You’re In the Right Place
Swampcore, goblincore, crowcore and cottagecore aesthetic appreciation…
Imagine with me if you will, a cabin in the woods.
You walk out to the back yard, breathing in the crisp mountain air. You can smell the dampness from the dew undisturbed on the garden. Tossing down a thrifted granny square cushion on a wrought iron chair to enjoy your morning beverage, you sit down, cozy in your oversized sweater. As you follow the ivy down the side of the house, you notice a frog hopping over the cobblestone patio. A crow caws excitedly to his friends overhead. Pulling out a book, you begin your day reading to better understand the world of mushrooms…
Is this your kind of heaven? If it is, you’re in the right place. I’m obsessed with it! This aesthetic and vibe is now also a popular clothing and décor style that goes by a combination of several names.
Swampcore, goblincore, crowcore and even Vulture Culture are aesthetics based on the appreciation of aspects of nature not typically seen as beautiful . The “ugly'“ things. Frogs, moss, mushrooms, beetles and snails, dirt and bones, even rusty junk- the exact things I LOVE to paint, photograph and surround myself with.
I’ll be referring to my favorite aesthetic mostly as Swampcore because the name goblincore has some negative connotations (anti-Semitism, Jews being depicted as goblins in literature goes way back) and I am not educated enough on the matter to defend using a term that may or may not offend people. Having said that, the core belief system of goblincore is a community of beautiful sentiments I can get behind. The most important of those things being the acceptance of gender fluidity and sexual orientation. All are welcome in goblincore and all are welcome here, in my community as well. Everyone gets to collect shiny trinkets to adorn your home and admire snails if they so wish.
If goblincore and swampcore are twins, then cottagecore would be their cousin.
Rooted in nature, but more about the “living off the land” aspect, cottagecore invites you to thrift or make your own clothes, ditch plastic for baskets and get crafty in your cozy home- also exactly what I LOVE to spend my time doing.
In my opinion, these aesthetics go hand in hand. All of them beg you to reconsider hustle culture and to stop the glorification of being busy. Appreciate the obviously beautiful flower, but look around and you’ll see so much more- exactly what I hope you LOVE about my art and my little slice of the internet.