The meaning of the word freak. Who are freaks and what do they do. Famous representatives of the subculture

Freaks

freak- a person who has a bright, unusual, extravagant appearance and defiant (often outrageous) behavior, as well as an extraordinary worldview, which is the result of the rejection of social stereotypes. Most often they are teenagers, but there are also overage freaks. Freaks are also people of creative professions - artists, poets, photographers, writers, etc.

This meaning appeared in the word in the 60-70s, in the context of the emergence of the so-called "freak subculture", "freak scene" (English freak scene), which united politicized post-hippie pacifists and rock fans far from politics and psychedelic music. In this sense, the word "freak" can be used both as an insult and as praise, including in relation to the speaker to himself. It also means strong attachment, obsession with a particular activity, for example: "He's such a neat-freak" or "You're a singing freak" English). In addition, a “freaky” (freaky, eng., adjective, or freak, eng., noun) can be called a person who had a large number of sexual relations. In pornography, "freaks" refer to individuals who are especially obsessed with sex, as well as those for whom sex is the meaning of their whole life.

In the past, the word "freak" referred to people who were physically handicapped, had rare exotic diseases, or had an unusual appearance, such as the participants in the "sideshow" show: skeleton man, tattoo man, etc. In this sense, the word is almost never used and is used only as an insult or jargon, among the participants in the "freak show" (sideshow, English). In this sense, a "freak" can be called someone who does not fall under the typical standards of deviation. For example, a short person would not be classified as a "freak" unless their height is less than -3 SDS (standard deviation coefficient); The same rule applies to very tall people. Such "freaks" can be divided into two groups: people who are born "freaks" and people who become "freaks" in the course of their development. The reason for the appearance of "freaks" of the first group is most often genetic abnormalities, at the same time, the "freak" from the second group is a common person who, by his own will or due to a combination of circumstances, has undergone changes in appearance(for example, due to the implantation of implants).

The word "freak" is still used to refer to genetic mutations in plants or animals. In English, the word "freak" is also used as a verb or adjective, for example, to describe panic attacks or uncontrollable behavior due to the use of certain types of drugs (freaking, freaking out) or as a substitute for one obscene word for another (Oh my freaking God! ).

"Frick", among other things, is also a surname, of French or Scottish origin. One of its bearers was Reece Freak, a prominent industrialist and philanthropist from Adelaide, South Australia.

Story

Previously, there were many theories regarding natural deviations that did not have a real scientific explanation. One of the widespread superstitions in the 19th century was the belief that an animal or person that frightened a pregnant woman can transfer certain qualities or properties to the fetus. (A widely held theory about innate character traits has essentially the same basis.) Since ancient times, in some religions, the birth of a child with deviations from generally accepted norms has been associated with astrology. Residents of Galicia believe that the result of the latest solar eclipses was an increased number of children with various mutations. In Eastern religions, there is a belief that karma influences the occurrence of deviations. According to other beliefs, the cause is the will of God.

Varieties of freaks

Frank Zappa and the freak subculture

Freaks, according to Zappa, were far from juxtaposing right and left, mainstream culture and counterculture, conservatives and hippies, preferring an aesthetic free of fashion or political dogma. This allowed Zappa and The Mothers of Invention to expand on the concept of "freak", previously used in the context of or synonymous with the expressions "fault of nature" and "freak show". “Bearded, rough, dirty and devoid of all decorum, they were ... freaks. This was their purpose. They were part of the same game that lasted for ages, epater le bourgeoisie (Rus. shock the bourgeoisie ), but this time they weren't Dadaists or existentialists or beatniks, they were freaks.

At The Mothers of Invention concerts, the audience followed his call to "freak out!" (the band's first album had the same name) and freely expressed their emotions through dancing or spontaneous screams, and the band members, in turn, poured whipped cream on the audience. This concert behavior was adopted by many other bands that emerged decades after Frank Zappa's band.

