosztagos jelmez hè°©zilag homemade peel off mask hsw c21n1347 laptop battery for asus x555 x555la x555ld x555ln reebok baskets workout 85 txt farfetch testa da scuola fra gli adolescenti best b…

  7. 蟻慰位蠈喂 breeze 112091.5 playdate 伪蟺蠈 蟻慰味 蔚蟺喂蠂蟻蠀蟽蠅渭苇谓慰 伪谓慰尉蔚委未蠅蟿慰

    蟺伪蟻维谓慰渭畏 蠂蟻萎蟽畏 蟿畏蟼 蟽魏位伪尾蔚谓委蟿畏蟼 伪蟺委蟽蟿蔚蠀蟿畏 伪蟺慰魏维位蠀蠄畏 蔚喂未萎蟽蔚喂蟼 2 蟿蔚渭维蠂喂伪 baofeng t1 渭喂谓喂 蠁慰蟻畏蟿慰委 伪谓未蟻喂魏蠈 伪谓伪蟿慰渭喂魏蠈 蟺伪蟺慰蠉蟿蟽喂 魏蠅未.40056 active 渭伪蠀蟻慰 蔚蟺喂蟿蠀蠂畏渭苇谓慰 蟿慰 蟿蔚蟽蟿 蟿蠅谓 蔚胃谓喂魏蠋谓 慰渭维未蠅谓 蟽蔚蟿 蟿蟻伪蟺蔚味伪蟻喂伪蟽 7蟿 蟿蟻伪蟺蔚味喂 伪谓慰喂纬慰渭蔚谓慰 魏伪蟻蔚魏位蔚蟽 魏伪蟻蠀未喂 hm10094 蟽蟿蔚纬谓蠅蟿…

  9. blonde og sorte bukser jeans til kvinder

    kenzo kjole catawiki design smykker kvinder smykkeså¿™t nike underbukser training 2 pack herre wrangler womens western fashion top pink sherpa pullover sugar skull girl mint gold eos womens sleeveless dress TRiXY H256 S 丕賱賮丕禺乇丞 賷鬲乇賰 丕賱夭賮丕賮 廿賰爻爻賵丕乇丕鬲 丕賱卮毓…

  11. p谩nske py啪amo kr谩tke 164574 34

    casual attitude pè°©nske cestovn茅 ta拧ky v super z木ave a啪 20 pè°©nske sako bugatti vzorovan茅 happy green podu拧ka na hojda膷ku baby feln艖z szett sapka yato akkus fç…¤rè´¸g茅p csavarbehajtè´¸ sz茅nkefe mentes michael kors black fekete n艖i vè°©lltè°©ska fradi pè´¸lè´¸ olcsè´¸n t…

  12. hombre chileno

    unisex silikonov茅 拧t媒lov茅 led digitè°©lne hodinky polovnicke nohavice kabelka dkny hn臎dè°© s levnou cenou giorgio armani armani mikina emporio ea7 train tritonal plus m cena striebra k euru dolaru v媒voj cien striebra na burze v ftwo pipe rookie black detsk…

  13. barnkl盲der 1 氓r

    fast cabinet doors custom replacement doors for kitchen cabinets satè°‹n al s109 i艧 bluetooth kulaklè°‹k 5.0 rapor telefonu asè°‹lè°‹ kulak plasticola de la marca blue all en mercado libre argentina rukavice nitrilov茅 ni015 latex examination gloves polo mb kar…

  15. 賲氐睾乇丞 睾爻丕賱丞 睾爻賱 賲賱丕亘爻 丕胤賮丕賱 丌賱丞 睾爻丕賱丕 丕賱賲賱丕亘爻 賲毓乇賮

    kabelka gucci inzerè°©ty set reketa za badminton victor fun hobby set b satelitske slike abrigo salsa pelo pomocy kolczyk w nosie pl眉ss malac 28 cm tubertini torba za ribolov prodej 拧t臎艌at m臎ln铆k bazo拧 kalkfjerner elkedel stelguide nordisk cykler ké…¶benha…

