why is cottagecore so gay?

a video essay about cottagecore, why the sapphic/wlw/lesbian/queer community is so into it, and a lot more besides! we cover post-colonialism, tradwives, covid-19, sourdough, and animal crossing...
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[@jamesoconnor5800]

As a gay man who grew up in rural Ireland, I really feel the need to de-bigot my cottagecore childhood. Since leaving home I got some houseplants, covered my walls in flower paintings and filled my life with poetry. Even though I'm now locked down in an urban setting, it feels like I'm reclaiming (at least a little bit) the idyllic childhood that I could've had if I hadn't felt so ostracised. Love this video and your others, the flower crown is an amazing extra touch

[@emmettyoung7603]

That’s kinda the same for me, but North America, I felt ostracized for being bi and found a great peace in the woods without people, i was lucky and unlucky growing up on a farm having nature and animals to hang around with

[@violentbadger6401]

Fellow rural Irish gay here, thank you for summing this up so well!!

[@srcondisisme3635]

Omg rural Ireland gays rise up

[@colonelweird]

I lived in Dublin for a few years, but when I moved to Ireland I at first had hopes of living in a small village or a rural setting. But I had little money and it became apparent quite quickly that being poor in a rural setting could easily become very grim indeed. I still wish it had been possible though.

[@mslightbulb]

I have an extreme phobia of insects and spiders. So sadly no thank you. But I hope you all have a great life caring for plants and reading poetry.

[@lydiajude8017]

The "nostalgia" element of cottagecore definitely relates to the anti-capitalist reading. Personally, part of the appeal of cottagecore to me is thinking back to my childhood when I had the free time to do things like exploring in the woods and reading novels all day long. The productivity-driven capitalist society robs many people of the "free time" to do these activities. // I should clarify that a person's having nostalgia for the time to do these activities does not mean that that person is anti-capitalist or even is aware of the possible anti-capitalist connotations.

[@SachaRommane]

Have a look at Mark Fisher talking about Hauntology, summarises that pretty well x

[@brynjames3779]

@@universal_hyssoap yeah I hate when neo-nazis sneak into our community. They're typically more in the #tradwife tag, but we gotta watch out for them still

[@brynjames3779]

Hell yeah anti-capitalist cottagecore!! Our cottagecore communities would be based off mutual aid and plenty of free time

[@johannageisel5390]

@@brynjames3779 Sign me up, please! (I hope, straight people can also participate?) However: Growing your own food takes a lot of time, I can tell you! (I'm just sitting here eating my own green beans and potatoes and I know how much work went into them. ^ ^)

[@brynjames3779]

@@johannageisel5390 absolutely straight people can join in, as long as they are allies! My partner and I are straight passing so we find it a bit annoying when we see really exclusionary stuff in the tags. Yeah, it does sound hard, but I'd rather do manual labour growing food for me and my loved ones than being stuck in an office 9 to 5

[@arlet101]

Straight black woman here. Cottagecore is less about escape for me and more about enjoying the little simple things in life. Loving and appreciating the work you do with your own hands.

[@imsojulia-b9k]

I feel the same way ヾ(❀╹◡╹)ﾉﾞ

[@spriddlez]

I can see how this gives a sense of agency in a world where many of us feel that our agency is taken from us by capitalism, bigotry and well, global pandemics. The ability to create something gives us some level of control over our life and environment. Just noodling here on my own experience (but sparked by your comment).

[@laaiqaa6335]

OMG YESSS literally it’s more about appreciating and loving the little things

[@KamBB-gu3pv]

Bi black woman here, and same

[@1021Marcy]

Yes I agree. I'm a minimalist but have gotten into cottagecore within the last year. I think as black women society says we have to be exceptional to be worthy but finding the beauty in the simplicity has saved me. I feel more comfortable

[@magpiem0th]

Anyone who watched Studio Ghibli as a child is now cottagecore and you can't deny it

[@scofieldvictoria]

I have almost every Ghibli movie and can confirm this

[@petrichorbones]

or read Anne of Green Gables obsessively (or both lmao)

[@forg7611]

can undoubtedly confirm

[@magpiem0th]

@@forg7611 nice homestuck pfp

[@alienindisguise5546]

I'm 19 and I still watch it wishing to live in the Ghibli-verse

[@nstewart1623]

I know Rowan says it's a very feminine thing, but I turned my cottagecore dreams into me constantly wearing overalls and Wellies while taking care of the chickens and the constant presence of dirt on calloused hands and knees from weeding the garden. There are some very traditionally masculine aspects to cottagecore which also appeals to wlw, because of the freedom to escape the pressure of heterosexual, pressurized idealism many of them grew up with.

[@TheTwigCrackedAnd]

yeah, as a trans masc person i was imagining myself into more of those outfits! i think there is space for a masculinity that isn’t corporate or power based but is about the land, comfort, doing and being.

[@nstewart1623]

I'm also transmasc, my name's Nick, nice to meet you. :) I wholeheartedly agree with you, there's such an enticing warmth and lack of expectations that trans people can find in cottagecore.

[@TheTwigCrackedAnd]

N Stewart hi Nick! I’m Sol :) you described it so well above... also i find it hilarious that the n1 outfit that came to mind for me was also overalls!! i didn’t actually know cottagecore before this video and after i was like... hm i’d follow some trans ppl doing it? but couldn’t find any! what i’d really love is like a novel/film/graphic novel that’s like trans cottagecore 🤩

[@nstewart1623]

I'm a writer I'll have to write that for the both of us! But also I do run an academia blog that is slowly devolving into cottagecore, if you wanna hit it up at collegiatecoping. :)

[@sinsofthefather]

ive found my people edit: thank you sm

[@itsavonell]

ok but a cottage core lesbian + dark academia bisexual movie where they solve crimes AND do magic AND be gay sounds like a hit to me

[@johanna7254]

AGREED i would watching the heck out of this

[@darcycrossingbooks]

This is the movie we deserve

[@annah7648]

@avernotown on Instagram are making a musical with similar vibes! It’s called Bittersummer, I think. I’d definitely check it out!

[@naziamajid1772]

Sounds like a hit to me I'd read or watch it !!🍀

[@eueueqi]

uM that would be literally heaven, please gimme it 😩😩

[@mgroesbeck4503]

Give me techno-cottagecore: a nice little cabin in the woods with a fiber-speed internet connection, smart speakers playing relaxing music, and an Arduino project taking care of the watering of my herb garden. Nice for a vacation, at least.

[@Lenna27boef]

Ah, you describe my solar-punk dream well.

[@ceruleanhearts7604]

this is the biggest mood

[@unity6926]

nah thats straight as fuck

[@TheMaskedArcanum]

@@Lenna27boef I really hope solarpunk gets more popular and rides on the back of cottagecore being popular. It's so cool!

[@omk573]

@@Lenna27boef i didn't know what solar punk is till today, thank you, i can only hope that society will be able to become advanced enough to make that dream a reality in the future (ah i wasn't even that far in the video lol)

[@hollyrose9336]

We just wanna live a nice, stable, sustainable life full of quaint times. We wanna be away from judgement. We want to be happy. I’m disabled, and I really wish I could live a nice life that involves being outside, crafting, gardening, and so much more. I wish I could own a home. It’s wish fulfillment for late Capitalism

[@amberrichards2778]

Also disabled. Also disappointed. Hang in there, friend.

[@marlowmorbid8531]

even owning a home is a fabricated dream of capitalist ideology. i like to idealize living in harmony with the land and sharing spaces with the community, rather than owning a secluded spot sequestered and isolated from the rest of society.

[@pollyflores418]

Disabled Cottagecore here too!! Thank you for commenting this, I hope you’re doing great

[@hollyrose9336]

By “owning a home” I mostly mean I don’t want to pay rent, lol.

