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Internet aesthetic

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An Internet aesthetic, also simply referred to as an aesthetic or microaesthetic, is a visual art style, sometimes accompanied by a fashion style, subculture, or music genre, that usually originates from the Internet or is popularized on it. Throughout the 2010s and 2020s, online aesthetics gained increasing popularity, specifically on social media platforms such as Tumblr, Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok, and often were used by people to express their individuality and creativity. They can also be used to create a sense of community and belonging among people who share the same interests. The term aesthetic has been described as being "totally divorced from its academic origins", and is commonly used as an adjective.[1]

Definition

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Internet aesthetics refers to the distinctive visual styles, cultural themes, and design trends that emerge and proliferate online, often shaped by social media platforms, digital art, and virtual communities. These aesthetics encompass a wide range of creative expressions, including color palettes, typography, imagery, and motifs, which are frequently associated with specific subcultures or online movements. Common examples include vaporwave, cottagecore, and Y2K, each characterized by unique visual and thematic elements.

The development of Internet Aesthetics is influenced by the rapid exchange of ideas across digital spaces, user-generated content, and the accessibility of digital tools for creation and sharing. They often serve as a form of self-expression and identity-building within virtual environments, reflecting broader cultural, social, and technological shifts.

History

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In 1735, German philosopher Alex Baumgarten derived the term "aesthetics" from the Greek word "aisthetike" or "aisthesis", establishing it as a field of study.[2] The term "aesthetic" has evolved to reflect current trends in digital communication and multimedia art. Many Internet aesthetics have been credited with originating on Tumblr, including Dark academia, Cottagecore, Art Hoe,[3] Coquette/Nymphet,[4] and Weirdcore.[5] With the influence of new social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, however, internet aesthetics are being dominated by micro-trends such as mob wife and tomato girl summer.[6]

Aesthetics Wiki, a wiki hosted on Fandom, has frequently been cited for its large database of information on online aesthetics.[7][8][9] According to The Atlantic, the wiki gained a 9,974% increase in traffic during the 2020 pandemic due to chronic online participation and desires for self discovery.[10]

In 2022, Rebecca Jennings from Vox argued that many trends from TikTok fall under one trend, calling it "TikTok couture" and describing it as a "way to describe the coalescence of trends that materialize on TikTok, whether from teenagers experimenting with clothes they've thrifted from their local charity shop, from older folks revisiting the subcultural styles of their youth, or from professional and amateur trend watchers combining aesthetic clues into a single theory of what's coming next", adding "with the help of the supercharged TikTok algorithm that blasts viral content to millions of users within hours or days, these videos shape what mainstream culture considers stylish, which therefore can affect what we choose to wear ourselves."[11]

In July 2022, Sarah Spellings from Vogue stated that there was a "rise of hyper-specific Internet aesthetics".[12]

Notable examples

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Corecore

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Main article: Corecore

Corecore or CoreCore is an aesthetic and artistic movement aiming to capture post–2020 sensibilities. A product of youth culture in the 2020s, the corecore aesthetic was largely found on TikTok, where it juxtaposes various video clips while emotional music plays. Meant to evoke strong emotions, the corecore aesthetic juxtaposes imagery with its content made up of "seemingly unrelated clips" culled from a variety of sources including news footage, social media, films, livestreams, and memes, often overlaid on usually emotionally rousing, somber, or ambient music.[13]

Y2K

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Main article: Y2K aesthetic
Apple's iMac G3, an example of the blobject styles found in the Y2K era[14]

Y2K (or Cybercore)[15] is an Internet aesthetic based on products, styles, and fashion of the late 1990s and early 2000s. The name Y2K is derived from an abbreviation coined by programmer David Eddy for the year 2000 and its potential computer errors. The Y2K aesthetic can include synthetic or metallic materials, blobjects, reflective clothing, inflatable furniture, and computer interfaces of the dotcom era.[14][16] At times, "Y2K" is used to refer to 2000s fashion in general, overlapping with aspects of the McBling aesthetic.[17]