  16. 泻邪泻 薪芯褋懈褌褜 泻芯谢谐芯褌泻懈 锌褉邪胁懈谢邪 懈 褌邪斜褍

    銉┿偆銉炽儜銉炽儎 銉°兂銈?銉儑銈ｃ兗銈?銈点偆銉夈儵銈ゃ兂 銉戙兂銉?銉囥儖銉犮儜銉炽儎 鍗虫棩鐧洪€?姘寸潃 銉兂銉斻兗銈?銉戙偣銉嗐儷 銈儵銉?銉曘儶銉?2銉斻兗銈?6000鍐嗕互涓?/a> 妤藉ぉ甯傚牬 澶╂澘浠樸亶銈枫儱銉笺偤銉┿儍銈?銈广儶銉?涓嬮绠?闈寸 鍙庣磵 閫佹枡 tr502whu2 銉堛儶銉炽儣 澶╀娇銇儢銉?tr502銈枫儶銉笺偤 銉栥儵銈搞儯銉煎崢鍝?鍏?鑹?銉°兂銈?銉儙銉堛兗銉炽偝銉笺儑銇亰銇椼們銈屻仾鐫€銇撱仾銇楄 濂冲瓙銈︺偙銈炽兗銉?/a> 銉…

  17. 邪屑械褉懈泻邪薪褋泻懈泄 褕邪屑锌褍薪褜 hask argan oil 斜械蟹 褋褍谢褜褎邪褌芯胁 懈

    銈儠銈?銈广偗銈︺偋銈?銈儠銈广儨銈裤兂 銈儠銈广儶銉炽偗銈?銈儶銈广偪銉?妤藉ぉ甯傚牬 銉°儸銉?銉撱偢銉嶃偣銈枫儱銉笺偤 銉°兂銈洪澊 闈淬伄閫氳博 銉°兂銈恒偝銈广儭 鐢锋€с伀銈備汉姘椼伄銈ゃ偨銉冦儣銇娿仚銇欍倎銈偆銉嗐儬10é–¬?lacoste 薪芯胁芯褋懈斜懈褉褋泻 泻褍锌懈褌褜 卸械薪褋泻邪褟 褌芯谢褋褌芯胁泻邪 adidas performance must haves 3 stripes 胁 懈薪褌械褉薪械褌 屑邪谐邪蟹懈薪械 胁 泻懈械胁械. 褌芯谢褜泻芯 芯褉懈谐懈薪邪…

  18. 渭蟺伪位伪魏喂伪 蟺伪喂蠂谓喂未喂

    渭蔚纬伪位伪 渭蔚纬蔚胃畏 渭蟺慰蠀蠁伪谓 keith haring clothing 2020 kd 12 australia 蟺伪喂蠂谓委未喂伪 位蔚纬魏慰 jumbo 慰位伪 蟿伪 蔚喂未畏 蟽魏蟻慰蠀蟿味 蠁蠅蟿喂蟽蟿喂魏伪 慰蟻慰蠁畏蟽 渭慰谓蟿蔚蟻谓伪 ortopå¿™d sko odense esprit dunfrakke tilbud gustav kjoler 2018 adidas boost anmeldelse nohavice plus size leather look p…

  21. costum office dama din stofa elastica cu rochie cu pliuri

    prada 姝ｈ 銉椼儵銉€ 澶с亶銈?銉娿偆銉兂 銈枫儳銉儉銉笺儛銉冦偘 銉栥儵銉冦偗 妤藉ぉ銈兗銉夈伄鐗瑰敬銈掋儑銉°儶銉冦儓銈掗殸銇曘仛绱逛粙 灏傞杸瀹躲亴瑾炪倠銉濄偆銉炽儓up銇?妤藉ぉ甯傚牬 銈点兂銈般儵銈?銇嬨仯銇撱亜銇?銈︺偋銉兂銉堛兂 鎶樸倞銇熴仧銇?銉儑銈ｃ兗銈?/a> 銉°兂銈恒偄銈偦銈点儶銉肩壒闆?zozotown tensiometru tensoval mobil tip bratara alexa medical genti piele dama iefti…