[@TheGrinningViking]

Same and same. But I might get a table saw and a wood paner some day. Then I will be able to build anything. (Theoretically)

[@lcomposemusic]

I think people really love cottagecore because it’s almost the “counter Internet” and instant gratification/fast paced lifestyle. Everyone needs a bit of a break from it all. That basket weaving tik tok clip makes me want to learn how to make one

[@maiagenisio1979]

Definitely!!

[@kst8688]

Cottagecore is such an idealised version of nature, living in the woods and living off the land is way more difficult and no where near as innocent as shown... As someone whose lived in the countryside and in a ‘cottagecore’ way, (making stuff, having chickens and growing my own stuff) it’s a lot more difficult and you often find yourself in difficult situations, such as a fox is killing your chickens... you find yourself dealing with death more often than not... I absolutely love moving back to nature, but the way it’s portrayed in cottagecore is not accurate at all lol... of course cottagecore is just an aesthetic lol

[@sxmplyblossom8048]

same!!

[@lilly7201]

May I ask you something? I have dreamt a lot about harvesting by myself in the future, growing my own vegetables and fruits and stuff, and then cottagecore appeared and is now really inspiring me to live this kind of life. However, I have no idea how I could do it. So... How many ppl are actually needed to take care of a cottage? Is it doable for maybe 2-3 people, like a family?

[@Sincerely.Nature]

Droughts also suck.

[@haleymist09]

I couldn't even handle my basil plant bought from the store wilting. That's when I knew farming wasn't for me and I should be a proud supporter of farmers LOL

[@Sincerely.Nature]

I know that I'd never be able to deal with the bugs. lol

[@anniecoxdraws]

Here to watch as fast as I'm ready to come out and U Haul into an adorable log cabin.

[@steph123luv123]

That's called wagoning

[@BrendaRodriguez-bq1yh]

Let's do it!

[@aryakodisono9026]

This reminds me of kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3e8lmeBYr16Z68

[@kamishy_Art]

U haul your gf and move to a cabin in the woods and adopt 3 dogs and 2 cats ✨

[@maeraich5423]

I think the good thing about cottagecore is that we are all visualising it with such specific details, that we almost manifest it into our lives. For most of us, it's not possible to live in an old cottage in the English countryside, but by imagining it, it somehow becomes slightly more real. One of my favourite quotes of all time is "true self care is building a life we don't feel the need to constantly escape from" so even though cottagecore is inherently escapist, it's a lifestyle we potentially want to have at some point in the future. (Sorry if that didn't make any sense lol)

[@ritamarujo9536]

So true!

[@Call-me-Al]

You can bring a lot of elements of it into modern flats, however. There are faux wood/brick 3D wall paper panels/wallpaper coverings. If you can't buy wooden furniture you can paint what you have in faux wood grain or get vinyl wraps for them. You can knit/crochet/etc or buy such items second hand or via stay for covering your chairs and walls, and so on. :)

[@twinkiesmaster69]

"If you believe in it hard enough, it becomes slightly less fake" -Homestuck

[@aryakodisono9026]

This reminds me of kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3e8lmeBYr16Z68

[@soodonim6109]

No that made absolute sense, it's a work in progress and we slowly bring our real lives closer to our aspirations.

[@livsigg]

Let's be honest, the original cottagecore lesbians are Liana and Alexa from Barbie & The Diamond Castle

[@stalememes3574]

*just gals being pals*

[@nikvlai9730]

oh my god yes

[@justcallmeteacup4711]

I see no lie

[@ace-is-trying8977]

Yes they even sold flowers

[@nebula1oftheseven488]

Yess! Exactly!

[@rohmahassan3014]

I took a buzzfeed quiz a while back that said my aesthetic was cottage core, and I felt connected to it for a different reason. I've lived in a foresty area my whole life surrounded by deer and foxes, and I can't imagine a life without them But on a deeper level, my family is from Pakistan. A lot of the aspects I found associated with cottagecore reminded me of what my mother tells me about her childhood. Bread making (roti in her case), and girls putting small flowers in their braids. Those stories made me interested in bread making and putting flowers in my hair. Not to mention people cite pride and prejudice and Anne of green gables as cottagecore inspo. When I read those books I connected with them because of my pakistani heritage. I guess what I'm trying to get at is cottagecore is an aesthetic that anyone can enjoy and should enjoy, especially if it's capable of bringing them so much joy.

[@haleymist09]

That's beautiful! The joys of growing up. Thanks for sharing!

[@cosmic_seabunny]

Ah yes, the sexualities of lifestyles: -Lesbian CottageCore -Bisexual DarkAcademia -Pansexual Witch work - Gay CoffeeShop And -Asexual CabinCore (The last one is my idea..)

[@em.the.awful.waffle]

So what does cabin core entail

[@cosmic_seabunny]

@@em.the.awful.waffle -Campfires -dark forest green -Pine trees -Nightshade berries (XD) -Deep dark forests -mountains -hills and waterfalls -Foxes, deer’s, raccoons and other woodland creatures. -Applewood smoked anything! -Camping Low key serial killer vibes too XD

[@em.the.awful.waffle]

@@cosmic_seabunny awesommmmme

[@rageagainstthemicrowave1313]

why do I always find the bi stereotypes to be weirdly true for me? I had a huge love of literature and things like Latin (so sort of Dark Acedemia) years before I found out I was bi. lol.

[@sodapap4128]

Holy, I didn't know about cabincore and all that stuff that was mentioned so far in the replies/comments appeals to me a lot, even more so than cottagecore, and...it's also an odd coincidence that I'm not exactly interested in relationships..😳

[@shockingheaven]

When I think of cottagecore, I often picture a Ghibli film

[@rileypierce6570]

Omg I thought I was the only one! I feel like growing up watching those films is probably the reason that I love cottagecore and the fact that I grew up collecting antiques. It just feels like you can go back in time and it’s just so calming and beautiful!

[@smcphee8499]

Howls moving castle

[@princesspeach7936]

@@smcphee8499 and when marnie was their

[@ubixl]

I just wanna live in a studio ghibli movie, why is that so hard?

[@magpiem0th]

I wanna be in the world of kiki's delivery service 😌

[@UrbanRapier8310]

@@magpiem0th I want to live in the world of the cat returns

[@lxlamayw]

Lillie Lloyd i want to live in the world of my neighbour totoro

[@UrbanRapier8310]

@@lxlamayw respect

[@angeylikesicecream]

I’ve always loved the atmosphere of Spirited Away. Idk something about spirits and ancient Japan makes me feel so euphoric.

[@__-sp1ly]

Recently in my life: I've finally admitted to myself I'm gay and come out of closet after 30 years. Wow I feel so energized and finally want to act on my deep love of cottage core. Rowan Video: Why cottage core is gay. Me: .....yea this track's.

[@thefunnyman8073]

After 30 years? That is incredible. You are so brave to have done that, and I am glad that you found an aesthetic/community that you love!

[@kbsongy]

Well done and welcome! 💕💕💕

[@randomperson3051]

Congrats for finding youself! 💝

[@aryakodisono9026]

This reminds me of kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3e8lmeBYr16Z68

[@systeminreview8181]

Good for you !! 🎉🎉🎊🎊

[@atopodentatus]

Cottage core is fun unless you live in a tropical area. The “walking in the woods” becomes getting your hair stuck in a branch on the dense rainforest while you escape from a snake in the middle of a thunderstorm. The mountainous land doesn’t help either

[@fernandalbauer]

HELL YEAH

[@spacewolfcub]

So... more of a jungle treehouse vibe?

[@natigalilel1135]

I live in a tropic coast area too I call it cottegecore- sea side edition!

