Aesthetics Wiki
Aesthetics Wiki
Aesthetics Wiki
855
pages
in: Core Suffix, Fantasy, Fashion,
and 14 more
English

Angelcore

Sign in to edit

Angelcore is a contemporary aesthetic inspired by imagery and depictions of angels, and is the opposite adjacent aesthetic to Devilcore. It has an Ethereal vibe and is inspired by the Rococo era artwork; many of the old paintings with cherubs you find on Pinterest are Rococo.

The aesthetic is designed to emulate the same unearthly beauty that the European stereotype of angels are described and depicted with, though it can also include non-European angel aesthetics. This can be done with modern or older presentation methods.

It’s also worth noting that much of the angel mythology and imagery comes from multiple belief systems (from Greek paganism, to Judaism, to New Age, to the aforementioned Christianity). So there are no specific religious connections or connotations involved in an angelic aesthetic.

Visuals[]

  • Butterflies
  • Cherubs/angels/cupids
  • Gold
  • Columns in the Classical orders, usually Ionic
  • Flower garlands (aka festoons)
  • Fluffy clouds
  • Sunbeams and crepuscular rays
  • Glitter
  • Flowers, especially roses
  • Hearts
  • Highlights & shadows
  • Keys
  • Lyres
  • Mirrors
  • Light
  • Wings
  • Harps
  • Halos
  • Laurel crowns
  • Shells
  • Sky
  • Small ornate patterns, usually Rococo
  • Tears
  • Reflections
  • Rainbows

There is also an entirely Angelcore store in the Montmartre district of Paris, called La Boutique des Anges, Rue Yvonne le Tac no. 2. There are all kinds of designs with angels, mainly figures.

Food[]

  • Angel cake
  • Coconut
  • Meringues
  • Strawberries
  • Papaya(also called ‘angel fruit’)
  • Champagne
  • Angel hair pasta

Fashion[]

  • Silk and sheer fabrics
  • Lace
  • Feathers
  • Long, flowing, light clothing
  • Nightgowns and coords
  • Flowers and floral patterned clothing
  • Crosses
  • Rosaries
  • Ballet flats
  • Sandals
  • Light or natural makeup
  • Fake halos and fake wings
  • Dresses
  • Jewellery
  • (in Chinese fantasy media) Taoist robes
  • Neon coloured jeans (Like auras)

Media[]

Film[]

  • The Sacrifice (1986)
  • Wings of Desire (1987)
  • Faraway, So Close! (1993)
  • What Dreams May Come (1998)

Fallen Angel[]

  • The Shadowhunter Chronicles by Cassandra Clare
  • The Infernal Devices
  • The Dark Artifices
  • City of Bones (2013)
  • The Prophecy I, II and III

Anime, Manga, & Comics[]

  • Angel Beats!
  • Miss Angel and Miss Devil
  • Asterisk
  • Angel's Egg
  • Oh My Goddess!
  • Haibane Renmei
  • Angel Buddy
  • Cardcaptor Sakura (1999)
  • A Certain Magical Index (2004-2010)

Video Games[]

  • Kid Icarus franchise
  • El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron (2011)
  • Sky: Children of the Light (2019)

Webfiction[]

  • Sage Monarch (the main character, Yang Qi, has quite a few kinds of wings and has angel symbolism)

Music[]

As an aesthetic based heavily on feeling, ambient-based and adjacent music genres can be seen as complementary to this aesthetic. Folk and classic piano are also popular.

Genres[]

  • Ambient
  • Renaissance-era choral
  • Music box music
  • Classical
  • Baroque pop
  • Worship/religious music

Artists[]

  • Lana Del Rey
  • Melanie Martinez
  • Holly Henry
  • Sufjan Stevens
  • Nicole Dollanganger
  • The Oh Hellos
  • Billie Marten
  • Flower Face
  • Cults
  • Portishead
  • Goldfrapp
  • Kalafina

Songs[]

  • Yes To Heaven by Lana del Rey
  • Heaven California by Honey Gentry
  • Summer Wine by Nancy Sinatra
  • Only Angels Have Wings by Nicole Dollanganger

Subgenres[]

Cherubcore[]

The difference between cherubs (aka putti, singular putto) and angels are enough to warrant its own tag on various social media websites most notably Tumblr. Cherubcore focuses on the feelings and values portrayed by heavenly cherubs and the small, sweet, baby-like innocence of the figures that differ from the divine essence of angels.

