Fringe: Not part of the mainstream; unconventional, peripheral, or extreme
Miasma: An oppressive or unpleasant atmosphere that surrounds or emanates from something
Balk: Hesitate or be unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking
Plumage: A bird's feathers collectively
Banal: So lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring
Livid: Furiously angry
Bolster: Support or strengthen; prop up
Avant-Garde: The advance group in any field, especially in the visual, literary, or musical arts, whose works are characterized chiefly by unorthodox and experimental methods.
Brash: Self-assertive in a rude, noisy, or overbearing way