IlluminatiPirate
The Dreaded Pirate of Agora Road
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I liked your post before you edited it
Maybe it'll help if you or someone posts some examples. Because, you're right, synthwave and cyberpunk are indeed different genres. But these are very obviously not vaporwave and (at least to me) seem to only be inspired by some vapor imagery.
Synthwave:
View: https://youtu.be/ahPindVHPK4?t=301
Cyberpunk:
View: https://youtu.be/kdwESnTsBIM?t=564
So, I don't think it's really worthwhile to bring in genres like this that are composed entirely differently and sound nothing like vaporwave as examples of "not vaporwave." I don't think anyone is arguing that these are the exact same thing as "pure vaporwave" (whatever that means ). I would have a hard time even saying that they fall under the same "vaporwave" umbrella.
What about anime, then? I return to my original point: there was no "industrial video game aesthetics" or "video game-inspired industrial" music until The Gothsicles came around. But, they're still industrial; they just incorporate elements of video games. As for what constitutes vaporwave?
Let's look at the Wikipedia article for now, but I still implore you to present your own vision of vaporwave:
Even if we flat-out ignore that "anime" is listed on vaporwave's Wikipedia entry (without citation, mind you!), how does anime not fit? Consumer capitalism, pop culture, nostalgia, surrealist, popular entertainment, technology... there's a whole lot of anime imagery that can be used to express and showcase these sorts of things. I can't help but come to conclusion that the people in this thread are insisting that anime imagery can't be used simply because they don't enjoy it themselves.
I mean, where's the line anyways? Can I produce a vaporwave song that receives your approval, and then toss a 1980's anime sample in there alongside some imagery from whatever anime it's from and suddenly it's "not vaporwave" anymore? If that's the case, I don't think I can have this discussion anymore; I think it's absurd for a genre that heavily leans on nostalgia and pop culture to gatekeep nostalgia and pop culture that they don't personally like. Vaporwave isn't yours or mine or anyone's in this thread, after all.
I don't understand "everywhere." Just seek out the vaporwave that you enjoy and consume it. If the "aesthetic" videos have all moved on to the point where you can't enjoy them anymore, it sounds like you're dealing with the problem we all do as time marches on: "I liked the old stuff," "I liked it before it got popular," "I liked it until it started to change," etc. -- I can list off YouTube channel after YouTube channel that used to make videos that I enjoyed, and I don't like that they don't make the same content as they used to, but that's life. This is going to happen again and again and again throughout your life; it's just the way it is.
I tried to search around online about the "anime aesthetic" in vapor, and of course I didn't find much that was particularly useful, but I did find a link to the thread we're posting in right now
I might not end up responding anymore depending on where the conversation goes. I don't see anyone really engaging with my position or my arguments. I'm happy to have my mind changed on this, but I have the opinion I do for a reason, and I've shared those reasons.
I really dont understand what everyone's problem is. Especially since if they don't like something they could just keep it to themselves. I dont like the gatekeeping. Anime is nostalgic and vaporwave is a nostalgic based genre, so I don't see the problem. And people getting super angry over it is hilarious to me.
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