The Bohemian values of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Love predominate throughout Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Let’s explore what Bohemianism is (its values and culture), and what it represented to turn-of-the-century Bohemians as compared with the artists of the 21st century. We will also delve into some of the risks and costs that are incurred when embracing such a lifestyle.
Bohemian – noun
bo•he•mi•an | \ bō-’hē-mē-ən \
A person (e.g., writer or artist) living an unconventional life usually in a colony with others.
MERRIAM-WEBSTER DICTIONARY
BOHEMIANISM
The term “Bohemians” originally referred to people of Bohemia (an area in Central Europe now known as the Czech Republic) and implied a nomadic way of life. Later, the term Bohemian was used to describe poor and suffering writers or artists who traveled to Paris from outer towns. Many of these writers or artists lived in the Montmartre neighborhood of Paris, not far from the famous cabaret, The Moulin Rouge.
The term Bohemianism started to appear in the early 19th century, mostly in France, and developed into a belief or state of mind, and a way of life. The central focus of life for Bohemians was their impact, as unique individuals, on the world in which they lived. How they lived was considered eccentric by mainstream society. Bohemians lived carefree, unconventional lifestyles, often in the company of like-minded, marginalized people who valued creativity and the liberty to explore (e.g., musicians, actors,
artists, and writers). Four core values, or guiding principles, of Bohemianism included Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Love.
By living by these principles, Bohemians were less concerned with the pursuits of upward mobility and tended not to have permanent ties to places or things. They rejected the values of mainstream, middle-class society (the Bourgeois) and focused their time and efforts on artistic or literary interests. Bourgeois society refers to the middle class, and a Bourgeoise is someone whose views and beliefs (e.g., economic, social, political) are greatly influenced by his or her concern for material possessions, property values, and respectability. As part of their rebellion against society, Bohemians felt no reason to exhibit moral or socially acceptable behavior. Instead they indulged in and enjoyed frugal, simple living that embraced free love and, at times, hallucinatory substances, which were used by many to help with inspiration. As outsiders of the societal norm, they adopted the Bohemian state of mind where high degrees of freedom were perfectly acceptable; meeting the standards or expectations of mainstream society was not on the Bohemian mind.
FAQs
: a person (such as a writer or an artist) living an unconventional life usually in a colony with others. b. : vagabond, wanderer.
What are the four bohemian ideals? ›
Four core values, or guiding principles, of Bohemianism included Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Love. By living by these principles, Bohemians were less concerned with the pursuits of upward mobility and tended not to have permanent ties to places or things.
What ethnicity is bohemian? ›
Ethnic Czechs were called Bohemians in English until the early 20th century, referring to the former name of their country, Bohemia, which in turn was adapted from the late Iron Age tribe of Celtic Boii.
What is a bohemian personality? ›
a person who is interested in artistic and unusual things, for example art, music, or literature, and lives in an informal way that ignores the usually accepted ways of behaving. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Nomadic & alternative lifestyles. a rolling stone (gathers no moss) idiom. beatnik.
What do you call a Bohemian person? ›
a person who does not conform to generally accepted standards or customs he spent a few years living as a bohemian in the artists' quarter of the city. maverick. eccentric. individualist. boho.
What are the five types of Bohemian? ›
Bohemian types
- Nouveau Bohemian. The Nouveau Bohemian: This type of Bohemian harmonizes elements of traditional Bohemian ideology with contemporary culture without losing sight of the basic tenets—the glamour, art, and nonconformity. ...
- Gypsy Bohemian. ...
- Beat Bohemian. ...
- Zen Bohemian. ...
- Dandy Bohemian.
bohemianism, unconventional lifestyle or subculture, followers of which prioritize community living and artistic endeavours while rejecting certain constraints of mainstream society, such as money and social etiquette.
What is bohemian called now? ›
Since 1993 Bohemia has formed much of the Czech Republic, comprising the central and western portions of the country. At one time, Bohemia was a province in the Habsburgs' Austrian Empire, and before that, a kingdom in the Holy Roman Empire.
Is bohemian the same as gypsy? ›
"Bohemian" was originally a term with pejorative undertones given to Roma gypsies, commonly believed by the French to have originated in Bohemia, in central Europe.
What is a bohemian woman? ›
A bohemian is defined as "a person, as an artist or writer, who lives and acts free of regard for conventional rules and practices." Bohemians (also sometimes referred to as gypsies) emerged as a counterculture in France after the French Revolution ended in 1799.
Bohemians were associated with unorthodox or anti-establishment political or social viewpoints expressed through free love, frugality, and—in some cases—simple living, van dwelling or voluntary poverty.
What is the religion of bohemian? ›
What religion were Bohemians? - Quora. Mostly Catholic after they were converted from a Slavic paganism of which relatively little is known.
Are Bohemians spiritual? ›
Bohemians live varied and unconventional lives. Often misunderstood, they care very little about financial gain. Instead, they devote their time to artistic, musical, literary, or spiritual pursuits.
What is bohemian food? ›
Meat dishes. Svíčková na smetaně (Marinated tenderloin), served here with dumplings and cream A "traditional Bohemian platter" at a restaurant in central Prague, consisting of roast duck, roast pork, beer sausage, smoked meat, red and white cabbage, bread, bacon and potato dumplings. Prague-style beef goulash.
Why are people referred to as Bohemian? ›
The word Bohemian was first used in Paris to mean a Gypsy because many people thought that Gypsies came from Bohemia. The word was then used in the late 19th century (1800s) for poor painters, writers, musicians and actors who often travelled to Paris from other towns and tried to earn money.
What is the meaning of Bohemian girl? ›
someone who refuses to conform to established standards of conduct. adjective. unconventional in especially appearance and behavior. “a bohemian life style” synonyms: unconventional.
What are bohemians called now? ›
Bohemians are the people native to, or who inhabit Bohemia, the western region of the Czech Republic. In general terms Bohemian is also used to refer to all the Czech people. The country's capitol, Prague, is located in this region.
What is Bohemian short for? ›
"BoHo" is a shortened form of bohemian, self descriptive of the style. Virginia Nicholson (granddaughter of Vanessa Bell, one of the pivotal figures of the unconventional, but influential "Bloomsbury Group" in the first half of the 20th century) has described it as a "curious slippery adjective".