[@sen7055]

Or in most woods during summer when hoards of mosquitoes hunt you down like rabid dogs.

[@joshtrue6521]

@@sen7055 I'm more worried about ticks

[@seitanicmechaincmama8948]

In the 2000s we called it “shabby chic”. My mom’s best friend had a gorgeous little cottage, with ALL the “trimmings”.

[@HosCreates]

I think cottage core evolved from looking "shabby " and took it to more polished look

[@charlierohkohl5182]

Shabby chic was never a proper name for this aesthetic. We were never shabby. And our clothes didnt reflect any shabbiness either

[@ggoodd32503]

Most cottagecore people don't actually own or live in a cottage and their outfits don't reflect cottages

[@heatherellis3471]

My mom has a scrap book of "farmhouse" style magazine pictures she made in the 80s that is exactly cottagecore, these kind of aesthetics have been around a long time and keep coming in and out of fashion :)

[@aliceincottagecore2917]

I consider them two different things. They are similar in a few ways though. Shabby chic is definitely far more feminine/girly, whereas there are a few different versions of cottagecore, some are soft while others are woodsy. Shabby chic also gives southern vibes while cottagecore is more whismical and countryside. That's just my opinion though. I love most cottagecore things but am picky when it comes to shabby chic just because I don't prefer things that girly. Also cottagecore is a lifestyle, among other things. Shabby chic refers more to styles of homes and decor.

[@sweetsadsiren5569]

I remember like literally yesterday being like: "I want to live in a cottage in the woods with my butch wife! I want a rabbit! I want a small garden and a kitchen with herbs hanging over the sink! I want to our cottage to be near a small village where we own a bakery and my wife chops wood and helps me bake!" Except say all of that with a John Mulaney accent.

[@AmandaDavis6130]

TheToxicTrio This is the height of luxury!

[@sweetsadsiren5569]

@@AmandaDavis6130 EXACTLY Also John Mulaney is good content for the gays tm

[@sweetsadsiren5569]

@I O :O

[@nunyabidnis3815]

Yes! I'd love to have angoras, to make yarn from brushing them every day. I hope you and yours get this life some day.

[@sweetsadsiren5569]

​ @Nunya Bidnis I know I can't properly express how I look when I searched angoras rabbit but I probably look like the girl from the me explaining meme. Like I'm devastated I didn't hear about this sooner but like also r a b b i t and I cannot express enough how soft and cute brushing them and making yarn from their fur is. Like I'm actually shook oh my gods just thank you. I just appreciate you immensely.

[@Paintergrl1313]

When you realize you’re part of a community you didn’t know existed.

[@nininoona]

My thoughts exactly. I live in the rural south (US), my home is decorated in the same aesthetic. I cook from scratch, grow my own food, sew, craft, forage, have a few animals, and live as close to nature as I can. It is a common occurrence to find rabbits/deer in my clover/blackberry patch, like daily. Often times I'll be standing at my kitchen sink, "washing " dishes when I'm really watching the bunnies playing in the grass in my back yard.

[@jalix9574]

Nini L You’re an icon

[@gabumonboys]

Ikr, I have plants in front of my window, green walls with brown accents, open curtains to let in the natural light, hanging staghorn ferns, arts and crafts scattered on my furniture.

[@tomo4977]

@@nininoona I've grown up on a Yorkshire farm, often got bullied in schools for that rural side (plus being Neurodiverse and LGBTQ), it was incredibly freeing discovering a community that loves what I love, for a while in my life I literally thought I was alone in my situation and lifestyle compared to others my age hah

[@nininoona]

@@tomo4977 Well, you're definitely not alone, deary.

[@LivingEncyclopedia]

Can we please make a self-sufficient cottage-core lesbian community? We can built a whole town

[@devkergirl2025]

god yes! sapphic commune bb

[@kbsongy]

As lovely as this idea is, the reality of the drama in offline lesbian communities has me noping out of this before it's even started

[@shysensei2348]

I'm not a lesbian but I'd love to be a part of this community and help spread love and positivity.

[@valerie3303]

As long as I'm welcome as a bisexual lady I'm down!

[@devkergirl2025]

@@valerie3303 all w/w welcome babe

[@sophiefan2051]

Li Ziqi is a Chinese youtuber who has this lifestyle, but Chinese. She makes traditional Chinese foods and makes traditional Chinese arts. Chinese cottagecore is pretty sweet too.

[@fbyi2940]

That's fake

[@heatherlee2967]

+++++

[@heatherlee2967]

I thought of Li Ziqi as well!

[@krystalleigh144]

And she doesn’t make it about sex either which is refreshing with today’s obsession with making everything about sex and sexuality.

[@joannelee8735]

+++

[@froggers803]

Reasons why all the cottagecore lesbians should move to Ireland: * Tons of plant life and beautiful scenery. The forests are full of flowers and trails * The fresh food from our farms are delicious and perfect for baking * When it’s not pouring rain, it’s really pretty outside. Picnics near the duck lakes are fun * When it is pouring rain, you stay inside by the fire with tea * The folklore and fairies are so interesting, and you can see foxglove everywhere * S n a i l s * There are no lesbians in small towns and I want a gf ;(

[@lxlamayw]

That One Femme same with southern england 🤍

[@The_Saintess]

Ahh I always wanted to go to Ireland. It's just so pretty and mythical. (At least in my opinion) :)

[@scofieldvictoria]

Don’t forget the wool sweaters and shawls! My sister went to Ireland and brought me a grey shawl with black Celtic knots. Too bad she didn’t visit Castle Ffrench in Galway (it was our family’s)

[@gittevandevelde2208]

I actually want to go to ireland lol. And I'd pass as a local anyway

[@minniefromm6628]

i’ve wanted to move to ireland for _years_ (before I even knew the word cottagecore but I was still pretty cottagecore). I’ve always loved the folklore and mythology, music, etc. like i’ve literally looked at houses even though if I could EVER move there it’d be in years

[@slyfox0086]

Lesbianism has never been so cozy. Seriously my wife and I can always trust our fellow gays will tell us about their succulents :D

[@rosalind6461]

I love this comment so much

[@TheGrinningViking]

Ever since COVID the Lowe's has been entirely out of cute pots! My poor succulents are so over crowded in their tiny cute pots. I know how they feel.

[@eddie9420]

@@TheGrinningViking try using recycled jars.

[@embop1266]

i cant wait:))

[@zsofiaszobonya8571]

This comment fills me with so much hope

[@gretanicolosi5283]

Cottagecore started to be gay when Leslie Feinberg wrote: "The sky was crayon blue. I pretended I was lying on the white cotton clouds. The earth was damp against my back. The sun was hot, the breeze was cool. I felt happy. Nature held me close and seemed to find no fault with me."

[@mar-rv2qb]

god you're RIGHT!! i think about that quote all the time

[@zsofiaszobonya8571]

I've never read that quote before and I think I became just a bit more at peace with myself just from reading it twice. Thanks for sharing it!

[@burnedcalculat0r566]

Zsófia Szobonya yeah me too

[@CeliaIsASeal]

Where did zie write that? Was it stone butch blues or smth else? Could II get a link pls? :)

[@gretanicolosi5283]

@@CeliaIsASeal It's from Stone Butch Blues (page 12)! it's available online for free on hir website, at this link lesliefeinberg.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Stone-Butch-Blues-by-Leslie-Feinberg.pdf

[@Virginny]

Can cottage core be ace too? Lol. All I wanna do is live alone in the woods and adopt a child and water my vegetable garden and sew 14th century clothing.

[@Bucherviews]

I think so! This is me too :D

[@Robotneonunicorn]

Cores are just styles they aren’t linked to sexuality! I’m goblincore and straight.

