What is a Bohemian?

A person with artistic or literary interests
who disregards conventional standards of behavior. Generally living in a colony with others of the same thought.
Every era in history has had its bohemian
counter culture. The word first crept into
use during the latter part of the 19th
Century as a description of artists, authors, painters and musicians who lived life on the fringes of society. Rather than conform to mainstream ideals, bohemians tended to suffer for the sake of their art.

Much like the characters in Rent,
bohemians did without many of the basic
comforts of life in an effort to use their
resources to further their artistic goals.
Bohemians generally gathered in groups or communes largely to save money that could be used towards furthering their artistic endeavors. Consisting of free thinkers, bohemian societies held viewpoints that were radically different and were looked at by the wealthy as devoid of morals.