The Dilemma of Aesthetics

Aesthetics are the fad of today’s teens- from Dark Academia to cottage core to Y2K, there are a ton of them and it would take me an eternity to name them all.

I’ll come to the point. The aesthetic culture is a frustration bank for me. There is a common pattern in all of them- the appeal that aesthetics are not only a category, but a lifestyle. Every aesthetic has its own set of personalities- Dark Academia carries melancholy, Cottage-core embodies romanticized domesticity. It is more like a doctrine on how I am supposed to live my life, in limitation. And once I start conforming in one genre, it feels like a sin to enjoy anything outside of it.

Their approach is quite discouraging too. As a dark skinned girl, I find it difficult to mold myself into one aesthetic. It seems uninviting, that when I look up these images, all I see are fair skinned lean women- someone I can never be. I don’t know how this affects my peers.

Additionally, mainstream aesthetic forms lack depth. Popular art trends- they’re only visually striking with no actual expression behind them. Take the so-called Instagram activism pages; a quote written in italics with a pastel background, or a motto written with alphabet cereals. These posts are just for likes, devoid of any explanation, and darn I say, they’re just there to look ‘pretty’.

It doesn’t make any sense to put labels. Discover new bands, artists, clothing styles, books, movies and what not. Encourage your own personality and purpose. Blow up the bubble; or else you’ll miss out on all the fun.