Ever since our existence came to this world, all our lives we have been told enough to live by conformity, meaning that we must live in the set of values and customs created by the society  without knowing that our mental health is being overshadowed on the other side. 

We define our lives with others’ definitions and sometimes we are limited to that belief. 

In contrast to this, there are those who define their own lives, those who rebel against all the conformities and societal norms. There are such souls who do not believe that their life merely isn’t to follow the footpaths of those who walked before, but create their own path and walk miles and miles until reaching their destination. 

Back in the late 19th century a term called The Parisian Bohemians was one of the popular movements in Paris that highlighted core voices of artists, writers and musicians by challenging traditional norms but valued artistic expressions over materialism. Henri Muger was one of those writers who embraced Bohemian Spirit and became an inspiration to many rising young artists including her contemporaries. 

Similarly, in the early mid- 20th century, the Green village scene was home to artists like Bob Dylan and Andy Warhol who supported counterculture, folk music through Artistic Bohemianism. 

Often misjudged or misunderstood, they break the barrier and stand for themselves. They carry the notion of spirituality, no amount of material possessions can wound their inner spirit. 

Art is their breath, it is solace and the ultimate vision to do something beautiful, and something rare out of nothing.There are those who seclude themselves from hubbub because the crowd makes them wander ; they cannot find their way. They believe their spirit is deeply rooted to Mother Earth and their sole purpose is  to protect it and its people and be there for them. 

Their faith is to live in the spur of the moment and make the most of it, because they have insights that nothing is certain, nothing lasts forever, everything fades away gradually without a shadow of a doubt. They stay grounded to their responsibility and accountable for the decision they make. They solemnly stick to their words and promises. They surpass talent and cleverness with intelligence, wisdom, instinct and intuition.

Surrealism is closely connected to Bohemism because it showcases life’s reality including harsh aspects.

Once Maya Angelou soulfully stated, “If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.” 

Therefore, adventure in the face of mundane and melancholy, kicking comfort zones and taking risks is a call for a Bohemian lifestyle. 

It’s actually crucial to take a moment for ourselves and see where we are heading in life.  Retrospecting with these questions evoke a sense of connection to know more about ourselves, our life and the world we live in. 

This is what Bohemism truly means, it is living life out of conventionality and confronting conformity with solid strength while making a little difference step by step. 

The Bohemian Spirit is beyond worldly beliefs and image that we are expected  to fulfil with all means.  Being bohemian exudes a sense of awakening about the complexity of this world and doing something to make a meaning out of bizarre incidents. 

Bohemism is paramountly significant because it pushes away the cliches and drives hypocrisy, dogmatism, autocracy, societal stigmas and rather shakes these strong sets of customs and values in order to give meaning to life. 

About the Author:

Selena Elizabeth is a passionate writer from Nepal with a deep love for literature. She has been pursuing her university in English and social work. She has been part of storytelling to children for about five years in the social welfare organization called Asha Nepal. She has been to one of the podcasts highlighting the challenges and complexities of young adults who have spent significant time of their lives from family separation in one of Nepal’s leading Media houses called Kantipur.
With a biography called “Searching for Hope” and a collection of short stories to her name, her work touches on the fading beliefs and challenges of the modern world. Through her writing, Selena explores social issues that often go unnoticed, using her words to inspire courage and offer hope.