Freaks, with their militant anti-social position, have become the subject of criticism, sounding not only from representatives of traditional culture, but also from the lips of representatives of other subcultural movements, including for their “theoretically competent, but at the same time futile attempts to resist the “false-civilization” . John Lennon sang about how "phone freaks haunt me" (Eng. Freaks on the phone won't leave me alone ) and that he was "tired of all these aggressive hippies, or whatever they call themselves, the new generation ... claiming my attention, as if I owe them something ...". Bob Dylan also suffered from Dylan freaks "trying to make him live and behave the way he should live and behave according to their ideas." In response to phrases that he "should be aware of his duties as an idol of millions - you are DYLAN, man, you are an object of worship for your fans, you are DYLAN, DYLAN, DYLAN", Dylan replied: "I'm not Dylan, And you" .

The Filthy Speech Movement, one of the leaders of which was Jerry Rubin, can also be attributed to the freak subculture.

"Artificial Freaks" Made freaks)

The word "freak" is often used in relation to people who consciously change their own appearance using various techniques. It can be true or part of a lifestyle, as we see with rock star Marilyn Manson or the Murderdolls, a reaction to body disfigurement in an accident, an attempt to stay young, or a symptom of body dysmorphic disorder (body dysmorphophobia). . There are several varieties of "artificial freaks" (made freaks, English), they can exist both separately and together with each other: tattoo freaks, piercing freaks, etc.

tattoos

Derived from the Polynesian word “tatu” (or “tatai”, drawing) and based on the Japanese traditional technique “irezumi”, tattoos became extremely popular among sailors, and later among bikers and everyone else who wanted to have indelible hand-drawn images on their bodies. Modern "freaks" are often represented with tattoos all over their bodies.

Punk hairstyles

Multi-colored hair, mohawks, dreadlocks are still associated with punks, despite the fact that they originated long before the appearance of the first punk bands in the 70s. So, in the 1961 film "The Rebel" (The Rebel, in the American box office Call Me Genius, "My name is a genius") with Tony Hancock (Tony Hancock) in the title role, you can see Parisian artists with blue, green or crimson hair and in black clothes, parodying the outrageous antics of the surrealists. In the magazines and newspapers of the 1950s, then-rock and roll star Wee Willie Harris can be seen with hair Pink colour. In the early 60s, the British actor Peter Sellers (Peter Sellers) performed in one of his comedies the song "I'm so ashamed" (I'm So Ashamed) about a rock star who painted her "hair in flashy green".

piercing

Notes

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010 .

See what "Freaks" are in other dictionaries:

Mn. (eng. freak strange person) is obsolete. disabled, freak, performing in a circus or show. Modern a weirdo New dictionary foreign words. by EdwART, 2009 … Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

freaks- from English. freak - freak. People who stand out too much from the crowd with their non-standard appearance (they can be both dressed and made up, and real). Did you get along with that fucking freak? Youth slang … Dictionary of modern vocabulary, jargon and slang

A type of flea endemic typhus, characterized by a mild rash and a severe course of the disease; epidemiology is not well understood... Medical Encyclopedia

Freaks (eng. freak a strange person, obsolete, disabled, freak, performing in a circus or show) is a direction in youth culture of the late XX, early XXI century. Social groups of people who try to look very bright and sometimes defiant ... Wikipedia

φρίκη - [freaks] ουσ. Θ. horror, shudder... Λεξικό Ελληνικά-ρωσική νέα (New Greek-Russian Dictionary)

The English word "freak", applied to a person with non-standard and rather demonstrative behavior and an appropriate appearance, is firmly entrenched in the lexicon of the youth audience ... and once "freaks" were simply called "city madmen".

So, a “freak” is a person who, by his behavior, appearance and lifestyle, differs significantly from the majority, deviates from accepted norms, but does not pose any threat to society. "Freaks" are found among artists, and among musicians, and among actors, and this word is often attributed to transvestites and schizophrenics.

