Bohemianism in Popular Culture

 Charles Baudelaire coined the term 'Bohemianism' in an attempt to describe a number of different ways of life. With this being said, the term 'Bohemianism' can be understood to mean drunkenness, by alcohol or life in general, community, cities, and the outsider. In light of this, I think there are a myriad of ways in which Bohemianism is present in today's society - many of such elements are continually highlights in popular songs. Two aforementioned elements that are strongly highlighted in pop culture today are that of the outsider and drunkenness. 

    To start, an example of the outsider could be seen in Hunter Hayes' "Everybody's Got Somebody But Me," which was released in 2011. The entire premise of Hayes' song focuses on his observation of all those around him being in love - while he remains to live in lonesome. For example, he states, "Sitting here lonely at a table for two watching lovers being lovers in a corner booth. Seems like even cupid don't know what to do, everybody's got someone but me" (Hayes, 2011). This relation Hayes poses between the observer and that of loneliness greatly mirrored that of Robert Frost's "Acquainted with the Night". For example, the speaker of Frost's piece highlights his or her loneliness while walking the streets in the nighttime. In furthering this, the speaker states, "When far away an interrupted cry came over houses from another street, but not to call me back or say good-bye" (Frost, Lines 8-10). I found these lines in particular to strongly mirror that of Hayes' in highlighting the relation between loneliness and the role of the observer.

   Additionally, the element of drunkenness and ultimately searching for pleasure can be dually seen in Khalid's "Twenty One". Khalid's song, which was released in 2019, speaks of an individual who has grown to heavily drink in search of something he or she has yet to find - whether that be love, excitement, or any form of pleasure. For example, the song states, "You just turned twenty one so lately you've been drinking. Wasted on alcohol, you chase to fight the feeling..." (Khalid, 2019). In saying this, I found this song to greatly relate to Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. For example, as the text progresses, Dorian becomes inclined to indulge in worldly pleasures (whether that be alcohol or women) in an attempt to escape himself and his ever-deteriorating soul.