Vaporwave aesthetics are pretty interesting. The late 80s - mid 90s period of pop culture seems to have a lot of nostalgic and pseudo-nostalgic appeal for a lot of people.
Well, for tons of people at theirs 40s/30s or close they were kids or teenagers then, it makes sense for them to be nostalgic about it.
As for younger people, it's a period before the web/mobile/social media rise (and pre 9/11), so it's quite distinct from their own present today and thus can be interesting.
It's also a period of relative growth and optimism, as opposed to today...
It's weird. My partner and I are late twenties and talk a lot about 'nostalgia for something never truly experienced'.
We were too young to experience the '80s, and most of the '90s passed us by as children. But now, looking back, there is such a strong appeal - technology was still exciting without the societal consequences and complications - we really only used computers to play games and not for productivity. The anxiety and stress of social networks did not emerge until we were effectively adults and therefore a bit more immune.
Anyway, we love Com Truise, HOME, Flamingosis, and other artists (Simpwave on youtube!) creating a neo-retro-synth-vapour kind of pastiche, but it's odd to think that it's all referencing things that we are experiencing only in hindsight.
It's even odder from the perspective of someone who actually lived through it. I'm guessing the way I feel now is similar to how people my parents' age felt with all the hippie culture appropriation my friends were doing in the 90s.
coldtea|6 years ago
As for younger people, it's a period before the web/mobile/social media rise (and pre 9/11), so it's quite distinct from their own present today and thus can be interesting.
It's also a period of relative growth and optimism, as opposed to today...
arbitrary_name|6 years ago
We were too young to experience the '80s, and most of the '90s passed us by as children. But now, looking back, there is such a strong appeal - technology was still exciting without the societal consequences and complications - we really only used computers to play games and not for productivity. The anxiety and stress of social networks did not emerge until we were effectively adults and therefore a bit more immune.
Anyway, we love Com Truise, HOME, Flamingosis, and other artists (Simpwave on youtube!) creating a neo-retro-synth-vapour kind of pastiche, but it's odd to think that it's all referencing things that we are experiencing only in hindsight.
pixelbath|6 years ago