For years now, social media has been flooded by a large number of aesthetics, which are basically a collection of objects/experiences/styles having a similar feel to them. Case in point, we’ve had aesthetics like Cottagecore which hyped up living as if you do in a countryside cottage, wearing plaid dresses, eating natural, listening to soft music. We’ve had Grunge which is largely influenced by 90s fashion and music, the color black, and cigarettes. There is the ever-popular Minimalism as it asks you to be simple in the way you present yourself. Dark Academia, Gothic, Vintage, Vaporwave, Ethereal, Witchcore: the list goes on and on.
Back to the point, these aesthetics are everywhere online. You see them in Tumblr edits, you find them on Instagram reels, Pinterest boards, and even your music streaming platform (let’s just say that Spotify has some really great Dark academia playlists I can be accused of indulging in). A lot of people around the world have found comfort in these. But you can’t help but see that things can often go really wrong.
Liking an aesthetic is nice, yes, but the problem starts when you start modeling your life after it. In such cases, aesthetics, which were originally meant to be a medium for expressing your creativity through the way you present yourself tend to become boxes you can’t get out of. Setting limits to your own personality in order to have a perfect online image isn’t alright. You are entitled to live however you wish to, and any such constructs should not hinder you.
One of the big things that we can’t overlook is the lack of representation. Let’s be blunt here and accept that most of these aesthetics are modeled after skinny white women. There have been attempts to promote inclusivity, yet there is much to be done to make these spaces feel welcome to everyone.
Thus, it is okay to keep your options open whenever you browse online aesthetics. Your life is your own, your experiences are your own. Don’t let yourself be put in a box by trying to live what you see online. Take care of yourself, touch some grass, and express yourself in your own style!