From 3d4da5ac6000a4871c5caa80d1e61f2782da3069 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Christian Cleberg Date: Sat, 2 Dec 2023 23:27:35 -0600 Subject: feat: finish converting md to org --- blog/2021-03-28-vaporwave-vs-outrun.org | 271 ++++++++++++++++++-------------- 1 file changed, 151 insertions(+), 120 deletions(-) (limited to 'blog/2021-03-28-vaporwave-vs-outrun.org') diff --git a/blog/2021-03-28-vaporwave-vs-outrun.org b/blog/2021-03-28-vaporwave-vs-outrun.org index 700a5d6..b12f472 100644 --- a/blog/2021-03-28-vaporwave-vs-outrun.org +++ b/blog/2021-03-28-vaporwave-vs-outrun.org @@ -1,120 +1,151 @@ -+++ -date = 2021-03-28 -title = "Vaporwave vs Outrun" -description = "This post discusses Vaporwave and Outrun, which have become almost synonymous in the minds of those online who aren't hardcore into these genres of media." -+++ - -## Overview - -When it comes to an aesthetic that originated primarily online, there tends to -be a lot of confusion around what falls into each specific genre. This post -discusses Vaporwave and Outrun, which have become almost synonymous in the minds -of those online who aren't hardcore into these genres of media. More -specifically, Outrun is largely an unknown term while all aesthetics in these -two genres are usually attributed to Vaporwave. For example, take a look at the -image search results for Vaporwave: the results include **a lot** of -Outrun-themed images. You'll find a similar trend almost everywhere. - -![](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20210328-vaporwave-vs-outrun/vaporwave-search-results.png) - -## Vaporwave - -![](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20210328-vaporwave-vs-outrun/macintosh-plus.png) - -Okay, so what is Vaporwave? I'm going to just copy-and-paste some general info -from the Wikipedia article on -[Vaporwave](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaporwave), so that I'm not repeating -everything you can already search for online: - -> Vaporwave is a microgenre of electronic music, a visual art style, and an -> Internet meme that emerged in the early 2010s. It is defined partly by its -> slowed-down, chopped and screwed samples of smooth jazz, elevator, R&B, and -> lounge music from the 1980s and 1990s. The surrounding subculture is sometimes -> associated with an ambiguous or satirical take on consumer capitalism and pop -> culture, and tends to be characterized by a nostalgic or surrealist engagement -> with the popular entertainment, technology and advertising of previous -> decades. Visually, it incorporates early Internet imagery, late 1990s web -> design, glitch art, anime, 3D-rendered objects, and cyberpunk tropes in its -> cover artwork and music videos. - -This is an excellent summary, and it helps address my point here: there are -specific aspects that make Vaporwave unique: - -### Time Frame - -The time frame for references, logos, etc. focuses mostly on the 1990s in -Vaporwave. You'll see old school Pepsi logos, Microsoft 95 screens, tropical -plants, classic marble sculptures, and many references from Japan's influence in -the 90s. - -### Art - -The color scheme is generally a soft, light palette that uses pastel colors. The -backdrop will often be in a light-pink or teal blue. - -### Music - -The musical genre of Vaporwave incorporates soft tunes, lounge music, and sound -effects that will make the listener reminisce of the 90s. The sounds of the -genre are generally slower-paced and calming. The major breakthrough artist for -Vaporwave was [Macintosh Plus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vektroid), who -released the album -[Floral Shoppe](https://archive.org/details/MACINTOSHPLUS-FLORALSHOPPE_complete) -in 2011. Another more recent example is the artist -[sadbert](https://sadbert.bandcamp.com/), whose latest album incorporates the -upbeat tones of the 1999 Dilbert TV series. - -Notice that Vaporwave doesn't include things like racing cars, futuristic -technology, chrome, or the deep orange/purple color scheme. Vaporwave is a focus -on the idyllic state of the world when technology was becoming common in -households, a reality that we have already experienced. Focus on the most -aesthetically-pleasing parts of that past is a large part of Vaporwave. - -## Outrun - -![Outrun](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20210328-vaporwave-vs-outrun/outrun.png) - -Now, let's get to Outrun. This one is a little trickier since the genre has -largely been lumped under the Vaporwave title for so long. However, it stems -from the [Synthwave](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthwave) music genre and is -likely named after the 1986 racer game, -[Out Run](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Out_Run). - -### Time Frame - -Outrun can be thought of as a retro-futuristic aesthetic born from the 1980s. - -### Art - -The color scheme uses a very dark color palette with the main colors being deep -oranges, blues, and purples. Red edges are common around objects in Outrun art. -The background of the Outrun aesthetic is almost always a neon grid like you'd -expect to see in Tron or a 1980s arcade machine. - -Classic sports cars, chrome robots, computer generated graphics and fonts, and -the occasional use of rain or palm trees can be found in Outrun art. - -### Music - -This aesthetic has a more aggressive and fast-paced style of music, which tends -to match the subject of the art in this aesthetic. - -Outrun enthusiasts love what people in the 1980s thought the future would look -like. Take a look at a common video game discussed in Outrun circles, Far Cry 3: -Blood Dragon: - -![Fry Cry 3: Blood Dragon](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20210328-vaporwave-vs-outrun/far-cry.png) - -Another example that doesn't force the color scheme as hard as some online art -does is Kung Fury: - -![Kung Fury](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20210328-vaporwave-vs-outrun/kung-fury.png) - -![Kung Fury Hacker Scene](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20210328-vaporwave-vs-outrun/kung-fury-hacker.png) - -## Conclusion - -While Vaporwave and Outrun share similarities, they are two distinct aesthetics -with many important distinctions. Someone who enjoys one may not necessarily -enjoy the other, so it's important to make sure we properly describe the -aesthetic we're looking for. +#+title: Vaporwave vs Outrun +#+date: 2021-03-28 + +** Overview +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: overview +:END: +When it comes to an aesthetic that originated primarily online, there +tends to be a lot of confusion around what falls into each specific +genre. This post discusses Vaporwave and Outrun, which have become +almost synonymous in the minds of those online who aren't hardcore into +these genres of media. More specifically, Outrun is largely an unknown +term while all aesthetics in these two genres are usually attributed to +Vaporwave. For example, take a look at the image search results for +Vaporwave: the results include *a lot* of Outrun-themed images. You'll +find a similar trend almost everywhere. + +[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20210328-vaporwave-vs-outrun/vaporwave-search-results.png]] + +** Vaporwave +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: vaporwave +:END: +[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20210328-vaporwave-vs-outrun/macintosh-plus.png]] + +Okay, so what is Vaporwave? I'm going to just copy-and-paste some +general info from the Wikipedia article on +[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaporwave][Vaporwave]], so that I'm not +repeating everything you can already search for online: + +#+begin_quote +Vaporwave is a microgenre of electronic music, a visual art style, and +an Internet meme that emerged in the early 2010s. It is defined partly +by its slowed-down, chopped and screwed samples of smooth jazz, +elevator, R&B, and lounge music from the 1980s and 1990s. The +surrounding subculture is sometimes associated with an ambiguous or +satirical take on consumer capitalism and pop culture, and tends to be +characterized by a nostalgic or surrealist engagement with the popular +entertainment, technology and advertising of previous decades. Visually, +it incorporates early Internet imagery, late 1990s web design, glitch +art, anime, 3D-rendered objects, and cyberpunk tropes in its cover +artwork and music videos. + +#+end_quote + +This is an excellent summary, and it helps address my point here: there +are specific aspects that make Vaporwave unique: + +*** Time Frame +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: time-frame +:END: +The time frame for references, logos, etc. focuses mostly on the 1990s +in Vaporwave. You'll see old school Pepsi logos, Microsoft 95 screens, +tropical plants, classic marble sculptures, and many references from +Japan's influence in the 90s. + +*** Art +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: art +:END: +The color scheme is generally a soft, light palette that uses pastel +colors. The backdrop will often be in a light-pink or teal blue. + +*** Music +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: music +:END: +The musical genre of Vaporwave incorporates soft tunes, lounge music, +and sound effects that will make the listener reminisce of the 90s. The +sounds of the genre are generally slower-paced and calming. The major +breakthrough artist for Vaporwave was +[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vektroid][Macintosh Plus]], who released +the album +[[https://archive.org/details/MACINTOSHPLUS-FLORALSHOPPE_complete][Floral +Shoppe]] in 2011. Another more recent example is the artist +[[https://sadbert.bandcamp.com/][sadbert]], whose latest album +incorporates the upbeat tones of the 1999 Dilbert TV series. + +Notice that Vaporwave doesn't include things like racing cars, +futuristic technology, chrome, or the deep orange/purple color scheme. +Vaporwave is a focus on the idyllic state of the world when technology +was becoming common in households, a reality that we have already +experienced. Focus on the most aesthetically-pleasing parts of that past +is a large part of Vaporwave. + +** Outrun +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: outrun +:END: +#+caption: Outrun +[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20210328-vaporwave-vs-outrun/outrun.png]] + +Now, let's get to Outrun. This one is a little trickier since the genre +has largely been lumped under the Vaporwave title for so long. However, +it stems from the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthwave][Synthwave]] +music genre and is likely named after the 1986 racer game, +[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Out_Run][Out Run]]. + +*** Time Frame +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: time-frame-1 +:END: +Outrun can be thought of as a retro-futuristic aesthetic born from the +1980s. + +*** Art +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: art-1 +:END: +The color scheme uses a very dark color palette with the main colors +being deep oranges, blues, and purples. Red edges are common around +objects in Outrun art. The background of the Outrun aesthetic is almost +always a neon grid like you'd expect to see in Tron or a 1980s arcade +machine. + +Classic sports cars, chrome robots, computer generated graphics and +fonts, and the occasional use of rain or palm trees can be found in +Outrun art. + +*** Music +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: music-1 +:END: +This aesthetic has a more aggressive and fast-paced style of music, +which tends to match the subject of the art in this aesthetic. + +Outrun enthusiasts love what people in the 1980s thought the future +would look like. Take a look at a common video game discussed in Outrun +circles, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon: + +#+caption: Fry Cry 3: Blood Dragon +[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20210328-vaporwave-vs-outrun/far-cry.png]] + +Another example that doesn't force the color scheme as hard as some +online art does is Kung Fury: + +#+caption: Kung Fury +[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20210328-vaporwave-vs-outrun/kung-fury.png]] + +#+caption: Kung Fury Hacker Scene +[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20210328-vaporwave-vs-outrun/kung-fury-hacker.png]] + +** Conclusion +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: conclusion +:END: +While Vaporwave and Outrun share similarities, they are two distinct +aesthetics with many important distinctions. Someone who enjoys one may +not necessarily enjoy the other, so it's important to make sure we +properly describe the aesthetic we're looking for. -- cgit v1.2.3-70-g09d2