[@Bucherviews]

@@Robotneonunicorn Agreed! But it is nice for it to act as an affirmation of your sexuality and the way you relate to the world too, exactly as the video describes (:

[@magpiem0th]

I am ace as well! Although I am homoromantic so I guess I qualify as the lesbian part also lol

[@samanthavanscoder9536]

your going to need at least 1 dog or cat to play with that kid

[@Cowgutz]

You seriously described this perfectly!!!! The whole “cottagecore shows that femininity can be powerful” is so true!!!

[@misamisaa4547]

Personally I see it as a way to say "being a girly/feminine girl is ok and it doesn't automatically make you the cis straight heteronormative stereotype" - kinda like liking movies where main protagonist is a very feminine woman who wears skirts & dresses & likes girly things (think Barbie and the pink shoes or 12 dancing princesses) opposed to movies where main girl always wears baggy jeans, never wears pink & has messy hair (but is still pretty) while her rival/the evil girl is always dressed up and only cares about make up & clothes (pretty much every movie I remember watching in my childhood)

[@kiczcock]

As an asexual, I love cottagecore partly because of how desexualized it is.

[@stavroulathebest]

I have a kinda low libido and i love it exactly for that reason.I just imagine very cute cosy things and sex is not one of the first things i think of in this concept

[@henlex6424]

yessssssss

[@つき-m6b]

Could not agree more

[@jasminnyack1724]

I love this too. It's not about being a sexy thing within an ambience while allowing me to enjoy my time in it.

[@brandielee7971]

Same. I add a bit of goth aesthetic with it and I'm good

[@rosemarymcbride3419]

I’m very glad you included a critique of cottage core in relation to settler colonialism. If you’re into cottage core and want to be anti-racist and pro indigenous sovereignty research “land-back” initiatives in your area

[@polkadotsocksable]

Yes yes yes!!

[@acaciaj5378]

totally! cottagecore, in my eyes, is about respecting the land and what it gives us. i myself am not Native but i think that Native philosophies re: their land is central to cottagecore

[@samlerman-hahn2674]

I'd also like to see some further discussion of cottagecore within an urban environment. Although it is at its core an aesthetic, I fear that it could be coopted to manufacture consent for a new wave of urban sprawl/suburbanisation in the global north, as was one of its precursors, the Arts and Crafts/Craftsman aesthetic movement in the early 20th century. This obviously resulted in the further privatisation and degradation of rural space, as well as greater carbon emissions per capita, not to mention the obvious colonial impacts in North America, Australia, and Aotearoa. Good can come out of cottagecore, but it could also be weaponised to promote discredited and destructive development practises.

[@ngairepakai8308]

Though it was somewhat brief, it means the world to me as an Indigenous Australian, that Indigenous philosophies, practices and knowledge is reintroduced in many ways and implemented even by everyday people. Cottage core sometimes idealizes old euro-centric ways of living, which is not intended I'm sure, but frames it in a revisionist version of history where it excludes who's land it is, how it was attained and effects that would have on Indigenous peoples

[@MythicalHex]

I don't know about other places in the world but in New Zealand there are some sites where you can search an address, such as a house that's for sale you might be looking into, and there's information about the property including if it's on maori land or not.

[@randoml97]

Today I found my aesthetic. No no not cottage core, Dark Academia bisexual.

[@TheEpicukulele]

What a mood lol

[@syclarke-chan505]

It's too warm where I live to be a dark academia bisexual and it's so tragic.

[@dragoniraflameblade]

Same, but I'd love a vintage twist, haha.

[@Magali_theRecordKeeper]

Same.

[@nikvlai9730]

i’m a mix lmao

[@Len..K]

"Maybe they just- be gay-" For some reason that sentence sums up my entire life

[@jellyedits67]

I couldn't agree more

[@cherrybomb2864]

Agreed :]

[@CherryColaOnIce]

To me, as a straight woman, personally think it's that sense of escapism that I like. I struggle a lot with anxiety and PTSD, so the idea of a cottage tucked away in a forest, with my milk cow and goats all by myself is delightful. I've just now have gotten into cottagecore and I have unfortunately met some very toxic straight people within the community. I just want everyone to know that we're not all like that and I would love to come over once a week and bake with you and your significant other 🥰

[@annedavis3340]

Welcome :) PTSD is super rough. I hope you find places you feel safe.

[@pizzalisp5427]

Thank you so much for writing this. I'm a bisexual woman who leans towards men, and I rarely feel welcome in the community. It's good to see a straight woman letting it be known you're not all bad. I will forever support straight people who engage in online communities without being toxic

[@petrichorbones]

i felt similar bc i'm homoromantic ace. i remember when i was younger and exploring my identity as ace i was subjected to a ton of hate from both lgbt and other straight ppl. but for me, as an ace, it's so desexualized that it feels like a place where I am not expected to overperform any kind of sexuality and can be alongside others who prioritize things like community and friendship instead. i also just really love nature and being in nature and currently live in a very drab urban place :( so i dream in cottagecore hehe

[@bloompretty7576]

@@pizzalisp5427 I don't know if this would help but there are plenty of Christian, Straight, Conservative, etc groups and KZbinrs that are Cottagecore. One really great one is "GirlInCalico" she like takes the cottagecore/farmcore aesthetic and adds a slow living and religious element to it (the religious parts are cringey but the rest is great). Other straight/potentially bi cottagecore youtuber would be The Cottage Fairy and also Fairyland Cottage. Cottagecore was inspired by like prairie/Amish groups so it makes sense that there are a lot of non LGBTQ Cottagecore content creators too.

[@pizzalisp5427]

@@bloompretty7576 thanks pal :)

[@apollosartz4487]

It’s not a coincidence that every lesbian has an inner arm tattoo of herbs

[@sp4c1ng_0ut8]

Janus!

[@nat_fletxher]

I was about to mentally argue with this until I looked down and saw my inner arm tattoo of a blackberry branch and accepted my fate

[@mariafausti3128]

@@nat_fletxher HAHA

[@aryakodisono9026]

This reminds me of kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3e8lmeBYr16Z68

[@heyitsella117]

What about lesbians who are so damn afraid of needles 💀

[@RedDiamond002]

My little Welsh heart was so happy when you mentioned hiraeth! Welsh people, culture and ideals tend to get forgotten or straight up ignored in discussions like this even though, in my opinion, it can provide an interesting/new insight into the topic of discussion and also into Welsh culture as well

[@TheGoldenDuckie111]

Me too! I literally jumped when she said hiraeth and started describing it. Wales, the Welsh language and Welsh culture is so ignored it was such a shock to just come across it being discussed without deliberately seeking it out.

[@ana_d_73]

It's such a beautiful descriptive word!

[@pellaw8011]

Lesbiaid Cymreig yn uno! ♥️

[@ladyredl3210]

One of my good friends is Welsh, and honestly if I could afford it I'd move

[@aryakodisono9026]

This reminds me of kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3e8lmeBYr16Z68

[@ellemarland3879]

I'm very disappointed that your list of examples of cottagecore didn't include Miss Honey from Matilda.

[@amaddicted1234]

Nor did they mention Barbie Diamond Castle!

[@oliviadorrance870]

I did see a screen cap of her!

[@shimmeringrainn2593]

She was the person that made me want to live in nature when I was younger.

[@a-bird-lover]

oh my goddd I think I had a crush on her as a kid, jesus

[@aryakodisono9026]

This reminds me of kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3e8lmeBYr16Z68

[@RiceLilyMeadows]

You ought to look into the Solarpunk aesthetic. It's my favorite aesthetic community I found on tumblr and it highly emphasizes the sustainability through solar/green technology. Art Nouveau architectures and styles; stain glass, craftsmanship, and what I like most of all is the inclusive and coexistence with the natural and modern worlds. As for the fashion aesthetics, it's pretty open to any and all cultural backgrounds. Anyone can interpret their vision of what solarpunk means to them. Vintage to futuristic, it's all fair game.

