Page 25 - ADU Voice Volume 3 Issue 1
P. 25
FALL 2023 · voice 25
hile scrolling through TikTok, I become something people choose and try to
came across a video of a girl in a fit into, like opening a catalog and picking a
W flowy dress watering her plants theme for themselves. Some of these so-called
and eating some fruit. Opening the com- aesthetics include dark academia, light aca-
ments, I was not surprised to see multiple demia, cottagecore, weirdcore, kidcore, and
people asking, “What aesthetic is this?” e-girl. The list goes on and will most likely
The current and well-known definition of continue to increase with the ever-growing
aesthetic refers to a set of principles underly- reliance on social media. Social media’s per-
ing the work of a particular artist or artistic fectly curated feeds and algorithms are what
movement. On the other hand, like most fuel this obsession with aesthetics and the
complicated concepts, the history of aesthet- need to fit into one.
ics can be traced back all the way to ancient In moderation, the surface-level meaning
Greece. The word aesthetic is derived from of aesthetics and simply dressing up can be
the word “aisthetikos,” which originally harmless. However, it becomes a real prob-
referred to the perception and individual lem when individuals start to feel the need to
analysis of art or beauty. However, the rise conform and categorize themselves fully into
of the Internet has led to a complete recon- one cohesive aesthetic. If fashion is a means
struction of the word, essentially stripping of self-expression, why is everyone trying
people of their individuality. so hard to fit into a box? Limiting yourself
The concept of aesthetics nowadays has to only one style and image is impossible
