Marxism '95 Revisited: Frank Zappa, Hollywood Contradictions

Ben Watson's forthcoming Adorno for Revolutionaries contains an account of a meeting he gave at Marxism '95, on 'Frank Zappa: Hollywood Contradictions'. While focussing on Zappa, the meeting is essentially about the relationship between art and revolutionary praxis - an attack on the perennial bourgeois distinction between artistic form and content (and so justifying the support of dismal artists who are nevertheless 'on message').

In the book we invite people to check his account against available recordings of the meeting. To help with that, here's a recording (in two parts - the second including part of the subsequent discussion and contributions from the floor) plus a related recording of Late Lunch With Out to Lunch, 'Back to '95', which reflects further on the issues raised there, as well as including fine music from Johnny Otis and Johnny 'Guitar' Watson, TH Drenching, Dr. John playing 'In a Sentimental Mood', and more.

The OTL show was broadcast on Wed, 30th March 2011, while the original Zappa meeting took part at SOAS as part of the SWP's annual Marxism conference.

HOLLYWOOD CONTRADICTIONS - PART ONE

HOLLYWOOD CONTRADICTIONS - PART TWO

LATE LUNCH - BACK TO '95