[@gittevandevelde2208]

I started looking up solarpunk due to the the mentions of it here in the comments, and....I LOVE IT. As a young adult with functioning brains I do somewhat care about sustainability, I always loved art nouveau architecture and bright green (aka...the color of plants) is one of my favourite colors lol.

[@ke4496]

I'm so glad you mentioned the colonial accepts. As a indigenous person, I really just see cottage core as a romanticize version of the relationship that indigenous people have with the land from our traditions. I'd love to see a video on solar punk 🥺 because that's my shit right there

[@SpaceElf]

>Romanticized relationship with the land m8y everyone's got that. It's not an indigenous thing.

[@doing_aok]

“the idea is older than the internet itself” oh shit it’s just transcendentalism 2.0! thoreau and emerson would be proud

[@PanicattheDiscourse]

I was waiting for her to mention Walden at that point, yeah.

[@aryakodisono9026]

This reminds me of kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3e8lmeBYr16Z68

[@dtaliesin6638]

since I'm trans and grew up in the welsh countryside, my cottagecore aesthetic is sort of a reclamation of a childhood that i feel I never got to have. it lets me live the beauty and the innocence of those books and films and activities and that sort of environment as the person I truly am

[@brynjames3779]

Same here!

[@Wintermute01001]

Showerthought: Amish Romance is cottagecore for evangelical Christians

[@Wonderlandish]

You're the epitome of woke

[@penelopegreene]

That's a win.

[@misslyntheena]

Trueeee my mum always read these Amish stories to us lmao

[@thecatsmeow013]

🤯🥳

[@Devsterinator]

This right here.

[@fyroblox5059]

im not lesbian, but i wanna live like cottagecore near the forests and maybe even the sea, travel the world to all mother nature stuff, to see the northern lights, to connect to the universe, but i don't see a straight man wanting to do the same 😭 lol

[@greenergrass4060]

I hope Youll find your prince someday!

[@fyroblox5059]

@@greenergrass4060 Aww thank you!

[@chelseaxxx3277]

Its ok, i know quite a few straight men do like cottagecore, hope you meet one soon!

[@fyroblox5059]

@@chelseaxxx3277 Ah you're giving me hope! Aha its been 5 months, and I don't think I'm ready to label myself but I think I may be bisexual or into women lol

[@x6621]

@@fyroblox5059 I’m a straight male that likes cottagecore 😅 We are rare to find but you will find them hidden somewhere 🤣 Many males pretend they don’t like it but in reality, we kind of do 😼

[@mollyshadows9726]

Straight white autistic woman here. For me cottagecore is all about just being my self without being judge or mocked by people. It’s also so much less stressful then other fashion communities I’ve joined. Cottagecore is so welcoming to everyone and of all styles of clothing. I don’t feel I have to complete change my life and wardrobe just to fit in. Cottagecore is there when you need it but only when you need it. It doesn’t have to be a 24/7 thing unless you want it too. It’s also helped me discover my love for hand embroidery and baking. Things I hadn’t really looked into until the lockdown hit. Cottagecore has let me slow things down and discover new things about myself. It’s been super freeing and relaxing to find a group of welcoming people who share my interest without being Condescending or judgmental because I’m not doing something ‘right’. Because as you said cottagecore is whatever we want it to be, there’s no real wrong way to do it.

[@HeyRowanEllis]

points for spotting the two silence portions of this video where i had to remove the sound for copyright reasons! 🙃

[@scofieldvictoria]

I fiddled with my volume to make sure I hadn’t accidentally muted it then realized what was up

[@amandareynolds-gregg5962]

"Baking can be a tremedous form of stress relief" I can not relate to this at all. Any time I bake, I am stressed af.

[@heath6802]

*Flashbacks of making macarons*

[@aprillen]

LMAO

[@petrichorbones]

i can't bake or even keep a plant alive to save my life and it is my greatest sorrow in life

[@sirindacoolkid4938]

ESPECIALLY WHEN MY MOM IS BAKING WITH ME JDJDJWIEJDJ

[@acaciaj5378]

to me, cottagecore represents an escape from capitalism, as well as a respite from the sensory intensity of life. as an autistic person, i fantasize about being in flower fields or experiencing good textures like a warm blanket or cool grass. i can see the tradwife element but cottagecore isn't about being subservient (imo, at least.) anyone of any race, orientation, class, etc. can find happiness in cottagecore. it's as simple as baking a loaf of bread, or sitting outside and reading, or tending to a plant. it's freeing!

[@dongysakura418]

True. I've been cottagecore for years, before it was a trend. I was the weird sibling collecting roots, tree bark, leaves, drying flowers, consuming 8 cups of tea a day (lol), growing plants, and molding clay mushrooms lol.

[@mirsolis4992]

When I’ve looked into cottagecore it actually seemed remarkably devoid of men, I guess you need to follow certain people to get the tradwife elements.

[@magpiem0th]

@@mirsolis4992 yea I have seen very few cottagecore men

[@danycracks4490]

Yes I agree with you on the sensory intensity of life. The world can be too loud and annoying. In real life everyone says I move too slow. But I just like to take my time and enjoy the small details in life. That's why I enjoy cottagecore so much. No one is in a rush to do anything, there's nowhere to be and there no rules. Every one seems like they would be very warm and patient

[@danycracks4490]

@@dongysakura418 dude same, I didn't realize it had a name until this year. I never really collected anything, except nuts and berries. When I was little my family used to drive out to walking trails and I'd fill my pockets with food for the the squirrels back home as I walked. Other than that cottagecore for me is mostly in my clothes. And I agree with you on drinking tea. It's perfect for anytime of day or season 🍵

[@mellie5899]

I am a 60 year old straight woman, but have loved what is now being called "cottagecore" ever since I was old enough to speak. I begged my mother to teach me how to make a braided rag rug for my doll house when I was three years old. Fortunately, my mother also found more beauty in the past and decided when I was three that we would get rid of everything modern and therefore ugly and decorate our home entirely with antiques. Even my bedroom would only have child-size antique furniture. I loved it then and still have the same antique ice box, antique dresser and commode as well as the antique chamber pot (I put my pencils and pens in it), milk pail and old school desk (now used as a nightstand) that I had in my bedroom when I was 3 years old! I've always longed to take it further and wear only handsewn long dresses and handknit shawls, but haven't managed to realize that fantasy yet. Anyway, I inhabit the idealized country cottage in my mind where everything is made by hand and sleeves are always big and billowy and made of natural fibers and people are always polite and kind. It is in such stark contrast to this world of machines, technology, artificial everything and people gloating over how rude and offensive they can be.

[@sywitz]

This is extremely profound, and absolutely explains my affinity for cottagecore. Bravo! I can't help but think about the author of Frog and Toad sharing this sentiment!

[@JonahPleatherbooth]

Cottage Core Meets Solar Punk is a fantastic idea. The witch in me can't help but feel like the dystopias we've spent SO much of the last half century depicting are manifesting because of the intense focus that we've given them. Like with capitalist realism we've decided there is no other alternative than cyberpunk and in the process made it so. DREAM A BETTER WORLD INTO EXISTENCE =D

[@purpleghost106]

We absolutely must dream a better world into existence, Yes! That said, I don't think we "manifested" it, but humans do tend to follow a path of least resistance, and that includes by taking paths we've often already seen presented as an option. When you see something often enough you begin to think of how it might occur, but we can change what people day-dream of, instead of capitalist consumerist techno future, or (impossible and horrible) zombie apocalypses, and dystopia capitalist cyberpunk (I'll take widespread acceptance of prosthetics for disabled people though, thanks!), we should have way more SolarPunk Media! The future I want would has us living with more plants and green tech, there's no reason it can't be both! :)

[@teacooper6485]

Hey so is it cool if I nab that idea for a dnd game? Wind/solar punk is a favourite of mine but adding that cottage wholesome/witch style aesthetic would be super interesting for a less combat focused ttrpg game :)

[@JonahPleatherbooth]

@@teacooper6485 Go for it. Running gaslight fantasy/pulp setting myself right now

[@brandielee7971]

Oooo yes cottage core and solar punk would be the best retro futuristic marriage

[@aprillen]

I adore this marriage. Let's arrange it.

