MD5313-Camp/Authentic

The line between camp and authentic can be hard to define. The line could be seen as camp being an act and authentic being a true expression of the self. One artist that has rode the line between the two is Frank Zappa as he can be heralded as a truly authentic artist and yet play into the act of his persona.

In 1968 Frank Zappa released “We’re Only in it For The Money“. The album was a critique on both the mainstream and counterculture of the time. The cover of the album was a parody of The Beatles “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band“(1967), suggesting that The Beatles and the culture surrounding them at the time was inauthentic. In the song ‘Who Needs the Peace corps‘ Zappa sings about the hippie culture becoming part of the mainstream. Although Zappa was a key figure in the creation of this kind of counterculture he felt the following were inauthentic.

This is where Zappa draws the line between authentic and camp. Although Zappa wrote many song that weren’t true representations of himself and were ridiculous to the point of parody (eg.’Bobby Brown Goes Down‘ ) Frank himself remained to be an authentic artist. With his passion for classical music and composition he could create some of the most off the wall and experimental music ever and remain an authentic artist.

Although his wacky persona and look can be seen as camp as an artist Frank Zappa has always been authentic.