There is often a distinct crossover in this aesthetic with Babycore and Delicate Sweet, with a hint of Lovecore now and then due to the similarity between cherubs and the mythical figure Cupid. The visuals of cherubcore are the same as angelcore but add more fun visuals like candy, cherubs laughing in paintings, hearts, porcelain figures, and child's toys. There are lots of pinks and whites involved as well.

Fashion has a very similar overlap to Coquette (especially gloomy coquette), and Babycore, with youthful and childlike articles of clothing and accessories. It is worth mentioning that the baby angels portrayed as cherubs in art and in this aesthetic are based off of ancient Greaco-Roman putti associated with the god Eros/Cupid, and not on the actual biblical portrayal of cherubs which is vastly different.


Fallen Angel[]

The Fallen Angel aesthetic, or Dark Angelcore, takes Angelcore and adds more somber themes and dark visual tones while still providing the essences of ethereal and otherworldly. Many of the themes of fallen angel involve feelings of "falling from grace" or unworthiness/not wanting to be placed on a pedestal like angels are commonly portrayed. The aesthetic itself can both exude feelings of peace and radiance or sorrow and malice depending on the camp presented. It is closely related to Devilcore and may even be considered the same thing.

Common motifs for fallen angels include angel statues, black wings, flowing white and/or black fabrics, fire, halos, horns and tails, the sky and the ground, snakes, and much more. Visually, there is a crossover with Dark Naturalism, which exhibits dark, misty visuals of nature.

Other visuals can overlap with Traumacore and Grunge, employing angelic motifs mixed with heavy melancholy themes. Fashion takes regular angelcore and turns it black, almost Gothic. It can also take an aforementioned Grunge route. Baroque art may be seen as well, which has a darker tone than Rococo.

This aesthetic can focus on criticizing the Catholic religion. Common topics include excommunication, religious trauma, and mental illness. Often this is mixed with the aforementioned feelings of falling from grace or feeling tainted, and potentially being cast out of a religion or choosing to leave it.

Media[]

  • The Shadowhunter Chronicles by Cassandra Clare
  • The Infernal Devices
  • The Dark Artifices
  • City of Bones (2013)
  • Angels In America
  • Kid Icarus Uprising

Biblical Angel[]

Biblical Angels are taken from the biblical depiction of angels, rather than the altered humanistic version created by the media. There are various sections of the Bible where angels and cherubs are described, including Ezekiel 1:5-11, Isaiah 6:2, Job 38:7, Ps 8:5, Ac 26:13, and Re 1:20. These verses and many others describe angels as hot, pure energy, and frightening to humans. This is a popular subject in art and can be seen across media. Often times they are depicted as half human, half animal or as energy balls with a thousand eyes circling around it with six wings.

This subject focuses on the reality of divinity and the terrifying truth that had been covered up by mainstream society over history. The overall theme of the biblical angel aesthetic is questioning monstrosity and fear, and presenting truth to those living in ignorance. It is both ethereal and horrifying, and has a subcommunity for those who identify with these depictions. These communities also use their art of biblical angels to portray the previously mention themes, as well as humor. Being ethereal and mysterious, feeling "too big for your body", and a deep philosophical nature can accompany the moods of this aesthetic.

Resources[]

A list of external links to help get a better understanding of this aesthetic.

Blogs[]

Angel Adoration on Tumblr

Fallen Angel[]

Biblical Angel[]

Pinterest Boards[]

Fallen Angel[]

Biblical Angel[]

Playlists[]

Fallen Angel[]

Gallery[]

Cherubcore[]

Fallen Angels[]

Biblical Angel[]

Русский
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.