Where can I find accounts of non-anglophone eccentrics?
July 24, 2012 10:03 AM Subscribe
Britain is famed for celebrating its eccentrics, followed closely by America and Ireland. Elsewhere - maybe not so much. I'm sure they must exist, but I'm having trouble finding them.
So any suggestions for notable oddballs (real life, not fiction, though extra points if the real person is the basis for a fictional character) from other backgrounds and origins would be welcome.
Single subject biographies, lists, books, websites (need not be in English) - anything you can suggest would be welcome. Currently dead, by preference.
So any suggestions for notable oddballs (real life, not fiction, though extra points if the real person is the basis for a fictional character) from other backgrounds and origins would be welcome.
Single subject biographies, lists, books, websites (need not be in English) - anything you can suggest would be welcome. Currently dead, by preference.
Can you perhaps try to define "eccentrics" for us?
There are perhaps related concepts in other cultures:
E.g. Russia has its Holy Fools.
posted by ThisIsNotMe at 10:14 AM on July 24, 2012
There are perhaps related concepts in other cultures:
E.g. Russia has its Holy Fools.
posted by ThisIsNotMe at 10:14 AM on July 24, 2012
The Les Sapeurs of Congo
Don Jean Habrey, France
posted by edgeways at 10:19 AM on July 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
Don Jean Habrey, France
posted by edgeways at 10:19 AM on July 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Can you perhaps try to define "eccentrics" for us?
Probably better to give examples. People like Lord Monboddo, Martin van Butchell, William Buckland, Francis Egerton. Perhaps Margaret Cavendish.
posted by BWA at 10:45 AM on July 24, 2012
Probably better to give examples. People like Lord Monboddo, Martin van Butchell, William Buckland, Francis Egerton. Perhaps Margaret Cavendish.
posted by BWA at 10:45 AM on July 24, 2012
Response by poster: I'd have to say that put-on artists are out of the mix. If they're winking all the while, they are simply entertainers. (Nothing wrong with that, they're just not who I'm looking for.)
posted by BWA at 10:54 AM on July 24, 2012
posted by BWA at 10:54 AM on July 24, 2012
The 4th Prime Minister of India Morarji Desai was famed for drinking his own urine as a form of therapy which he believed would cure his piles.
India is in general rich in eccentrics -- they're just not often called that which might be why they're hard to find on the Internet. I'll try to come up with more examples.
posted by peacheater at 11:08 AM on July 24, 2012
India is in general rich in eccentrics -- they're just not often called that which might be why they're hard to find on the Internet. I'll try to come up with more examples.
posted by peacheater at 11:08 AM on July 24, 2012
Of English origin but spent much of his time in India -- George Arundale. Many of the people in his circle of Theosophists would also qualify I think. I grew up in the neighborhood mentioned in the article (Adyar).
posted by peacheater at 11:14 AM on July 24, 2012
posted by peacheater at 11:14 AM on July 24, 2012
How about Screaming Lord Sutch, the founder of the Monster Raving Loony Party? I love them at local elections - they have awesome manifestos:
http://www.loonyparty.com/about/policy-proposals/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screaming_Lord_Sutch
posted by Heifa78 at 11:26 AM on July 24, 2012
http://www.loonyparty.com/about/policy-proposals/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screaming_Lord_Sutch
posted by Heifa78 at 11:26 AM on July 24, 2012
He was British, and therefore anglophone.
posted by elizardbits at 11:38 AM on July 24, 2012
posted by elizardbits at 11:38 AM on July 24, 2012
Ramón María del Valle-Inclán y de la Peña, Spanish writer. (Bonus eccentric: Alejandro Sawa, a friend and inspiration of his).
A modern-day Belgian eccentric: Jan Bucquoy.
posted by Skeptic at 12:08 PM on July 24, 2012
A modern-day Belgian eccentric: Jan Bucquoy.
posted by Skeptic at 12:08 PM on July 24, 2012
Damn, I forgot! Bucquoy's partner-in-mischief Noël Godin.
posted by Skeptic at 12:22 PM on July 24, 2012
posted by Skeptic at 12:22 PM on July 24, 2012
A French eccentric: Ferdinand Lop (a Screaming Lord Sutch avant la lettre).
posted by Skeptic at 12:30 PM on July 24, 2012
posted by Skeptic at 12:30 PM on July 24, 2012
Best answer: You must read this book about Baron Roman Nikolai Maximilian von Ungern-Sternberg.
posted by Sidhedevil at 6:59 PM on July 24, 2012
posted by Sidhedevil at 6:59 PM on July 24, 2012
Oh, and Xul Solar: Pintor de misterio if you can read Spanish. Xul Solar was quite a dude.
Don't forget Salvador Dalí!
posted by Sidhedevil at 7:02 PM on July 24, 2012
Don't forget Salvador Dalí!
posted by Sidhedevil at 7:02 PM on July 24, 2012
Best answer: And Yayoi Kusama. Oh, heavens, and Jean Benoît, an artist whose most famous/infamous artwork included dressing as the 19th century Parisian necrophage Sergent Bertrand. Not to mention his obsession with the Marquis de Sade (who would surely count for your list if you have Lord Monboddo on there!)
posted by Sidhedevil at 7:08 PM on July 24, 2012
posted by Sidhedevil at 7:08 PM on July 24, 2012
Best answer: And Scriabin! He was a bull goose loony if there ever was one. Synesthete, Theosophist, conspiracy theorist...
posted by Sidhedevil at 7:09 PM on July 24, 2012
posted by Sidhedevil at 7:09 PM on July 24, 2012
Not entirely sure that he's quirky enough for full blown eccentric status, but Korean fashion designer Andre Kim might fit the bill. The man was beloved by South Koreans and noted for his spacesuits, thick makeup and painted on hair. I was pretty bewildered when I saw him and his entourage at Costco one Saturday morning, but my Korean co-workers assured me that I'd had a brush with greatness.
posted by peppermind at 5:06 AM on July 25, 2012
posted by peppermind at 5:06 AM on July 25, 2012
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posted by Faint of Butt at 10:06 AM on July 24, 2012