  22. ny unders枚kning sverige b盲sta landet att ha barn i svd

    getest this is cambridge omloop cap lrg jeans loose fit jeans rc ts in blauw dames 蟿伪 蟺喂慰 蟺伪蟻维尉蔚谓伪 伪纬蟻慰蟿喂魏维 渭畏蠂伪谓萎渭伪蟿伪 蟺慰蠀 蔚委未伪蟿蔚 蟺慰蟿苇 bloko 蟿蟽伪谓蟿伪 thiros d10 7030 glblue 伪谓未蟻喂魏维 蟻慰蠉蠂伪 gant 340 蟺蟻慰蠆蠈谓蟿伪 蟽蔚 苇谓伪 渭苇蟻慰蟼 pumps bij leballon thomas adventures…

  23. iphone xs max graphic print case

    hercules roadeo cycle chrome bolts iron beard comb columbia sportswear subsidiaries tiguan accessories wholesale vans slip on classic blue pink skateboard shoe on netherlands negro short top converse coque bape samsung a9 dual sim coque arriere samsung…

  24. pillivuyt salatskæ°“l

    weber rotisserie til kuglegrill sejlbæ°“de så¿™lges frakker til kvinder 2015 restsalg cykler mulberry taske 诪爪注讬诐 诇诪讬讟讛 讝讜讙讬转 诪讬谞讬 讜诪讬拽讬 诪讗讜住 讚讬住谞讬 100 讻讜转谞讛 讛专爪讗讜转 讜讛驻注诇讜转 诇拽砖讬砖讬诐 讜谞讬爪讜诇讬 砖讜讗讛 pin on when i have kiddos 頃挫櫢 歆侁惮 斓滉碃 甏€鞁?頀堧鞚€ 旎ろ敿 battery ra…

  25. voksi colibri væ°“r og hé…¶stpose til vogn

    jeans slim femme pantalon en jean d茅lav茅 trou茅 skinny d茅tails sur calvin klein homme ck intense power swim slips robe courte moulante è„¿ paillettes de dentelle manches longues f锚te danniversaire è„¿ paillettes scintillantes bleu marine gianvito rossi bott…

  26. mercedes teherautè´¸ tipusok

    kit incoterm carla guerriero pdf free download scary dripping blood halloween text font custom t shirt in 2020 cuscinetti per talloni gel di silicone termometrai elektroniniai nejlep拧铆 pa啪n铆 tlakom臎r seringue et aiguille vertaa polkupyæžšr盲 dijital fè°‹rè°‹n…

  27. detsk谩 oto膷n谩 stoli膷ka

    honda collar fucsia tipo babero watch sizes how to choose the right one 拧icie potreby 膷ierne 拧aty s bielymi bodkami pracovne monterky reflexne keramickè°© 啪ehli膷ka na vlasy masaz krku pristroj dè°©mske nohavice carhartt chase neck zip sweatshirt black gold…

  28. uska haljina otvorenih le膽a

    sv臎tle r暖啪ov茅 sat茅nov茅 py啪amo miabella fekete b艖r csizma k200 1 pè°©r vè°©gè°©sbiztos cube reaction hybrid pro 400 iridiumngreen 2018 cube e full hd lady 啪enska majica kratkih rukava zaba objavila besplatan vodi膷 za digitalno savjetovanje kompresijska odje膰a…

  29. hitsauskoneita

    诪注讘讚讛 诇转讬拽讜谉 讟讗讘诇讟 gigantti business volantino ipercoop giocattoli omron m2 verenpainemittari hinta h谩l贸zati k谩bel 砖注讜谞讬 讗专诪谞讬 诇讙讘专 注讚讬 诇讬谉 讗讘讬讝专讬 讗讜驻谞讛 拽住讚讜转 拽专讘讜谉 诇讗讜驻谞讜注讬诐 讟讬驻讜诇 谞讙讚 谞砖讬专转 砖讬注专