Fundamentally, a "freak" differs from an obvious psycho just in its madness, which is quite safe for others. It should be noted that the society different times, basically, there was a fairly tolerant attitude towards the "freaks". It was forbidden by the Christian religion to offend these strange personalities, so it was not difficult for city madmen to become part of the local folklore. Modern “freaks” replenish wallets quite well due to their defiant appearance and inadequate behavior.

A bit of history...

The current meaning of this word was formed in the 1960s and 1970s, when the so-called “freak subculture”, “freak scene” (English freak scene) appeared, uniting politicized post-hippie pacifists and rock connoisseurs quite far from politics and psychedelics. In this sense, the word can be used both as an insult and as a praise. It speaks of a strong attachment and obsession with respect to any particular type of activity. In addition, "freaks" are also called people who have had a lot of sexual intercourse.

For a while, only physically handicapped people with rare exotic diseases or people with an unusual appearance were called "freaks". For example, a person whose height does not meet standard standards could easily be attributed to "freaks". Conditionally, "freaks" can be divided into 2 groups: those who were born "freaks" and who became "freaks". The first group of "freaks" is usually associated directly with genetic abnormalities, the second includes people who, of their own free will or due to circumstances, have changed their appearance.

Today, as before, the word "freak" also refers to genetic mutations in plants or animals. The word "freak" in English as a verb or adjective describes, for example, panic attacks or uncontrollable behavior caused by the use of any of some drugs (freaking, freaking out), it is also used when replacing one obscene word with another ( Oh my freaking God!).

Who are freaks? The word "freak" can mean both a circus freak and a person obsessed with something.

But most often, freaks are called a whole youth subculture, tearing social norms to shreds and shocking audience right and left.

The first freaks appeared in the West, among informals and people who actively modify their bodies with piercings, tattoos, scarring and plastic surgery.

Today it is a broader concept. People indiscriminately categorize anyone who acts weird and looks provocative, from punks to rockers, into this category.

Having met such a "handsome", you can be confused. Piercings and tattoos all over the body, clothes of non-standard shapes and luminous colors, a wig or mohawk, an abundance of makeup and other experiments with appearance ...

Often this shocks conservative passers-by. Add to this exalted behavior that does not fit into the routine of society, and it seems to you that the end of the world has already come.

Why do freaks change their appearance and dress up in anti-fashion stuff? This is a kind of protest - against the gray everyday life, conservatism, dogmatism, rules and norms.

Be not like everyone else. Yes, and not live like everyone else. A true freak does not play this role, he is such, inside and out.

Representatives of this subculture are often described with the words: “crazy”, “mad”, “obsessed”, “informal”, “outrageous”.

They spit on traditions and public opinion, they are their own designers, stylists and designers.

Most often, freaks try to reflect their own creativity with their appearance, to express themselves, to let out the true “I”.

Therefore, in the ranks of these "nice guys" there are a lot of poets, artists, musicians and other characters of a creative orientation.

Is it fashionable to be a freak?

It also happens that the image of a freak is just an image. Many musicians choose it for themselves in order to attract attention and shock the audience. And then they get used to the role - and become true freaks.

If you've ever seen Lady Gaga and Marilyn Manson, you know what I'm talking about.

Famous freaks also include: singers Zhanna Aguzarova, Bjork, Kelly Osborne, Amy Winehouse, artists Andrei Bartenev and Sasha Frolova, actress Helena Bonham Carter, journalists Anna Piaggi and Tavi Gevinson, designer Vivienne Westwood.

They put on unimaginable hats, paint their faces in a rainbow of colors, sew outfits from “grazing food” and shock with hairstyles.

So, Lady Gaga does not hesitate to go on stage in a dress made of raw meat, Bonham Carter has not used a comb for years, and Aguzarova has been looking for a connection with space all her life.

Westwood claims to be the brightest and most outrageous grandmother on the planet, Sasha Frolov is easy to mistake for balloon, and Bartenev flaunts in costumes suitable only for a fantastic cartoon.

Should we be afraid of freaks?

Despite shocking, defiant and stupid-looking actions, these boys and girls are usually harmless. Moreover, they bring to the world their concept of freedom from stereotypes, optimism, joy and beauty.

