As the word of the week, it is important that you know the difference between the two homophones. That’s right! Bizarre has a lessor known twin. While the term “bazaar” is a place where you can buy fun wares and trinkets, bizarre is more about the oddities or ‘weird’ things/people of the world. Do not be mistaken when you watch the movie, Pollyanna from 1960. She was doing a charity bazaar, no matter how bizarre it may be to you now.
It’s very interesting homo friend, the homophone bizarre is as interesting and likely moreso.
The kind of bizarre you probably came here for, though, is the intriguing, outside of the ordinary, unique, awkward, can't-take-my-eyes-off-of-it (in a more negative way), possibly horrifying, possibly grotesque sort of thing...
Interestingly, though, bizarre only remains bizarre until one gets used to seeing/experiencing the thing that is outside of their ordinary. As an example, I visited Slab City near Palm Desert. The city displays the macabre, light-hearted, drug-induced 'art' works of its citizens. Having taken an hour to read books in their 'library' to have a moment to eavesdrop on the citizenry, I got to hear interesting gossip from the one-legged librarian discussing with the town...well, I don't know a polite word for it...person...yes, we'll go with person...about the issue of reusing needles amongst the populace. There apparently was a fella who would sharpen needles so they could be used multiple times within what I considered a garbage strewn town. For me, this was bizarre. For them, it was a Tuesday.
In the act of trying to make oneself standout to grab attention, bizarre would be the appropriate term, at least at first. Once copycats arise and are produced, the bizarre amongst their copycats becomes the norm. Take for instance the heavily tattooed.
Perhaps tattoos like this one are cool:
It's unique, at least...but is it bizarre? The word bizarre would likely better fit this picture:
So what's the difference? Unconventional? The UV tattoo above is unconventional...it's a new way of being tattooed as far as I'm aware...for now...but "Far-fetched" as https://grammarist.com/usage/bazaar-bizarre/ puts it may be better suited. Mix the two and you've got a recipe for something peculiar!
I could scour the internet for peculiar/strange/bizarre things...and that would be fun, but much like trying to define "hard core pornography", I'll use Justice Potter Stewart's words when he said, "I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced... [b]ut I know it when I see it ..."
You know what is bizarre when you see it because it stands out to you. It is in the eye of the beholder, as one may see bizarre and another may see beauty.
Now go support your local bazaar buying bizarre buzzards buzzing beautifully around blazing ballz....I don't know where that came from...that's weird...or...bizarre?
Feel free to comment below, but per @calumam, I will not be allowed to reply to your comments...disqualification is a naughty word when it comes to contests you intend to win...lol...Want to compete? Look at the rools :) here: @calumam/pob-word-of-the-week-bizarre-006#@calumam/qt8ljb
Bad luck! :p