  31. carrefour maletin portatil compara precios en tiendas.com

    attack versa 206a bombillas led color azul b盲sta hæ°“rtorken p臋dzel do golenia borsuk leave in comprar hidrata莽茫o produtos dæžšner ofis sandalyeleri epilator ipl forum tenis zapatillas nike hombre airmax 97 plateado hombre c1u0ojzf mochilas mujer online pr…

  32. mousse capelli mossi

    ghd gl盲tteisen white gothic corsage kleider taillierte blusen g眉nstig indianer kost眉m schmuck m盲c pinselset misure materassi matrimoniali banco lavoro acciaio misure banco da lavoro officina mango abbigliamento vite acciaio inox frigoriferi prezzi migl…

  33. colier best friends forever

    incarcator laptop apple geaca piele dama bershka arhiva 褋褌懈谢褜薪邪褟 泻芯褎褌邪 褋械褌泻邪 蟹懈屑薪懈械 泻褉芯褋褋芯胁泻懈 ml574bl black 斜褉械谢芯泻 胁 胁懈写械 写胁懈谐邪褌械谢褟 胁薪褍褌褉械薪薪械谐芯 屑械褌邪谢谢 妤藉ぉ甯傚牬 銈汇兗銉尽鏍?belle 銉欍儷 銈姐儠銉坴銈儍銉?妤藉ぉ甯傚牬 銈儑銈ｃ儉銈?銈搞儯銉笺偢 涓婁笅 銉°兂銈?銉儑銈ｃ兗銈广偢銉ｃ兗銈?/a> 卸械薪褋泻懈泄 泻芯卸邪薪褘泄 褉…

  34. minnie travestimento

    ferro da stiro con caldaia quale migliore servizio piatti ceramica italiana foto abiti da sposa arricciacapelli automatico bellissima costo 眉berweisung auf paypal portemonnaie schlangenoptik shampoo gut f眉r die haare concealer how to apply mode zeitlos…

  35. gorra de tela

    gorros tejidos orejas de animales coya bebes ni帽os ropa y royfox gorro de punto con dise帽o de astronauta en el planeta national safety apparel gorra tejida resistente al fuego 24 gorras trucker personalizadas publicidad env铆o gratis mochi a esco ar com…

  36. party haljine zima 2018 les reveries

    vestidos de boda para el dia lote de 3 bragas ni帽a caty talla 2 siete tips para vernos mè°©s bonitas sin usar maquillaje disfruta de precio barato gran descuento venta gran surtido ropa bl. sive bambusov茅 boxerky bez vzoru pol拧t谩艡ek pod prst媒nky what for…

  39. hip hop rap tri膷ko southpole v铆nov茅

    啪enske hla膷e bali 膷rne uy0217 ta拧ka pen臎啪enka puma ferrari bpc bonprix collection 啪ena ve膷ern铆 拧ablony pro tetovè°©n铆 hennou na ruce 9 batoh hydrata膷n铆 vz.95 pou拧钮 armatex 拧kolski portal zanimljivosti srednja 拧kola hodnike ukrasila fondo rosa moda simple…

  40. my burberry black

    under armour ua deception trainer mens black cross training buy official shoes women under armour horizon str trail under armour curry 5 custom high tops black gold piercing agulha pote descartavel blaas reinigen popruhy na sè°©n臎 kæžšpeny vè°©sè°©rlè°©s profess…

  41. womens clothes on hangers

    st johns bay mens small brown polyfill water resistant hooded puffer winter coat grand caicos island costumi zara donna bomber nasa uomo mandarina duck outlet orologio da polso con cardiofrequenzimetro sterilizzatore per ferri estetici trussardi jeans…

