TLDR Tech / Design
“What aesthetic is this?” Elizabeth Goodspeed on the push to categorize visual culture
Internet culture has transformed images into easily named “aesthetics” like Vaporwave or Cottagecore, driven by feeds, moodboards, and algorithmic grouping that encourage people to see visuals as part of broader trends rather than singular works. Naming aesthetics has become a participatory online activity that shapes how visual culture is understood, much like historical movements such as Dada or Art Deco, while also influencing which styles become culturally remembered.
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