[@Lu-zp3kp]

As a person from a tropical region, I wonder what the tropical/rain forest variant of cottage core. I would really like that. Edit: (That is not beach centric) Like picking passion fruit and mangoes from your back yard and overlooking the rainforest.

[@PanicattheDiscourse]

The Robinson family?

[@sweetprimrose]

@@PanicattheDiscourse yesssssssssssss but with wifi

[@wreckitremy]

Forest core and ocean core are a thing. Basically pick a theme add core to it, and you will probably find something

[@sharoncox1734]

Maybe junglecore? Sorta Jane minus Tarzan. Or Katie Perry's song Roar. Or Club Tropicana?

[@RoxOn413]

Ooh it would be lovely!

[@pollyflores418]

I LOVE THIS VIDEO!!! I’ll tell you my Cottagecore experience as a Disabled, Neurdivergent, Mexican Lesbian! It’s long, sorry. I’ve been into Cottagecore for about two years now and was into Mori Kei before. I was born and raised and still live in Mexico City, a city where nature is reserved for the ultra rich, a status even I as a privileged, private schooled woman only have access to on special occasions. To me Cottagecore is escapism, although my career might take me to countries like Ireland at some point, I know idilic cottage life is not such a reality there either, not for everyone. In my escapism I get to live somewhere beautiful where the fact that I cannot work normal hours and need to lay down sometimes for days is not important, I get to get married and live quietly with a woman I love, I get to escape from a city where 7 women get murdered a day and the negative effect this has on my PTSD, which I suffer from BECAUSE I live in this city that is so woman UNfriendly. In my reality, I will keep fighting for the rights of indigenous people in my country and others, for the rights of other women, for the rights of afro descendant people in my country and others and for the environment itself, even though being disabled does hinder my ability to avoid fast fashion and single use plastic. I will also bake pies, embroider, grow plants and sing in the meantime 🌸🌿💕 P.S. To my fellow non-indigenous Cottagecore lovers (particularly Mexican) Indigenous Art, including textiles and painting, is for us to asite, support, and never steal, being Mexican is not a monolith and for example, Oaxacan textiles are not for us to steal and resell as our own just because we reside in their country and they fit our aesthetic.

[@BambiIves]

Love the P.S. you added! Stealing indigenous art isn't really talked about bc I feel a lot of people think them being mestizo and having some native in them that it's okay to do. But they grew up in the mestizo culture and know little about indigenous culture for them to be doing this.

[@yuuri9064]

Hi, this was an interesting perspective to read! (I didn't even know cottagecore was a thing until basically today.) I'm curious about what you mean by stealing art, if you would be willing to explain? Are you referring to cultural appropriation?

[@pollyflores418]

Mini Williams Yes, but not just to that, there is a tendency to go to markets and vendors in Mexico’s indigenous towns and territories to scope out art which is later remade (plagiarised) and resold for more money by non indigenous people

[@yuuri9064]

@@pollyflores418 Oh, that's pretty awful. Thanks for explaining!

[@shirugipan2112]

I feel like why cottagecore is so *gay* is because it feels free when you're in the woods doing nature things without the modern society bringing you down

[@melzjelli]

THANK 👏 YOU 👏 FOR 👏 CREDITING 👏 MORI 👏 i love seeing people loving this style ♡

[@mackenzief3764]

watching a rowan ellis video about gay cottagecore while I‘m stitching a bean bag frog for my girlfriend.... just need to grow some veggies now and I’ll be a living stereotype lol

[@goldenstar8406]

i was cross stitching some butterflies 😅

[@smell-of-rain-and-coffee4041]

I love the young generation. If I could tell my teenage self that one day, a young woman with a paper flower crown would drop an incredible thoughtful analysis of a wholesome internet subculture, mostly populated by LGBT+ people, and get thousands of likes... Keep it up kids. You're on to something there.

[@bonthebunnycat667]

This is so wholesome 💜

[@mslightbulb]

Don’t make me cry of wholesomeness, I’ve had an emotional day you great human.

[@RoxOn413]

:D

[@winglessfairy564]

I love you all. The wholesomeness is too much

[@theflutefreak]

your username is super cottagecore!

[@syclarke-chan505]

Look, I'm just a middle aged enby in a floral suit growing my own herbs and working out of an office I built on my balcony and decorated with vintage delft china. I have no idea where all y'all came from but OMG WELCOME!

[@ladyredl3210]

I don't know you but I love you.

[@fionariley739]

My lifestyle switched to cottagecore-hippie when I realized that modern life wasn’t contributing anything positive to my mental health. I’ve noticed a huge change in my depression and anxiety, and I appreciate so much of my world now.

[@Desaki65]

I've always loved the whole "living in a cottage and painting poorly" (poorly because me) and Woolf's "A Room of One's Own" vibe. So when I realized Cottagecore/Dark Cottagecore (Dusky Cottagecore?), I was all over it. 💗🖤💗

[@localtavernsluteplayer2182]

I was a huge fan of cottagecore back when it was only called morikei in japan, I'd be nice if there were more men that were also into the lifestyle cause what's better than one hermit in the forest? one hermit in the forest with his lumberjack aesthetic husband

[@spectacularbear]

Mori Girl and cottagecore have slightly different aesthetics (especially in dress) but as someone who hasn't stopped being a Mori Girl and is apparently "cottagecore" now... well, I'm glad it exists in the west now because people in japan stopped wearing it in like 2013. I have friends again lol

[@thegreatdream8427]

Yes bro I totally agree with you

[@ggoodd32503]

I do think Mori is a bit more browns and looks more like it's meant for little girls or dolls. While Cottagecore is a bit more white, peach, really light colors and a more airy and mature vibe. Cottagecore focuses on being self-sufficient and elegant, but Mori is a bit more on adventuring while being sweet and cute. It's like the vibe of Little Bear (the show) vs the vibe of The Secret Garden. That's just my take though.

[@Professor-Badger]

That's the dream bro, personally I love old stonework. Like the kind with moss and vines but it's still maintained to a degree.

[@vegetable_warmth]

You mean Snufkin and Moomintroll

[@mikeh5399]

Cottagecore seems to me what Mexi calls radical creativity. It's a way of imagining a utopia that on the one hand, is escapist and not entirely possible but on the other hand, might guide us towards real life, tangible goals. Like, it's not realistic to move to a cabin in the middle of no where and be totally self sufficient, but it is realistic to start cooking your meals and swing your clothes.

[@sarahziegler6394]

YES! More than aesthetic, this is the good life and practical skills to survive

[@frankiemia]

I had no idea what this was till I got called it yesterday by my friend. This was an education. Sitting in my William Morris bedroom listening to Vaughn Williams is apparently an aesthetic. Well I’m stumped.

[@danieldubinsky95]

I just wanted cottagecore and I immediately saw this. This is why I love this community, it’s literally giving me more than I could ask for. Thank you all for being here and making this possible: you are talented and beautiful and absolutely incredible. I love you, please tell someone else you love them today.