Frutiger Aero

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Main article: Frutiger Aero

Frutiger Aero is an Internet aesthetic and user interface design trend based on Windows Aero. It was popular from roughly 2004 to 2013, succeeding the Y2K aesthetic.[18] This aesthetic was named after Swiss typeface designer Adrian Frutiger, whose font and UI theme developments influenced the design choices of major companies. The term Frutiger Aero was coined in 2017 as an open compound of Aero and the Frutiger typeface.[19] The aesthetic resonates heavily with Y2K, focusing around gloss, CGI renders of scenes with nature and technology together, transparency, nature symbolism, bokeh photography, and elements of skeuomorphic design.[18][20][21] It began to decline after 2012, but made a comeback in the 2020s among members of Generation Z.[22]

Academia

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The academia aesthetic is an internet-based cultural and visual trend centered on themes of higher education, intellectual pursuits, and scholarly environments. Drawing inspiration from classical literature, historical periods, and collegiate lifestyles, it includes subgenres such as dark academia and light academia. These subcultures are defined by their distinct visual styles, thematic focuses, and influences from historical and literary traditions.

Dark Academia

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Architecture relevant in Dark Academia

Dark academia is an aesthetic that emphasizes the pursuit of knowledge within a context of mysticism, introspection, and a darker, melancholic atmosphere. It draws heavily from 19th and early 20th-century academic settings and Collegiate Gothic architecture. Hallmarks include dimly lit libraries, vintage clothing, and a muted color palette dominated by shades of brown, black, and gray. The aesthetic often celebrates classical literature, philosophy, and art, with themes of existentialism and mortality woven throughout its narratives.

Dark academia is noted for its inclusivity and connection to LGBTQ+ communities.[23] Originating on Tumblr in 2014, the aesthetic gained widespread attention during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.[24] Its resurgence during this period reflected a romanticization of scholarly life amidst global lockdowns. As Kristen Bateman of The New York Times observed, the aesthetic's origins remain somewhat nebulous but found early traction on Tumblr.[23]

Light Academia

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Architecture relevant in Light Academia

Light academia serves as the counterpart to dark academia, focusing on more optimistic and joyful interpretations of scholarly life. It highlights themes of friendship, curiosity, and the simple pleasures of learning, often set against a visually bright and airy aesthetic. Drawing inspiration from works such as Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan, light academia emphasizes creativity and imagination.[25] Its visual elements include soft, pastel tones, natural light, and vintage school uniforms reminiscent of early to mid-20th-century college wear.

The aesthetic also incorporates elements of art, ceramics, and architecture with a lighter visual tone.[26] Coined on Tumblr in 2019[27], light academia gained prominence in the early 2020s, appealing to those who sought an alternative to the somber and brooding qualities of dark academia. Some have described it as "cottagecore with more cosmopolitan elements,"[28] blending a rural charm with intellectual and artistic sophistication.

Cultural Impact

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Both dark and light academia have become significant subcultures within the broader internet aesthetic landscape, influencing fashion, literature, and digital media. Their popularity reflects a broader romanticization of intellectualism and nostalgia for traditional academic environments, resonating with younger audiences seeking connection to cultural and historical ideals.

Neo-Victorian

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Main article: Neo-Victorian
A collection of people dressed in Neo-Victorian clothing

Neo-Victorianism is an aesthetic movement that features an overt nostalgia for the Victorian period, generally in the context of the broader hipster subculture of the 1990s–2010s.[29] It is also likened to other "neos" (e.g. neoconservatism, neoliberalism), which do not simply look back to the past but also reiterate and replay it in more diverse and complicated ways.[30] This characteristic makes neo-Victorian art difficult to define conclusively.[31]

Cottagecore

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Main article: Cottagecore
Architecture relevant in Cottagecore

