freak

In current usage, the word freak is used to refer a person with an unusual personality. The older usage, referring to the physically deformed, such as would be seen in a sideshow, has nowadays generally has fallen into disuse.

The word is still used when referring to mutations in plants and animals, but most often for humans. However, many people enjoy referring to themselves as freaks. It is from this kind of embracing of the term that the so-called freak scene developed in the 1960s and 1970s.

May 25th is the International Freak Pride's Day which is also, coincidentally, Towel Day, a tribute by fans of the late Douglas Adams, creator of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

General

A freak is often considered an insulting term for an organism with an abnormality of some kind. Some opinions would classify so-called freaks into two groups, these being natural freaks and made freaks. A natural freak would, supposedly, be a mutant and a made freak would be one who, though not born abnormally, experienced or caused a deliberate change sometime during their life (such as having surgical implants inserted).

The word freak when used in a slang context also has positive connotations. It can be used to describe one who is unusually skilled or talented in a particular area, e.g.: "She's su football fans is Peter Crouch, due to his fantastic height and ability.

It is thought that a human freak is someone who does not fall into standard deviations. For example with people’s heights, a small person would not be a freak unless they are in the third standard deviation for the general population, and the same applies for really tall people.

History

In early science, before the birth of various theories were created to explain the existence of natural abnormalities. Many of the theories led to pseudo-sciences that are believed by some to this day. One superstition current before the 19th century was that, if a pregnant woman was scared by an object or organism, the child would be born with the quality of the source. The currently accepted theory is that of mutation.

In some religions, from ancient times up to the present day, the birth of children with abnormalities has been associated with astrological events. Rues cited the recent solar eclipses as reason for the increased number of mutated infants born at that time. Karma is also believed in some religions to be a cause of abnormalities. In others, the cause is direct intervention by the will of God.

"Made freaks"

The word "freak" is also used these days by some people (Michael Jackson) who intentionally choose to change their physical appearance by artificial means. The motivation for this may be bravado, or a lifestyle choice, possibly a reaction to a disfiguring accident, perhaps an attempt to stay young, or it may be symptomatic of Body dysmorphic disorder.

There are various types of Body modification (or self-described "made freaks") including:

Tattooing

Taken from the Tahitian word tatu or tatau, and incorporating Japanese traditional irezumi ("insertion of ink") methods, tattooing became very popular amongst sailors and then caught on with Motorcycle gangs and others who like to have artwork on their skin permanently.

Punk Hair

Unusual hair coloring and styles such as spiky or mohawk are still associated with punk, although those styles were not invented at the time of punk rock's emergence in the 1970s. It's possible to look at the 1961 movie The Rebel starring Tony Hancock and see representations of Paris artists with blue, green or crimson dyed hair and existentialist black clothing, parodying the antics of the surrealists or, looking back through old magazines and news items from the fifties, to see news of British rock and roller Wee Willie Harris with his pink hair or Peter Sellers' early 60s comedy reference to a rock singer dying his "hair a luminous green" in the song "I'm So Ashamed".

Piercing

Body piercing has been around since ancient times, and has been attributed mystical significance. These days, it is often thought of by those who use it as a sexual enhancement, but can also be a rejection of one's natural appearance.

Cosmetic Surgery

Cosmetic surgery can be removing a tiny scar, or it can be as totally transformative.

Sex reassignment surgery

Some persons were assigned one gender at birth but feel internally like the other; Sex reassignment surgery(SRS) provides one remedy, helping such people - termed "transsexuals" - feel more comfortable with their gender identity by reconstructing their genitalia to resemble those of the opposite sex. Sex Reassignment has been a performed for almost 50 years, since Christine Jorgensen became the first reassignee. SRS is accompanied by hormone therapy to help make the body more congruent to the person's gender identity. In most clinics, a period of psychotherapy and approval from 2 therapists is required before the surgery is done. Treatment of transexuals is often done within the guidelines of the HBIGDA SOC (Standards Of Care) created by a committee of mental health professionals.

Note that such people may fit both definitions of the word "freak" (made & natural), and thus may be even more sensitive than other "made" freaks to use of the term.

Medical Implants

Medical implants are becoming more common. Speculative fiction and futurology conjecture that this trend may continue to the point where the line between human and machine becomes blurred. In the philosophy of Transhumanism it is believed that technologies such as cybernetics will enable humans to transcend current limitations. This philosophy prescribes a new kind of evolutionary mutation which goes beyond biology.