User:Emiilypham/sandbox

In 1735, German philosopher Alex Baumgarten derived the term "aesthetics" from the Greek word "aisthetike", establishing it as a field of study. Traditionally defined as "the science of how things are known via the senses", the term "aesthetic" has evolved to reflect current trends in digital communication and multimedia art. Many Internet aesthetics have been credited with originating on Tumblr, including Dark academia, Cottagecore, Art Hoe, Coquette/Nymphet, and Weirdcore. With the influence of new social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, however, internet aesthetics are being dominated by micro-trends such as Mob Wife and Tomato Girl Summer.

The surrounding subculture is sometimes associated with an ambiguous or satirical take on consumer capitalism and pop culture. Influential artists such as Daniel Lopatin and James Ferraro critique consumerism but in a less traditional sense, focusing more on abstract aspects of emotions and psychological beings. These subcultures tend to be characterized by a nostalgic or surrealist engagement with the popular entertainment, technology and advertising of previous decades.

Popularized in 2022 on TikTok, Clean Girl aesthetic is “[I] just got out of the shower, and I’m effortlessly gorgeous”. According to Bustle, it is "about oversized, sporty basics", and consists of items such as "simple crop tops, loose-fit, high-rise denim, dainty gold jewelry, matching athleisure sets (probably from Aritzia), and the latest Nike drop". Clean Girl takes on a minimalist approach to wardrobe, makeup, and essentially, routine. According to Refinery29, the aesthetic "is basically just minimalist makeup" and "significantly low effort", citing that as the reason for its popularity. Influencers such as Hailey Bieber and Bella Hadid have mastered the Clean Girl aesthetic, contributing to the rise of slicked-back buns, chunky gold hoops, and skin-like makeup.