[@lordofspaghetti5454]

I had a discussion about this like 3 weeks ago: Ms. Honey from the movie matilda gives cottage core vibes,

[@onelius]

something awakened in me with the idea of blending solarpunk and cottagecore, the imagination

[@Ireallywouldrathernot]

It is kind of the age old gay dream, isn't it? Find the love of your life and escape with them to a cottage in the country. Then write long letters home about how happy you and your "friend" are.

[@nickirichards5617]

I’ve always liked the sort of cozy “grandma” vintage aesthetic, things to do with cottages and farm life. Old things in general. I think this is because some of the happiest times of my childhood would be spending March break with my grandma on her farm. She was past the point of having animals, but it was still the small and creaky farmhouse and all of the old furniture and books and baking and fields to explore. I was so happy when I found out that cottagecore existed, and I could once again immerse myself in this feeling of true solace that I haven’t had in a very long time (with my grandma’s passing and our selling of the farm almost ten years ago). It’s escapism and self-care at its finest 🥰

[@justsomenuts]

heyyyyyyyyyyyy

[@nickirichards5617]

thejoeface loool fancy seeing you here 😂👋🏻

[@gota7738]

I think it's the 'it's a fantasy' aproach that gets me on edge about cottagecore. A lot of the aspects that are perceived to be fantastical are part of a mundane reality for some of us, but if you bring it up in it gets turned against you as part of your 'otherness'. Even if participants do acknowledge there's more to rural life than just it's aesthetic, in my experience the erasure of social issues does still occur anyway. The other ych issue is when people really do treat the countryside as though it is uninhabited, and ignore or erase the local history and culture.

[@gota7738]

To be fair, I don't think this is exclusive to cottagecore but it's something that turns up in a lot of movements which reject industrialisation.

[@gota7738]

I was a bit unsure during this video, since a lot of the activities bought up as part of Cottagecore are just and always have been a part of my life and environment as a rural welsh gay person. It's the real world. I did think that bringing up Hiraeth in this conversation is interesting, because sometimes I think it's the above experiences that can cause the anxiety that is hiraeth.

[@oopsididitagain2674]

oh THAT'S why I've always been obsessed with Pooh

[@Arthur-yf9yv]

Now I have a word for my fantasies about inheriting my dad's rural wooden house and walking outside to see my husband wearing a baggy shirt and woollen vest chopping logs in the garden.

[@eeeloise]

For me as a lesbian who grew up feeling a little alienated from femininity as it was expected of me through patriarchy, cottagecore for me means reclaiming that femininity for myself - and dreaming of wearing flowy skirts and baking fresh bread for my gf

[@dyingdva8673]

random but a friend noticed cottagecore is more common with hijabies and I think the reason for that is because cottagecore has more modest clothing its harder to do some aesthetics ,,, I’m gonna use myself as an example but it’s harder to pull off a y2k / scene aesthetic with a hijab

[@imreallllyboreddd4607]

Yeh kinda. It’s easier to find modest and pretty clothing in cottage core

[@luciasoosova2182]

Arab cottagecore sounds intriguing

[@firefairy717]

This was so pleasant to listen to I decided to draw flowers in honor of the theme while watching... and filled a whole page. I haven't drawn in months, so thanks for the great video and inspiration!

[@r41777s]

“A dark academia bisexual” Heheheh

[@0ceanOfStorms]

i personally use cottagecore as a way to interract more with nature, in a sustainable way. And these interactions are a way for me to destress and find small moments of happiness in a stressful day. Like picking wildflowers, harvesting berries or other food from our garden or in the wild (note this is easier in norway as we have public access to nature)

[@marteulvedal9704]

Henry David Thoreau was the original cottagecore lesbian

[@supremeoverlord0]

Lmao he really was

[@Lexivor]

I was thinking the same thing! I also started playing a Walden Pond simulation video game just yesterday, it's pretty nice.

[@munchkinmeep]

I mean At least I do my own laundry (Thoreau brought his to his mother on a regular basis)

[@Crazyy4Clay]

Lin Grimm lmaoo i was literally about to comment this, thoreau was an “interesting” man.....

[@strega1380]

@@munchkinmeep Yeah, more like his mom was a cottagecore lesbian

[@stxrmyfluff9465]

if you want a story about a dark academia bisexual and a cottagecore lesbian doing magic then look no further than Clare Siobhan's mini magic series cuz it's exactly that c:

[@HellaBella]

I feel like I just took a very expensive college class in cottagecore. Thanks for putting this together. I've seen this movement so much lately and this video does a really great job of exploring the origins and lifestyle ideas. New subscriber!

[@BouncyAbigail]

Didn't realise I loved cottagecore until you explained what it was and I realised the minecraft world I was making at the very moment was cottage core, peaceful world, small house on top of a hill and the first thing I built after that was a flower shop...

[@NekoJesusPie]

I think one of the biggest aspects of cottagecore imo is that it’s performative. It exists through all of us owning and wearing and doing things of an inherently fantastical nature. It’s a fantasy, but you make it true, you see real people doing these things, there’s a big aspect of tangibility to it all. I feel this is part of why it appeals to leftists and the lgbt community, who can feel like what we hope for ourselves is a fantasy, like happiness and stability are a fantasy, like living with nature is a fantasy, or living the romantic lives of our childhood dreams are a fantasy. In this way, it’s less larping or escapism than it is the act of, metaphorically, pursuing and achieving the impossible.

[@shawneegeletka8657]

You hit the nail right on the head for me. I am a lesbian woman who grew up in a rural area where I experienced harassment because I was in a relationship with another girl. I didn't even realize the reason I like cottagecore so much is because I want to be able to have a homosexual relationship in the nostalgic setting of the forests I grew up in without the bitterness of the homophobia I experienced. Thank you for your insight, this is a wonderfully crafted video!

[@JohnDRuddyMannyMan]

This is already super interesting in the first 2 minutes :D

[@aryakodisono9026]

This reminds me of kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3e8lmeBYr16Z68

[@alysssalyn]

I wasnt expecting to be sucked in by this video because of the length but you went very deep in to a lot of topics that gave me goosebumps. Some realizations that I appreciate being enlightened on. Thank you!

[@snappystettner]

This is such a good explanation! I love it! The idea of embracing a rural aesthetic without heteronormative, masculine, and white implications is so beautiful. I also now understand my inability to stick to one “scene’’. Being able to engage with multiple sub and counter cultures is such a gift of our time

[@StarboyJuno]

We have the different types of cottage core: Cottage-core: Calm Witch-core: Magick calm Frog and mushroom-core: Cute animals calm Goblin/creature-core (me): Everything the other categories have plus rocks, chaos and the fucking fae

[@pLanetstarBerry]

Catch me in the goblincore culture collecting pretty rocks from my garden and getting the marbles out of marble soda. And baking bread that looks like a frog. And cinnamon snails.

[@lxlamayw]

um hey there, i’m a witch and technically magick involves all of the above ✨🤍

[@aryakodisono9026]

This reminds me of kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3e8lmeBYr16Z68

[@emilyfarfadet9131]

Right there with ya!

[@mint7393]

all. i want all. is this possible? not sure but i want it.

[@polkadotsocksable]

I think for me, the biggest piece I find missing in cottage core in the North American context (and probably also other places my knowledge is just centered in Canada) is the acknowledgement of Indigenous peoples. I worry that this like nostalgia/old timey aesthetics end up romanticizing the times of Little House on the Prairie or Anne of Green Gables, which was a time of mass displacement and systemic attempts to wipe out Indigenous peoples. I also think that is important to note that a lot of things that are romanticized in cottage core are intrinsically linked to Indigenous ways of knowing, ESPECIALLY foraging. Basically, I am obsessed with this aesthetic and it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy but within my context, we cannot romanticize escaping to land that was stolen. (Guess who took a class about Canada's history with Indigenous peoples in quarantine LOL)

[@prikas4313]

Exactly! In the many countries with a history of stealing or encroaching on indigenous land, that aesthetic and desire to return to nature did historically motivate people to move into more native land. Not to mention the farming practices employed by these settlers is detrimental to the land in a way Native practices are not. I haven't seen too much acknowledgement of this within the community and even some hostility towards this critique, which is unfortunate but I hope changes since I enjoy the focus on nature and escaping capitalism. However, when you're romanticizing something, especially something historical, you should be aware of who your aesthetic harmed or left out. I think this may also be why I haven't seen a lot of people of color in the community.

