Frank Zappa Essay

Frank Zappa

The article that I will be discussing is one by the late, great rock pioneer Frank Zappa, entitled In Defense of Rock and Roll. In the article Zappa addresses the accusations of philosopher and social critic Allan Bloom, who believes that Rock and Roll is the reason for the death of American music. Bloom goes on to say, “Rock music has one appeal only, a barbaric appeal, to sexual desire...” Zappa counters Bloom’s ideologies by stating that we do not live in a country of innocence and purity but one run by criminals, a country that was tainted before Rock music was even conceived, and that performers who portray vulgarity and crudeness are simply commenting on the matter. Zappa also makes a great point by stating that the decline in the classical music taste of young people should be attributed to the lack of music appreciation programs in public schools, he argued this when he testified in front of the senate. I believe that the ideas of Allan Bloom are extremely closed minded and conservative. To think that a man would have such a one dimensional view of a genre that can seem very simple to the untrained ear, but is indeed so complex in a way that cannot be explained in one sentence. And his accusations of Rock killing the classical period is ridiculous, when Zappa himself pays homage to classical composers, as well as other Rock musicians like Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai and countless others who’s musical styles are rooted in the classical era.   Zappa’s views are the perfect example of a Rock musician who displays no sense of barbarity or negativity but does portray the views of an intellectual, hence bringing the stereotype to a screeching halt.