An aesthete, that's what we are

“Aesthetic” - here is a question, how many of you have used #aesthetic under your Instagram posts? Or, how many of you saw a beautiful café and the first words that came to your mind was “so aesthetic”? And I am pretty sure most of you have explored our favourite aesthetic app Pinterest to find your own aesthetic.

Aesthetics is the philosophical study of beauty and taste. Both the natural and artificial origins of our experiences, as well as how we judge them, are covered by aesthetics. It takes into account the mental processes that take place when we interact with things or settings like visual art, music, poetry, plays, fashion shows, movies, sports, or even different aspects of nature.

Image Source: Unsplash

Nowadays, the term "aesthetics" refers to a grouping of pictures, hues, things, music, and writings that foster a particular feeling, goal, or community. Because there are so many diverse aesthetics, most people—if not everyone—have a predilection for particular aesthetics. It mostly depends on individual preferences, cultural upbringing, and exposure to various media.

Below we have listed down 5 popular aesthetics, especially among the Gen-Z.

Dark Academia

Dark Academia is a well-known (and the original) academic aesthetic that is centred on classic literature, the quest for personal growth, and a general love of study and information. Being an internet aesthetic, it mostly comprises posting pictures, creating outfits, and engaging in particular activities on social media. Gothicism, American Prep, and upper-class European cultures of the 19th century are the main influences on Dark Academia's visual style. The main appeal of the aesthetic is the romanticization of education and life events related to university experiences, with lofty declarations and success wishes being frequent text post topics.

Image Source: The New York Times / Paulo Neus

Cottagecore

Cottagecore, sometimes referred to as farmcore and countrycore, is an idealised depiction of living in a western agricultural setting. Its core principles are simplicity and harmony with nature. Self-sufficiency and compassion for others are two other ideas connected to cottagecore. The aesthetic is a continuation of many earlier nature-based aesthetics, but it is most strongly influenced by the Victorian and Romantic eras' romanticization of the English countryside. Each image conveys a sense of ease and light adventure and is based on the domestic lifestyle typical of people who live in this kind of setting.

Image Source: Unsplash/Annie Spratt

Y2K

The Y2K aesthetic, also known as Cyber Y2K, Futuristic Y2K, or Kaybug, pervaded popular culture from around 1997 to 2004. It is marked by a distinctive aesthetic epoch, encompassing fashion, hardware design, music, and interiors gleaming with tech optimism – sometimes literally. It is named after the Y2K Bug. Some of its features include spiky updos, silver eyeshadow, tight leather leggings, glossy clothes, Oakleys, gradients, translucence, and Blobitecture. As the 20th century and the 2nd millennium gave way to the 21st century and the 3rd millennium, the majority of Y2K aesthetics relied on the use of technology and sleek futuristic looks to signal the optimism of a new era. Around the end of 2004, the Y2K era came to an end, and the Frutiger Aero and McBling era took its place.

Image Source: Dribble/Arturo Robles

Grunge

According to Aesthetics Wiki, Grunge is a darker, edgier style. Modern depictions of grunge typically feature glitches, vinyl records, cigarettes, neon lights, and the colour black. Grunge's graphics frequently feature a lot of filthy, grungy images. These convey a sense of helplessness and disillusionment with contemporary society. This kind of cultural sadness, which is sometimes associated with Grunge, is depicted using a lot of muted earth tones and weak colours.

Image Source: Instagram/@aesqey

Indie / Indie Kid

Indie is a style that emphasises independence and individualism. As the style saw a contemporary rebirth in 2019–2020 under the moniker Indie Kid, there are two factions of independent music. Numerous distinct musical subgenres, like shoegaze, were a part of this aesthetic. This can also apply to the independent film genre, as many of these films enhance the original indie aesthetic. The focus of Indie Kid is on vivid colours, 2000s-era clothes, and a skater lifestyle. It became well-known in 2020 thanks to the TikTok app. This revival is distinct from the original Indie look, which by today's standards was more "alternative" and did not use as many vibrant colours. Additionally, Kidcore, Cuddle Party, and Skater had an impact on Indie Kid.

Image Source: Aesthetics Wiki

Asking someone's aesthetic is now a trend when it comes to meeting someone new and starting off a conversation and when people of the same aesthetic meet - they have a blast. And even if it's different, every aesthetic finds a way to compliment the other because art is art and beauty is beauty, no matter what form.

References:

• Britannica

• Aesthetics Wiki Fandom