[@joywarburton5719]

This has been something niggling away at me for some time (as a fellow Canadian), thank you for putting it into words!

[@hmredacted2123]

I've been wondering why a seemingly harmless aesthetic had been getting hate online. This puts it into words perfectly, thank you.

[@lestranged]

I don't think that the cottage-core fantasy cottage is set in North America, or even in real-life historical Europe. (although the aesthetic is closer to "old world" architecture and landscape). I think it is set in the land of fairy tales and make believe. It's a very childlike world, Beatrix Potter, Hobbits, Winnie the Pooh, etc. The clothes look like children's clothes. It's a nostalgia for a time and place that has never existed. It's adults wanting to retreat into a childhood fantasy.

[@Primalstrawberry]

I was thinking about this too!! Ive been thinking about how one could enjoy cottagecore in their lives and acknowledge the history of colonialism and how cottagecore is inspired by indigenous people. Im not very deep into cottagecore yet so im not sure but its a good thing to think about

[@IIITrunks]

I think I've had a love for cottagecore since the original Animal crossing. But it was cottagecore with bedroom pop electronica and theres a 7/11 in the forest. And that's a very niche concept

[@xNakoo]

this video... you're so well spoken and you raised so many interesting points, I can't say how much you inspired me

[@HeyRowanEllis]

Wow, thank you!

[@heath8358]

This was a wonderful analysis, the bit at the end with integrating with solarpunk and cottagecore was an awesome thing to end on

[@justk4929]

Me going in: Ha, I wonder what that is - sounds cute Leaving the video: Oh it's me...It's all the media I love

[@edyvalentine]

Great video. I live in Tierra del Fuego, which feels like a very cottage-esque region with its mountains and forests, but it has very harsh winters lol Ironically, when I discovered cottagecore, I thought it was exclusively a far-right/reactionary domain, since every time I saw "agricultural life-ish" posts in Instagram it was paired with shit like "Her duty: to birth and nurture" or "Reject Modernity, Embrace Tradition".

[@kbsongy]

Ah yes, amishcore. I'm kidding. But they're not.

[@guadis02]

🙋‍♀️ Acá una porteña que quiere irse a vivir al sur en una cabaña idílica rodeada de huertos y flores, a vivir de que? Quien sabe jaja

[@milagrosguerreroorlando2730]

@@guadis02 dios same, aunque ame a BA, desde hace bastante que me quiero ir a vivir al sur del país. creo que lo que me mantiene acá es la uba ( y la cuarentena)

[@casir.7407]

thats the thing with cottagecore tho, right? at least here in argentina we may have some lovely green forest woods but thats like, villa la angostura, places for the very rich to go. and most other cottage-y places are subject to very harsh weather for a good portion of the year. just like...... a reality check

[@denisemarquez6708]

ok but consider: bariloche cottagecore, catch me opening a cozy artisanal chocolate shop 🥺 also does anyone remember abuela goye?? why'd it ever close? i have so many memories of going as a child and it just has this perfect patagonian cottagecore vibe (edit: there seem to be some franchises left!)

[@rftt6y7tr]

Thank you for explaining Cottage Core to me. My baby sister has been going on about it and this really clarified what she was talking about. I still privately believe that any and all activity involving bugs would be less appealing to her in real life but as long as she is happy.

[@AbiTheGoodLife]

This was a really interesting deep dive! Thanks for the hard work 💪🏻 As a heterosexual, I had really no idea that this aesthetic was particularly cherished by gay people. In a certain way it helps me to understand their struggle a bit better (the need for softness, accepting rural communities, etc)

[@RukoHanaji]

Thank you for mentioning William Morris! His work is a big influence to my particular take on cottagecore, in subject and color palettes.

[@LackingInGravitas]

One thing to highlight in the section where you talk about bucolic, voluntary isolation in a cosy indoor environment vs lockdown isolation is that lockdown has also really confronted people with the reality that their housing ISN'T cosy. That their rental accommodation is poorly maintained by their landlord for their own profit, and the usual release valves of... being able to leave the house ever, aren't there. I know for me, I've suddenly found myself imagining extra hard a cozy cottage in some drizzly hills as I listen to my actual ceiling leak.

[@AmandaDavis6130]

Thank you for mentioning solarpunk. It’s an aesthetic and ideology I particularly support because it allows for more technology and the benefits that brings. Especially in regards to medicine and accessibility. Folk medicine does show up in cottagecore, and it’s great when home remedies work, but while a nice cup of tea can help a cold it’s not going to do a whole lot for diabetes.

[@wreckitremy]

My cottage core aesthetic is very much linked with solarpunk and self care. I'm autistic, and grew up isolated in a rural area, so that comment about reclamation of childhood really resonates with me. It also reminiscent of the Japenese concept known as "Ma" that is weaved within Miyazaki films, something I depend on to combat sensory overload, as miyazaki films were a major part of my childhood. Obviously I'm not the only one, as the one sound bite that was left in, is music from Howl's moving castle. My more serious entertainment of Cottagecore involves a community that is a truly positive support system (something that is lacking in my life due to capitalism and long distance issues) where everyone has the accessibility they need, and noone feels like a burden. A kind of community that shares resources and skills in an artfully crafted sort of lasse faire barter system, that correctly values the labor that capitalism fails to do. The kind of community that works together, so people aren't forced to work in toxic work environments to live because there will always be someone to pick up the slack. The kind of community that has drastically lessened its carbon footprint. The kind of community where everyone feels like they are contributing, even if it's with things that capitalism has labeled not important because they can't put a price on it. A kind of community where noone is forced to work while they are sick, to work long hours, to work without accommodations just to survive. A community where people arent forced to choose between living in a place they can comfortably afford or a place where they are safe from abuse, systematic or otherwise. The kind of community that really can only exist post-capitalism. It gives me a way to figure out what I want, since nearly every single accommodation I need, cannot be fully implemented because of capitalism. I know that if I were to ever get there, some of the details of what I want will have changed, because I will have put in the work to be a better person. Some things that are appealing to me now, may not be the best option later, and that's okay. My cottage core fantasy evolves as I continue to educate myself, and that is what i love best about it. It's an exercise in imagining a world where we have the time and space to actually put in the work to be better people, in an environment that is not intrisincly linked to capitalism and fascism.

[@purpleghost106]

[@wreckitremy]

@@purpleghost106 💜

[@messymermex]

Yes this! This is exactly what I hope for when I envision the future! I don't think we can fully end ableism, racism, and climate & animal species degradation (and other oppressions/-isms but esp. those) until we end capitalism. I'm not sure if that future would be a utopia, but I do think cottagecore and solarpunk do help to imagine something better than our current existence- especially for the neurodivergent/diverse, disabled, indigenous & people of color, working class, as well as other animal species impacted by climate change & anthropocentrism.

[@rinryan1260]

im writing my anthropology thesis on cottagecore lesbians and this talk genuinely saved me. bless u for being the reason that im most likely going to graduate on time. your argument framework is better than anything ive ever seen

[@drawingboard82]

Rowan I love your videos. I had them randomly recommended to me after a terrible date with a horrible Terfy girl. And I just enjoy learning about this whole set of cultures I never knew existed. Thanks.