ABSTRACT

Humour is a driving force throughout the oeuvre of Frank Zappa, a unifying element integral to his lyrical and instrumental music, films and corporate image. Humour, specifically satire, was the force that propelled Frank Zappa from conceptual comedian to social commentator to 'perverse' politician. This chapter provides an overview of Zappa's humour and, identifying the principal satirical elements therein, to offer pointers towards placing him within the American comedy spectrum. It shall also note formative effects of his upbringing, the socio-historical context of comedy in post-war popular music, comic influences, and the changing effects of the times in which Zappa worked and his ability to adapt to them. Zappa's context derives not only from music but also from the prevailing politics and mores of the day, the cultural strides made in post-war America, particularly the cultural acceptance of comedy as it pushed society's limits.