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The bohemian lifestyle as a solution to status anxiety.

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Who were the Bohemians and how does their example, often despised and degraded by respectable society, serve as a solution to the problem of status anxiety according to deBotton? Is it possible to be a Bohemian today? If so, what would be the consequences?

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This solution is a reflection on de Botton's ideas regarding ways in which a Bohemian lifestyle can help to alleviate status anxiety. Is the Bohemian lifestyle possible to attain today. Over 600 words of original text.

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Who were the Bohemians and how does their example, often despised and degraded by respectable society, serve as a solution to the problem of status anxiety according to deBotton? If so, what would be the consequences?
= 100 words

The Bohemians were lovers of art, philosophy and emotional pursuits who despised the avarice and materialism exhibited by the mainstream middle-class. They refused to live according to the middle-class definition of success which attributed good moral character to those who were financially successful while attributing a flawed moral character to those who either couldn't or wouldn't achieve the trappings of success that the society valued.
Is it possible to be a Bohemian today?

Yes it is possible, to some extent, to be Bohemian today. One problem, however, is that there are so many different definitions of success that it is not quite the same as fighting a monolithic definition of success such as existed in the 1800's and 1900's. Additionally, being shocking and outrageous has almost become the new standard of respectability and honor in our society today. There is some truth in thinking that ...

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