  42. fieber 2 jahre

    indukciè´¸s f艖z艖ed茅ny apoteket termometer voedingsthermometer pre莽o alicate tiskè°©rny k pc bobles skildpadde tilbud prisma kosteusmittari autos hangszorok farsangi jelmezek 2016 watch dogs ps3 eladè´¸ kæžšszæžšnt艖 sz眉linapra sport gy艖r hobbit disney gyors hitel…

  43. ko艧u e艧ofman tak谋m谋

    kurtka skè´¸rzana vision dekorativni namje拧taj akcija fotelje i zidni satovi bolia rundt sofabord comprar baralho cigano cintura gucci con fiori kvickly faq fæ°“ svar pæ°“ dine spé…¶rgsmæ°“l klik her optimal seo struktur og arkitektur fæ°“ andre til at opså¿™tte din…

  44. miesten panama jack keng盲t

    hasznè°©lati utas铆tè°©s a wc cs茅sze tiszt铆tè°©sè°©hoz ppt letæžšlteni maxcom mm431 mobil telefon id艖seknek megfizethet艖 bç…¤tor 眉l艖garnitç…¤ra siesta superser h艖sugè°©rzè´¸ anillos de matrimonio pandora cè´¸mo combinar las joyas con la ropa hyvi盲 verkkokauppoja suomessa s…

  45. nuisette courte en soie rouge carmin

    bleu en coton stretch slim fit chargeur secteur 12v 3.6a pour microsoft surface pro chargeur kutbro instagram posts maglioni uomo colorati pantaloncino calcio erreè„¿ stardast scarpe saucony donna jazzcharcoal des belle robe de soir茅e sac lv riverside to…

  46. irene womens long jacket

    best bluetooth headset over the ear samsung digital camera with bluetooth sweat de sport homme mens floral ugly panda printing tie necktie at amazon mens michael kors aruba aruba mk 3026 3332 rose gold mon collier favori n 78 bague pierre ovale amazoni…

  47. finnair lentolaukun mitat

    gigantti partakoneet legjobb sz艖rtelen铆t艖 g茅p avoimet ty枚psikst 住诪诇讬诐 诪讻讜谞转 讻讘讬住讛 转讞驻讜砖转 拽讜住诪转 诇谞砖讬诐 讘讜诇诐 谞驻讬诇讛 24 砖注讜转 讬讚讬注讜转 讗讞专讜谞讜转 讗讜驻谞转 住讙讜诇 砖诪诇讜转 注专讘 讘讬砖讜诇 讬专拽讜转 诪讬讚讜转 谞注诇讬讬诐 讘讬砖专讗诇

  48. compre lentes de sol mujeres lunette de soleil femme gafas de sol

    cip艖 nike air max 2013 n艖i h and m v谩s谩rl谩si utalv谩ny la trainer adidas adidas campus cip艖 foci magyarorszag star wars cip艖 rendel茅s elad贸 n艖i t茅li kab谩t verde adidas gazelle og bajo zapatos guantes esqui snowboard en vilada anuncios febrero

  49. tensiune alimentare led

    halloween jelmez feln艖tteknek akciè´¸s hasznè°©lt nyè°©ri gumik es艖s nap sz眉let茅snapi versek nagymamè°©nak felfç…¤jhatè´¸ gyerekmedenc茅k modell rep眉l艖 eladè´¸ sportpisztoly enged茅ly 2 in 1 laptop è°©r legjobb ajè°©nd茅k barè°©tn艖nek pantaloncini larghi immagini pantaloncin…

  50. vogue vo4089s

    fiokos tè°©rolè´¸doboz lottè´¸ k眉læžšnsorsolè°©s nyakkend艖 kæžšt茅s fajtè°©k los mejores lugares para hacer snowboard en espa帽a el blog de ray ban rb4354 anteojos de sol redondas vestidos largos de mujer polo ralph lauren online. compara y compra baratas descubrir pr…

Comments are closed.