Dreamcore

Dreamcore is a surrealist aesthetic that uses motifs commonly associated with dreams, daydreams or nightmares, portrayed through media^[1] such as images, videos and, on occasion, music. Dreamcore shares many similarities with Weirdcore.

These images express feelings of familiarity, anemoia, nostalgia and confusion.

History[]

Origins[]

There are multiple originators for the Dreamcore aesthetic. Most are however not inherently based on the same comeliness. In 2012, a YouTube account called "GlassBeetles" or "L0P0A0G" uploaded videos reminiscent of its motifs such as cryptic texts, hap hazardous oculus placement and Liminal Spaces. They were created by Sealtoast who mostly is active on Twitter (X). This was the first example of Dreamcore in the video format.

Dreamcore’s exact origins are unknown, the direct origins might be tumblr user "jaaaaaim" way back in 2018. It mostly gained popularity in the early-mid 2020s with a surge of TikTok videos containing dreamlike visuals. The videos often include original characters that are typically drawn or stitched together with numerous images. These characters usually have objects for heads.

Visuals[]

Dreamcore, as stated before, is commonly portrayed through images and videos, which utilize different ‘base images’ such as liminal spaces, unrealistic terrain and structures (photoshopped hills, floating buildings, etc.), or even fantasy-like lands, to give the visual a dream-like quality. Dreamcore visuals are typically lighter-toned and pastel in color, or more bright and vivid. These ‘base images’ are then overlaid with different elements, with the major ones being text and characters.

Dreamcore tends to include characters with surreal features. These characters aid in telling a story or creating a scenario that one might possibly see in a dream. They also may include Liminal Spaces. However, the use of characters is not required. Text is also a common element; it ranges from short phrases with very little context to entire conversations or monologues. It’s typically written in a generic base font like Arial, or a serif font like Times New Roman, and can be different colors, sizes and even patterns, depending on what fits the situation best. Text, like characters, is not required. Some other common features of visual Dreamcore are listed below:

Eyes, teeth and other facial features
Wings
Rainbows
Mention of familiar places and people
Seeing yourself
Bubbles
RPG elements (text boxes, etc.)
Other digital elements (pop-up windows, etc)
Borders
Sparkles
Orbs
Old CRT televisions (as head elements)
Flowers
Mushrooms
Strange creatures
Clouds

Media[]

YouTube[]

Video Games[]

Yume Nikki (2004)
Yume 2kki (2007)
Undertale (2015)
Superliminal (2019)
Omori (2020)
Doll Eye (2020)
Amanda the Adventurer (2022)
BBirthday (2023)
ENA: Dream BBQ (TBD)

Music[]

Playlists[]

Artists[]

Jack Stauber (Dreamcore elements, some aspects of Weirdcore)
Humanfobia
Yikii
Filmy Ghost
My Own Cubic Stone
Wiosna97
Null_Dan
Katie Chimera
youngertasktaken
Kazelabad
eris mirror
Metadream
Kern Livelb
Beabadoobee
LAKE R▲DIO
Cecelia Condit
Mild High Club
Looking Through Sheets
Kero Kero Bonito (also sometimes associated with Weirdcore)
Blank Banshee
Pilotredsun
Boards of Canada
Sitcom
Ricky Eat Acid
Ørdop Wolkenscheidt (especially the albums 'Kommissar Brenkstrupp: Fragments of a Troubled Detective' and 'Quantum Computer Deep Dream')
Sleep Party People
Instupendo
teen suicide
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra (also known as A Silver Mt. Zion)
The Caretaker
Cyriak
Blood Orange
Bakground
Temporex
Xori
aNTOJE
Windows96
Strawberry Guy
Dandelion Hands
Beach House
Mac DeMarco
Nero's Day At Disneyland
Mili
Pathetic
Cotiles
Sodikken
Molina
Late verlane
nelward
Yandere
Pathetic
Slowed & Reverb