Cottagecore is an aesthetic popularised by teenagers and young adults romanticizing rural life, centering on traditional rural clothing, interior design, and crafts such as drawing, baking, and pottery. The term for the aesthetic was coined in 2018 on Tumblr.[32] The aesthetic gained heavy popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, where economic forces and other challenges facing these young people may have been a significant driver of this trend, along with these generations' emphasis on sustainability, and the recent trend to work from home (initially during the pandemic).[33]

VSCO girl

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VSCO girls or VSCO kids emerged among Gen Z teenagers during the summer of 2019,[34] and are often described as "basic".[35] The American YouTuber Emma Chamberlain is considered as an icon of this aesthetic. Named after the VSCO photography app, VSCO girls live by the statement "pics or didn't happen", using the app to create their social media aesthetic.[36] They are stereotyped as having oversized T-shirts, sweatshirts or sweaters, Fjällräven Kånkens, scrunchies, Hydro Flasks, Crocs, Pura Vida bracelets, instant cameras, Carmex, metal straws, friendship bracelets, Birkenstocks, shell necklaces, and other beach-related fashion. A typical VSCO girl outfit consists of leggings, an oversized and vibrant graphic T-shirt, and Birkenstock shoes. Environmentalism, especially topics relating to sea turtle conservation, are also regarded as part of VSCO culture.[37][38] VSCO girls have fallen out of fashion since 2019.[39]

McBling

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McBling Saturday Night candle with glitter and a disco ball, very Gen Z, unknown designer, produced by DW Home, c. 2024, glass and wax, sold at TJ Maxx in Miami, US

McBling (colloquially "Y2K fashion")[17] is a girly aesthetic that was popular from roughly 2003 to 2008, which formed around the growing celebrity culture of the time, reality television and paparazzi. It is best known for the high use of hot pink and purple, low rise jeans, mini skirts, logomania, sequins, rhinestones, halter tops, and monochrome tracksuits, colorful sunglasses, butterfly or flower-shaped hair clips, bags worn over the shoulder, and jelly accessories with glitter (including shoes). It is highly associated with the 2000s reality show The Simple Life, with Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, and with Regina George from the 2004 film Mean Girls. Other examples of media that feature this aesthetic are Legally Blonde, Sleepover, and Crossroads. McBling mostly died when the 2007–2008 financial crisis happened, but a resurgence took place on TikTok around 2021, part of the wave of interest for 2000s trends in fashion and design, led by nostalgia. McBling has some overlap with the Y2K aesthetic, with both even being called "Y2K" at times or used to refer to 2000s fashion in general.[17]

E-Kid

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Main article: E-girls and e-boys

The E-Girl and E-Boy aesthetics gained popularity on TikTok in 2019 primarily by members of Generation Z. It is an evolution of emo, scene and mall goth fashion combined with Japanese street fashion (such as anime, cosplay, kawaii and lolita fashion) and Korean street fashion (such as K-pop).[40][41] The E-Kid aesthetic often features bright hair colors, heavy and dark eye makeup, and accessories such as chain necklaces and beanies. Their wardrobe consists of oversized T-shirts, slim jeans, and checkered Vans shoes.[42] According to Business Insider, the terms are not gender-specific, instead referring to two separate styles of fashion, stating that "While the e-boy is a vulnerable 'softboi' and embraces skate culture, the e-girl is cute and seemingly innocent".[40]

Kidcore/indie kid

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Maximalist kidcore glass necklace, unknown designer or brand, c. 2024, glass, sold at Stockmann in Helsinki, Finland

The "kidcore" or "indie kid" look centers around bright colors and nods to the late 1990s and 2000s. The aesthetic was first defined on Tumblr around the mid-2010s. In 2020, TikTok and Instagram contributed to a sharp increase in popularity. The indie kid aesthetic is characterized by overly saturated photos and "crop tops, baggy pants/jeans, tartan tennis skirts, tight-fitting tops, polo shirts, platform boots or sneakers, as well as skate brands in general", along with Monster Energy also being considered "a staple".[43] Unlike the hipster subculture of the 2000s and early 2010s, indie kids of the 2020s favored a more childlike style that took inspiration from the late 1990s and 2000s, Japanese subculture, bedroom pop, skater fashion, energy drink culture, and hyper pop.

