Y2K aesthetic explained

Y2K is an Internet aesthetic based around products, styles, and fashion of the late 1990s and early 2000s. The name Y2K is derived from an abbreviation coined by programmer David Eddy for the year 2000 and its potential computer errors. The Y2K aesthetic can include synthetic or metallic materials, inflatable furniture, computer interfaces of the dotcom era, and parts of the McBling aesthetic.^{[1] [2]}

Originally, Y2K as an internet aesthetic retrospectively referred to a retrofuturistic art movement, characterized by metallic materials, blobjects and reflective clothing. As the term "Y2K" garnered mainstream attention over the course of the 2020s, this term has since expanded to refer to 2000s fashion in general;^[3] the former definition of Y2K is sometimes known as Cybercore to differentiate itself from the latter.^[4]

Origins

Y2K likely originates from "nowstalgia," a phenomenon where culture changes so quickly that newer generations miss things from the recent past.^[5] The fast change in the 2000s came from the September 11 attacks, the war on terror and the 2000s' quick advancements in technology, such as the iPod and iPhone.^[6]

See also

• Frutiger Aero
• Vaporwave

Further reading

• News: Alexander . Leigh . The Y2K aesthetic: who knew the look of the year 2000 would endure? . . 2016-05-19 . 2024-09-26.
• Brown . Maria Gemma . Carah . Nicholas . Tan . Xue Ying (Jane) . Angus . Daniel . Burgess . Jean . Finding the future in digitally mediated ruin: #nostalgiacores and the algorithmic culture of digital platforms . Convergence . 2024-08-01 . 1354-8565 . 10.1177/13548565241270669 . free.
• Cramer . Florian . Speculative photography. An attempt (essay) of making visible (manifesto) . Artnodes . 34 . 2024-04-15 . 10.7238/artnodes.v0i34.424946 . free.
• News: Kyung-min . Pyo . Y2K aesthetics resurface as cultural mainstay in Korea . . 2024-05-19 . 2024-09-26.
• Yang . Xiaochun . Retro Futurism: The Resurgence of Y2K Style in the Fashion Field . SHS Web of Conferences . EDP Sciences . 167 . 2023 . 2261-2424 . 10.1051/shsconf/202316702003 . free . 02003.

Notes and References

1. News: Alexander . Leigh . 2016-05-19 . The Y2K aesthetic: who knew the look of the year 2000 would endure? . 2024-09-26 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077 . September 26, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240926183256/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/may/19/year-2000-y2k-millennium-design-aesthetic . live .
2. Web site: Friedlander . Emilie . 2021-12-28 . The Year in Aesthetics, From Dark Academia to McBling . 2024-09-26 . VICE . en-US . September 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240918052807/https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-year-in-aesthetics-from-dark-academia-to-mcbling/ . live .
3. Web site: Chokrane . Boutayna . 2023-12-13 . Y2K Fashion 101: How 2023 Got the Millennium Bug All Over Again . 2024-05-27 . Vogue . en-US.
4. Web site: 2024-02-20 . Cybercore Is The Next Y2K Fashion Aesthetic Trend . 2024-05-28 . Nylon . en.
5. Web site: Vendrell . David . 2023-12-19 . Nowstalgia is nostalgia hitting lightspeed . 2024-09-26 . TheFutureParty . en-US . July 26, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240726141452/https://futureparty.com/nowstalgia-cycles/ . live .
6. Web site: Willingham . A. J. . 2022-12-29 . Y2K aesthetics are so hot right now – and so is the era’s existential dread . 2024-09-26 . CNN . en.