The PROBLEM behind AESTHETIC CULTURE

We love aesthetics - but sometimes they love us a little too much. From Pinterest boards to TikTok trends, aesthetics have become more than just style inspiration. They shape how we see ourselves, how we present our identity, and what we feel pressured to become. In this video essay, I explore why aesthetics can make us feel inspired - and why they can also overwhelm us: how fashion aesthetics turn into identity shortcuts, how social media and algorithms influence self-expression, and where the line blurs between creativity, consumption, and self-optimization. This isn’t a “quit aesthetics” video. It’s about using them as tools instead of letting them define you - with space for experimentation, contradiction, and fun. If you’ve ever felt torn between self-expression and comparison, inspiration and overchoice, identity and performance - this one’s for you. 🖤 Let’s talk aesthetics, capitalism, femininity, creativity - and how to take the pressure out of it. 00:00 pick a personality! 01:49 overchoice paralysis 04:59 capitalism & pollution 07:25 history of aesthetics 09:21 clean girl criticism 10:18 positive aspects 13:01 tips & sustainability 13:44 style connects us! This video is created for entertainment purposes only. Any resemblance to real people is purely coincidental. All concepts and commentary are my own thoughts and ideas. Similarities to other creators' content are unintentional. (Especially in that case; the script was DONE, the video was FILMED, but when looking for supporting video material, I found a lot of content that had similar ideas and statements... I guess it's just a widely discussed topic! But I promise, I would never steal other's content! 🖤) All video clips and images included in this essay are used for commentary, analysis, and educational discussion. In accordance with German citation law (Zitatrecht, § 51 UrhG), only the amount of material necessary to support my commentary has been used. All rights to the images, music, clips, and other materials used belong to their respective owners #aesthetics #videoessay #popculture #fashionanalysis #pinterestaesthetic