Clean Girl

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Popularized in 2022 on TikTok, Clean Girl aesthetic is “[I] just got out of the shower, and I’m effortlessly gorgeous”.[44] According to Bustle, it is "about oversized, sporty basics", and consists of items such as "simple crop tops, loose-fit, high-rise denim, dainty gold jewelry, matching athleisure sets (often from Aritzia), and the latest Nike drop". Clean Girl takes on a minimalist approach to wardrobe, makeup, and essentially, routine. According to Refinery29, the aesthetic "is basically just minimalist makeup" and "significantly low effort", citing that as the reason for its popularity.[45] Influencers such as Hailey Bieber and Bella Hadid are often associated with the Clean Girl aesthetic, contributing to the rise of slicked-back buns, chunky gold hoops, and skin-like makeup.[46]

That Girl

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Main article: That Girl (Trend)

That Girl aesthetic consists of an individual who takes care of themselves and puts an emphasis on wellness in all aspects of their lives, such as mental health, fitness, nutrition, interpersonal relations, etc. That Girl aesthetic is targeted primarily towards women, whereas for men, there is no defined aesthetic in line with the same categories That Girl focuses on. [47]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Spellings, Sarah (May 25, 2021). "Do I Have an Aesthetic?". Vogue. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  2. ^ "aesthetics". csmt.uchicago.edu. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  3. ^ "'Art hoe' isn't just an aesthetic, although we've tried to make it one". Vancouver Is Awesome. July 7, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  4. ^ "Why have young women on the internet always loved Lolita?". Dazed. July 28, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  5. ^ Pradeep, Malavika (September 5, 2021). "Inside Weirdcore, an internet-born art movement triggering nostalgia of the unknown". Inside Weirdcore, an internet-born art movement triggering nostalgia of the unknown. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  6. ^ "Set, follow or skip? How brands should navigate micro-trends". Vogue Business. January 24, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  7. ^ Tiffany, Kaitlyn (February 5, 2021). "Cottagecore Was Just the Beginning". The Atlantic. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  8. ^ "The Year in Aesthetics, From Dark Academia to McBling". Vice. December 28, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  9. ^ "Cottagecore, cluttercore, goblincore — deep down, it's about who we think we are". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  10. ^ Tiffany, Kaitlyn (February 5, 2021). "Cottagecore Was Just the Beginning". The Atlantic. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  11. ^ Jennings, Rebecca (February 1, 2022). "Fashion is just TikTok now". Vox. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  12. ^ ""Core" Is The New "Chic"". British Vogue. Condé Nast. July 31, 2022. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  13. ^ Mendez II, Moises (January 20, 2023). "What to Know About the Corecore Aesthetic Taking Over TikTok". TIME. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  14. ^ a b Alexander, Leigh (May 19, 2016). "The Y2K aesthetic: who knew the look of the year 2000 would endure?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on September 26, 2024. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  15. ^ "Cybercore Is The Next Y2K Fashion Aesthetic Trend". Nylon. February 20, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  16. ^ Friedlander, Emilie (December 28, 2021). "The Year in Aesthetics, From Dark Academia to McBling". VICE. Archived from the original on September 18, 2024. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  17. ^ a b c Chokrane, Boutayna (December 13, 2023). "Y2K Fashion 101: How 2023 Got the Millennium Bug All Over Again". Vogue. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  18. ^ a b Holliday, Laura (February 3, 2023). "What is frutiger aero, the aesthetic taking over from Y2K?". Dazed.
  19. ^ Unveiling the Mystery: Exploring the Fascinating World of Frutiger Aero
  20. ^ Cortés, Michelle Santiago. "What Frutiger Aero teaches us about niche internet aesthetics". i-D.
