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Cyberdelic (also known as Cyberdelia) is a term used to the immersion in cyberspace as a psychedelic experience. It was the fusion of cyberculture and the psychedelic subculture into a new counterculture of the late 1980s to mid-1990s. Much like the Hippies and Psychedelica, Cyberdelic is consistently linked with the Cyberpunk aesthetic of the '80s, though it should be noted the two are separate aesthetics in their own right. It also has overlap with Early Cyber.
History[]
Dr. Timothy Leary, a popular figure in the Hippie counterculture movement due to his strong endorsement of utilizing psychedelic drugs (specifically LSD), got on board with the Cyberdelic movement to push virtual reality (as well as the utilization of "smart drugs") as the wave of the future to create a potential futuristic utopia in place of psychedelics. It was popularized by the emerging Rave scene and cyberculture of the late 1980s to mid-1990s, which lead to the aesthetic's peak with the release of the movie Hackers in 1995. It was commonly seen in advertisements, rave flyers, and media from the 1990s.[1]
By the late 1990s, Cyberdelic and Early Cyber styles faded somewhat in favor of the newer Metalheart and Y2K Futurism aesthetics; its end was further hastened after the dot.com bubble burst in 2000. However, Cyberdelia has since gained ground again in the modern era as a form of escapism from the increasingly-dystopic reality that we currently face.[2]
Visuals[]
Because the Cyberdelic aesthetic had evolved since the first term was coined, now it has a wide variety of visuals. The only thing that hasn't changed is the philosophy, which is using technology as a medium to transcend into a virtual-psychedelic landscape.
- The early cyberdelic visuals depict psychedelica in a more modern approach, using data mosh, glitch, Kaleidoscopic patterns and fractal art generated by AI.
Fashion[]
Cyberdelic fashion borrows heavily from elements of Cyberpunk and Cybergoth fashions (which makes sense, given Cyberdelic's close ties with the Cyberpunk culture in the 80s) with slight elements of Nintencore and Vaporwave mixed in for good measure. It's very bright, colorful, and cheery, but with a technological twist (a lot of LED charms and LED goggles can add to the effect of seeming otherworldly with your Cyberdelic fashion).
Music[]
More often than not, what most people would describe as Cyberpunk or Cybergoth music can easily blend in with the Cyberdelic aesthetic, as well as a lot of early Madchester music. One album often cited as a prime example of Cyberdelic music is Billy Idol's 1993 flop album, Cyberpunk, due in part to the fact that, during the recording of this album, Idol was trying to re-invent his image and was also hanging around a lot with the aforementioned Timothy Leary.[2]
Media[]
Film[]
- The Lawnmower Man (1992)
- Hackers (1995)
Video Games[]
- Helious I & II (1993)
- Worlds.com (1995)
- LSD: Dream Emulator (1998)
- Eastern Mind: The Lost Souls of Tong Nou (1995)
- Chu-Teng (1995)
- Rhythm 'N' Face (2000)
- Tokyo Wakusei Planetokio (1999)
- Rolypolys no Nanakorobiyaoki (1997)
- Rolypolys no Sekai Ryokou (1997)
Resources[]
External links to help get a better understanding of these aesthetics:
- Cyberdelic aesthetic gifs and sound by Brian Griffith
- Cyberdelic Aesthetic by Zach ParsonsPlaylists
- Cyberdelic playlist by popmachinebandit
- Cyberdelic Portal playlist by Jason Lucius Taylor
- CYBERDELIC AESTHETIC Spotify Playlist by 10.28 Productions