They are trying to show that you do not need to depend on the patterns of the fashion industry and adjust yourself to "ideal standards". Everyone is beautiful the way they feel. It's important to be yourself and let it out.

Real freaks, coming from the head and heart, model their reality and exist in it. It is already difficult for them to function normally in the current society, to follow the rules.

They provoke, shocking, break stereotypes and see it as their mission.

Their goal is to attract attention, to cause a storm of emotions in the environment. Therefore, modest freaks-introverts simply do not exist! They are all ready for stares bathe in them.

Therefore, freaks are not hermits at all, they will not exist without society: there will be no one to oppose themselves to.

There is a strange relationship in this: freaks need spectators just as much as society needs them - as a breath of "fresh air" and as proof that the world can be very multifaceted!

Also freaks are often people of creative professions - musicians, artists, poets, photographers, writers, politicians, etc.

Encyclopedic YouTube

1 / 3

✪ The Craziest Freaks on the Planet [Body Modifiers]

✪ FREAKS FROM MEDICINE / DOCTORS-CHARLATS ON INSTAGRAM

✪ Andrey Petrov and Gauguin Solntsev - freaks or not?

Subtitles

Story

This meaning appeared in the word in the 80-90s, in the context of the emergence of the so-called "freak subculture", "freak scene" (eng. freak scene), which united politicized post-hippie pacifists and rock lovers far from politics and psychedelic music. In this sense, the word "freak" can be used both as an insult and as praise, including in relation to the speaker to himself. It also means strong attachment, obsession with a particular activity, for example: "He's such a neat-freak" or "You're a singing freak" English). In addition, a “freaky” (freaky, eng., adjective, or freak, eng., noun) can be called a person who has had a large number of sexual relationships. In pornography, "freaks" refer to individuals who are especially obsessed with sex, as well as those for whom sex is the meaning of their whole life.

In this sense, a "freak" can be called someone who does not fall under the typical standards of deviation. For example, a short person would not be classified as a "freak" unless their height is less than -3 SDS (standard deviation coefficient); The same rule applies to very tall people. Such "freaks" can be divided into two groups: people who are born "freaks" and people who become "freaks" in the course of their development. The reason for the appearance of "freaks" of the first group is most often genetic abnormalities, at the same time, a "freak" from the second group is an ordinary person who, by his own will or due to a combination of circumstances, has undergone changes in appearance (for example, due to implantation implants).

"Frick", among other things, is also a surname, of French or Scottish origin. One of its bearers was Reece Freak, a well-known industrialist and philanthropist from Adelaide, South Australia.

Previously, there were many theories regarding natural deviations that did not have a real scientific explanation. One of the superstitions widespread in the 19th century was the belief that an animal or person that frightened a pregnant woman can transfer certain qualities or properties to the fetus (a widespread theory regarding innate character traits has, in fact, the same basis).

Freaks, according to Zappa, were far from juxtaposing right and left, mainstream and counterculture, conservatives and hippies, preferring an aesthetic free of fashion or political dogma. This allowed Zappa and The Mothers of Invention to expand on the concept of "freak", previously used in the context of or synonymous with the expressions "fault of nature" and "freak show". “Bearded, rude, dirty and devoid of all decorum, they were… freaks. This was their purpose. They were part of the same game that lasted for ages, epater le bourgeoisie (Rus. shock the bourgeoisie), but this time they weren't Dadaists or existentialists or beatniks, they were freaks.

Freaks with their militant anti-social position have become the subject of criticism, sounding not only from representatives of traditional culture, but also from the lips of representatives of other subcultural movements, including for their "theoretically competent, but at the same time futile attempts to resist" false civilization ". John Lennon sang about how "phone freaks haunt me" (Eng. Freaks on the phone won't leave me alone) and that he was "tired of all these aggressive hippies, or whatever they call themselves, the new generation ... claiming my attention, as if I owe them something ...". Bob Dylan also suffered from Dylan freaks "trying to make him live and behave the way he should live and behave according to their ideas." In response to phrases that he "should be aware of his duties as an idol of millions - you are DYLAN, boy, you are an object of worship for your fans, you are DYLAN, DYLAN, DYLAN", Dylan replied: "I'm not Dylan, And you" .

