As a young teen on the internet, I encountered many different genres of visual landscapes that characterized internet aesthetics. Vaporwave was by far my favorite one, with its post-modern blend of 80s and 90s art. It’s unique in that it is not only a visual aesthetic, but a “microgenre of electronic music and an internet-based art movement” (Vaporwave – aesthetics wiki – fandom).
My chosen image contains an array of identifiers that are reminiscent of the vaporwave aesthetic. Palm trees, pink and cyan pastel colors, and a retro atmosphere with distorted visual elements. In combination with the selected audio piece, the two create a smooth reverberated soundscape that enhances the image’s electric utopia. Evoking a sense of nostalgia, vaporwave is a surreal aesthetic that marries early 2000s technological futurism with lush fluorescent environments.
Terms of Use: “Forgotten Aesthetics of the Internet: Vaporwave” by Kayla Cardenas is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Reference: Vaporwave – aesthetics wiki – fandom. Aesthetics Wiki. (n.d.). https://aesthetics.fandom.com/wiki/Vaporwave
Hey Kayla,
The first reaction for me when playing the audio while reading your post was “Stranger Things”. This is such an interesting aesthetic to see here and now. The millennial in me is loving this trip down memory lane. I almost expected to see someone’s face pop up in the image and tell me something important about the future like in some movie I feel like I saw someplace.
Hello Kayla,
Your post really drew me in. The image you shared has such striking colors that it immediately made me pause and take a closer look. There is a kind of dreamy, atmospheric quality to it—would that be considered aesthetic? And the fact that you paired it with Vaporwave audio makes the whole experience even better. The music matches the mood perfectly, creating this cool blend of nostalgia and calm. Such a wonderful combination!
Hi Kayla, I loved your combination! I agree with Savannahh that it reminded me of Stranger Things, haha. I love how cool and funky the image is, and the sound only enhances that further. I also like that you included a link with more information on Vaporwave. I wonder if you could have also included the website as a hyperlink with the word “vaporware” in your first paragraph. That way, the website isn’t read aloud. I think having it as a reference was helpful as well, though!