Post-Apocalyptic is a genre of fiction that emerged from the idea of what everyday life would be like if a society collapsed. The apocalytic event may be climatic, such as runaway climate change; natural, such as an impact event; man-made, such as nuclear holocausts; medical, such as a plague or virus, whether natural or man-made; or imaginary, such as a zombie apocalypse or an alien invasion. The story may involve attempts to prevent an apocalypse event, deal with the impact and consequences of the event itself, or may be Post-Apocalyptic, and be set after the event. The time frame may be immediately after the catastrophe, focusing on the travails or psychology of survivors, the way to maintain the human race alive and together as one, or considerably later, often including the theme that the existence of pre-catastrophe civilization has been forgotten (or mythologized). Post-apocalyptic stories often take place in a non-technological future world, or a world where only scattered elements of society and technology remain[1].
Other themes may be cybernetic revolt, divine judgment, dysgenics, ecological collapse, pandemic, resource depletion, supernatural phenomena, technological singularity, or some other general disaster.
Visuals[]
Visuals in Post-Apocalyptic worlds can vary based on the timeline and cause of the disaster. Typically, most visuals may include:
- Barren wastelands
- Destroyed cities and homes
- Deserted, looted stores
- Modified, dirty vehicles
- Weaponry, notably guns and blades
- Little to no wildlife, or overwhelming abundance of wildlife
Fashion[]
Fashion in Post-Apocalyptic scenarios are based on what is needed for survival and what one can carry without too much effort. On the other hand, the aesthetic community focuses on how proper clothing can be styled. Fabrics can be light and breathable or heavy and warm depending on the season and the ability to have free movement is key. The most important element of Post-Apocalyptic fashion is protection from elements, especially if battle or inclimate weather is abundant.
Key items include:
- Heavy boots such as New Rock Boots
- Cargo pants
- Long sleeves
- Hoods
- Dust/gas masks
- Goggles
- Loose fitting tops
- Scarves
- Gloves
- Ponchos
- Heavy coats
- Leather, cotton, spandex
Fashion items include:
- Jean shorts
- Crop tops
- Vests
- Harnesses
- Belts
- Tall socks
- Makeshift armor
- Bralettes
Festivals[]
Although Post-Apocalyptic is a fiction based aesthetic, it is seen in the real world through some festivals that are similar to Renaissance Faires. Attendees wear post-apocalypstic fashion and roleplay as if they are in an post-apocalypstic world. One notable festival is the Wasteland Weekend which takes place in the Mojave Desert.
Media[]
Video Games[]
- Half-Life 2 series (2004-2007)
- The Last of Us (parts 1 and 2)
- Fallout series
- The Walking Dead (Telltale series)
- Dying Light
- Metro (trilogy)
- S.T.A.L.K.E.R. (trilogy)
- Shadow the Hedgehog (2005)
- Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)
- Wasteland series
- NieR: Automata
- 60 Seconds!
- Death Stranding
- Sheltered
- We Happy Few
- Bastion
- BioShock series
- Horizon series
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land
- Final Fantasy VI
- Most Shin Megami Tensei Installments
- Hyper Light Drifter
- Stray
- Chrono Trigger, mainly the year 2300 A.D.
- The Talos Principle
- LISA series
Tabletop Role-Playing Games[]
- Apocalypse World
- GURPS After the End
- Deadlands
- Rifts
- Mutant Year: Zero
- Numenera
- JAGS Have-Not
- Warhammer 40,000
- Dark Sun
NOTE: For further games/details about those games, see this link.
Movies[]
- Mad Max films
- Maze Runner
- A Quiet Place duology
- Bird Box
- Tank Girl
- The Road
- I Am Legend
- The Book of Eli
- City Limits
- Battletruck/Warlords of the 21st Century
- Waterworld
- WALL-E
- Survival Earth
- The Matrix series
- Equilibrium
- 9 (2009)
- Planet of the Apes
TV[]
- The Walking Dead TV series
- Daybreak
- The Last Ship
- The 100
- 12 Monkeys
- Z Nation
- Black Summer
- The Tribe
- The Last of Us
- Sweet Tooth
- Adventure Time
- Salad Fingers (webseries)
Anime and Manga[]
- Attack on Titan
- Desert Punk
- Fist of the North Star
- Riki-Oh
- Bastard!!: Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy
- Apocalypse Zero
- Akira
- Humanity Has Declined
- High School of the Dead
- Cowboy Bebop
- Neon Genesis Evangelion
- Gurren Lagann
- Ergo Proxy
- Origin: Spirits of the Past
- Girls' Last Tour
- To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts
- Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign
- Demon Slayer
- K
- Blast of Tempest
- Kaiba (2008)
- Blame!
- Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
- Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
Books/Comics[]
- Fire Brats by Barbara Siegel, Scott Siegel and Barbara Steiner
- Perennial Death by Rosaura Irene
- The Stand by Stephen king
- Tank Girl comics by Jamie Hewlett and Alan Martin
- Lucifer's Hammer by Jerry Pournelle and Larry Niven
- Swan song by Robert R. McCammon
- Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank
- A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr.
- I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream by Harlan Ellison
- Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
- The Road by Cormac McCarthy
- On the Beach by Nevil Shute
- The Postman by David Brin
- I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
- Daybreak by Brian Ralph
- East of West by Jonathan Hickman
- Winterworld by Chuck Dixon
- Lola XOXO by Siya Oum
- Loving Dead by Stefano Raffaele
- Wild Blue Yonder by Austin Harrison, Mike Raicht
- The Living and the Dead by Jason
- Breaklands by Justin Jordan
- Zombies Vs. Robots by Chris Ryall
- Days of Hate by Alex Kot
- The Walking Dead comics
- Dying Earth by Jack Vance
- Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolf
- Judge Dredd by John Wagner, Carlos Ezquerra and Pat Mills
Webfiction[]
- Parahumans (after Gold Morning)
Music[]
Music associated with the Post-Apocalyptic aesthetic include:
- Metal (Eyehategod, Burzum, Agalloch, etc.)
- Crustpunk (Amebix, Deviated Instinct, Fall of Efrafa, etc.)
- Aggrotech (FGFC820, Aesthetic Perfection, etc.)
- Industrial (Einsturzende Neubauten, Author & Punisher, etc.)
- Acoustic (AcousticTrench, etc.)
Playlists[]
- Post-Apocalyptic Music by XI
- Post apocalyptic music by Carson
- Post apocalypse Vibes/Backrooms Vibes by oooga
- Post-Apocalyptic by Triopse / Captain Drown
- Post-Apocalyptic [YT]
Gallery[]
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Resources[]
External resources can help you learn more about this aesthetic.