  21. ^ Cinko, Anthony (December 17, 2022). "What is Frutiger Aero? Uncovering the nostalgic 2000's aesthetic - US Mobile blog". Prepaid GSM Carrier News.
  22. ^ Fear, Natalie (January 4, 2024). "Why Gen Z is infatuated with the Frutiger Aero design aesthetic". Creative Bloq. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  23. ^ a b Bateman, Kristen (June 30, 2020). "Academia Lives — on TikTok". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  24. ^ "The Rise of Dark Academia". The Insider. November 5, 2020. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  25. ^ "Dark Academia, Light Academia, & Cottagecore: Breaking Down 3 Popular Internet Aesthetics". wallflower. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  26. ^ "Which Type of Academia Aesthetics Are You?". The Other Aesthetic. October 27, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  27. ^ Jonas, Carla (April 11, 2023). "Light Academia: The Ultimate Guide on the Trendy Fashion Aesthetic". TPS Blog. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  28. ^ "What is the 'light academia' aesthetic? How to get the look in Vancouver". Vancouver Is Awesome. June 25, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  29. ^ Heilmann, Ann; Llewellyn, Mark (2010). Neo-Victorianism: The Victorians in the Twenty-First Century, 1999-2009. New York: Springer. p. 5. ISBN 978-1-349-31685-4.
  30. ^ Ho, Elizabeth (2012). Neo-Victorianism and the Memory of Empire. London: A&C Black. p. 9. ISBN 978-1-4411-6155-0.
  31. ^ Boehm-Schnitker, Nadine; Gruss, Susanne (2014). Neo-Victorian Literature and Culture: Immersions and Revisitations. New York: Routledge. p. 3. ISBN 978-1-134-61469-1.
  32. ^ Jennings, Rebecca (August 3, 2020). "Cottagecore, Taylor Swift, and our endless desire to be soothed". Vox. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  33. ^ "Why is 'cottagecore' booming? Because being outside is now the ultimate taboo | Amelia Hall". the Guardian. April 15, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  34. ^ Leskin, Paige (December 12, 2019). "The summer of the 'VSCO girl' may be over, but retailers and the VSCO app itself are still reaping the benefits of the craze that swept Gen Z". Business Insider.
  35. ^ Schwedel, Heather (September 12, 2019). "Teens Explain the VSCO Girl—and Why You Never Want to Be One". Slate Magazine. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  36. ^ "The Ultimate VSCO Girl Starter Pack". Teen Vogue. August 21, 2019. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  37. ^ Minutaglio, Rose (August 16, 2019). "A Guide to the 'VSCO Girl' Aesthetic Taking Over Your Feeds". ELLE. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  38. ^ Aronoff, Kate (September 20, 2019). "Why VSCO Girls are Going on Strike for the Climate". The Intercept. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  39. ^ Mutum, Dilip S.; Ghazali, Ezlika M. (2023). Evolving Consumer Representations and Roles. Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland. pp. 149–150. doi:10.1007/978-3-031-39359-4_7. ISBN 978-3-031-39358-7.
  40. ^ a b Leskin, Paige. "Everything you need to know about e-girls and e-boys, teen gamers who have emerged as the antithesis of Instagram influencers". Business Insider. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  41. ^ "How to dress like an E-girl in 2022: your definitive guide". Heat. June 5, 2022. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  42. ^ Madi, Madi (July 4, 2023). "What is an Eboy? The True Eboy Style Explained". manofmany.com. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  43. ^ "The Indie Aesthetic has changed, here's what you need to know". Happy Mag. July 1, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  44. ^ "What is the clean girl aesthetic? How to achieve the look". July 27, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  45. ^ "Let's Argue: How Do We Really Feel About The "Clean Girl Makeup" Aesthetic?". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  46. ^ "How to Channel the Clean Girl Aesthetic, According to Fashion Influencers Who Have Already Nailed the Trend". InStyle. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  47. ^ "That Boy aesthetic". ask.metafilter.com. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
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