The Filthy Speech Movement, one of the leaders of which was Jerry Rubin, can also be attributed to the freak subculture.

"Artificial freaks" (eng. Made freaks)

The word "freak" is often used in relation to people who consciously change their own appearance using various techniques. This can be true or part of a lifestyle, as we see with musicians like Marilyn Manson or a group of bikers and anyone else who wants to have indelible painted images on their bodies. Modern "freaks" are often represented with tattoos all over their bodies.

Punk hairstyles

Multi-colored hair, mohawk hairstyles, dreadlocks are still associated with punks, despite the fact that they arose long before the appearance of the first punk bands in the 70s. So, in the 1961 film "The Rebel" (The Rebel, in the American box office Call Me Genius, "Call me a genius") with Tony Hancock (Tony Hancock) in the title role, you can see Parisian artists with blue, green or crimson hair and in black clothes, parodying the outrageous antics of the surrealists. In magazines and newspapers of the 1950s, you can see the then rock and roll star Wee Willie Harris with pink hair. In the early 1960s, British actor Peter Sellers sang the song I'm So Ashamed in one of his comedies about a rock star who dyed her "hair a flashy green."

piercing

The piercing, which has existed since ancient times, was often attributed mystical significance. Today, piercing is one of the ways to decorate the human body, part of the youth fashion (in particular, face piercing - ears and lips, multiple piercings).

cosmetic surgery

As a result of cosmetic surgery, a person's appearance can be changed in the most radical way.

Science freaks

IN modern language the name “freaks” or “scientific freaks” (from the English science freak) was assigned to representatives of pseudoscience.

0 At all times, people dreamed of standing out from the crowd, and some succeeded. However, such personalities are divided into those who have some mental and mental disorders and those who are outrageous. There are many more such individuals among women, and this is not surprising, because every chan dreams of hitting her chosen one in the very heart, doing various funny things with her face and body. It is worth paying attention to youth fashion, it is among fashionistas that you will find the most real freaks, for example, Tumblr girl, Soft grunge, Sadboys, etc. What does frick mean?? In Russia, of course, there were freaks before, only they were called " blessed"and very respected. Now such personalities are mostly laughed at and mocked, because they look and behave differently. The term Freak came from in English "Freak", and translates as "freak", "pervert", "weird", "eccentric".

freak- an individual who tries to stand out from the gray crowd with clothes and appearance, and whose behavior goes against generally accepted norms. The main goal of any freak is to get attention.

Example:

Why did you call him a freak, a normal, handsome and somewhere even brutal guy.

I don't like him because he's obviously a freak.

A richly dressed freak is the star of any party, and a poor freak is unlikely to pass face control.

This summer I was in Berlin, in addition to local Muslims, I remember one German freak who showed up at the opera in shorts, although he was not allowed.

He acts like an idiot, he's a psycho, he's a freak, he dresses weird...

IN Lately Masha looks like a freak with pierced cheeks, a nose and a strange make-up.

Sometimes they send a courier to us, a real freak, he should also come today, look at him.

In general, Freaks are noticeably distinguished by their non-standard behavior and clothing. Nowadays, most Freaks adhere to a certain ideologies, religions and are part of a special subculture. Everyone can be attributed to Freaks Hare Krishnas, who in Central Russia sing their harinama in frosty weather, when all the natives walk around wrapped in down jackets and fur coats. In the US, the term freak"became used in modern meaning since the 60s of the last century, and this word came to Russia in the early 2000s, after it was popularized in Hollywood films.

Meanings of the word Frick

First value. A freak is a strange person, a harmless eccentric who does not accept mass norms of behavior and universal human values, sometimes has a provocative style of clothing and behaves assertively and rudely.

Second value. A freak is a person who is part of the freak community, a member