How To Be Truly Youcore in the Age of Aesthetics
In a world seemingly defined by the “us” and “them” dynamics we impose on ourselves and others, what does it mean anymore to “be yourself”?
Is it about expressing who you are through any number of creative means? Or is it just about the perfect “look”; the ideal concoction of things that allow you to signal to others who you are and, intrinsically, who you are not?
After all, it’s the age of aesthetics, and in order to express yourself, you must adhere to the stringent lines of an impending -core trend: one of bullet-pointed lists of requirements to check off in order to properly fit the mold. So, whether you’re a Barbiecore girly in all pink, or live life in cottagecore chic, there are rules to follow, and divergence could mean missing the mark.
Image Courtesy: Instagram
Different social aesthetics are clearly not a new thing. Society has always segmented itself through fashion, with different groups aligning and expressing themselves through clothing and makeup that others associate with their specific social group. Back in the olden days, it was called being part of a subculture.
But, where subcultures stemmed from cultural movements and evolved alongside the social/political sentiments of the people who made them up, aesthetics are essentially visual archetypes representative of a certain type of person or lifestyle, and are adapted by those who wish to embody the style associated with it. It’s almost the inverse of how social groups have traditionally come to have their own aesthetic in the past.
It’s the simulation of a thing; but, does that make it the thing itself?
Talking the talk, but are you walking the walk?
One of the most interesting parts of internet -core aesthetics is the fact that they can be taken on by anyone, even if that person doesn’t necessarily identify with any deeper values associated with the aesthetic; it can just be about whether they vibe with the look.
But, when a -core embodies a lifestyle or identity, and someone participates in it while not actively living in line with it, they are thereby creating a false identity around the aesthetic. So, their clothing choices aren’t reflecting who they are, but rather something they’d like to be. It’s a facade; and, to a certain extent, an escape from reality.
And don’t get me wrong– experimenting with fashion is amazing, and can help to physically manifest who you feel to be on the inside. But, committing to one particular aesthetic, or cycling through many different ones as they fluctuate in popularity, when you don’t actually identify with anything deeper than surface-level characteristics, can lead to a lack of authenticity. It becomes performative; and can lead to dissatisfaction and disillusionment.
Image Courtesy: Instagram
Self-actualization or self-surveillance?
Keeping in the same vain, -core aesthetics tend to feel a bit, well, limiting; and it just doesn’t seem like hyper-focusing your entire identity around one kind of look would completely encapsulate the many sides that every person naturally has within them.
If engaged with in a healthy way, I feel aesthetics are a very fun form of self-expression, exploration, and imaginative play, and at the most basic level, can be a great source of inspiration.
But, when taken to an extreme, -core aesthetics have the potential to reduce someone’s personality to a kind of one-dimensional character, instead of just existing as a human being with many different sides.
It’s giving consumer-culture core, honey.
On another note, there’s privilege in being able to obtain a -core aesthetic; or one after the other as the trends change, as some folks on the internet do. Not to mention it feeds the capitalist beast in an endless cycle of fast fashion and willful apathy.
Take Barbiecore, for example. With the release of the long-awaited Barbie movie, just about everyone flocked to brick-and-mortar establishments, as well as online, to procure as much pink clothing and accessories as possible. But, will all those items stick around after the Margot Robbie hype dies down, or will landfills begin taking on a pepto-core aesthetic of their own?
Image Courtesy: Instagram
While I love the color pink as much as the next Barbie, that’s not sustainable, and so not worth it.
Nor is the commodification of online aesthetics at the hands of corporations, which is yet another unfortunate consequence of the -core phenomenon. Like many things online (i.e. nascent slang, internet memes, etc.), aesthetics are leveraged by corporate entities that wish to appeal to contemporary audiences; and from there, they die and are mutilated at the hands of the money-hungry.
My question is, do we really want to be a part of some singular, commercialized aesthetic? Or do we want to be something more?
How to consume -core content and integrate it into your life in a healthy way.
As I said before, I don’t think aesthetics themselves are evil, nor do I want to dissuade anyone from engaging with them at all. In fact, I think the online institution of -core aesthetics is an opportunity for anyone perusing the depths of the online world, if done with a reasonable level of intent and media literacy.
For instance, I think it’s more important than ever to exercise awareness when it comes to consumption, both of media and the physical; especially when it comes to burgeoning social crazes like -core aesthetics. So, I encourage you, dear reader, to poke holes in out-of-touch content (I’m looking at you, povertycore), and think for yourself when it comes to things of the internet.
I’d also like to encourage a more self-focused ideology when it comes to engaging with online aesthetics. Use -cores as sources for your own style, taking elements of certain looks and integrating them into original outfits. Don’t adjust who you are to something you could see yourself being. Instead, combine different elements of what you like into your own personal aesthetic: your very own Youcore.
Really, the possibilities are endless, dear reader; for humanity is defined by its inability to be defined. Each one of us holds a million contradictions; and, in my opinion, that’s what makes us the most interesting, the most creative, and the most beautiful. So, lean into it. And don’t ever sell out to simplification.
Strike out,
Olivia Shea Garvey
Saint Augustine
