Rustic

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Rustic is an aesthetic based about rustic themes, or farms, and is generally a romanticized version of rural living. Generally this aesthetic imitates the style of the American Midwest, although portrayals can vary by region. A non-US version of this aesthetic comes from the Gaucho culture from Argentina and other regions of South America.

History[]

By definition, Rusticcore has no real origin. The word “rustic” simply means something related to rural living and the countryside. However, the rise of the modern Rustic aesthetic can be traced back to the North American colonies in the 18th and 19th centuries. The style had been previously used in parts of Europe and England, but was popularized in large part due to the writings of Andrew Jackson Downing, a prominent landscape designer and horticulturalist.

Visuals[]

Unlike Cottagecore (which has, for the most part, a "cleaner" look), Rusticcore openly embraces the grit, dirt, and grime that often is associated with farm life and rural living and giving it a sort of Grunge vibe. Additionally, Rusticcore has a more stereotypically “masculine” feel in comparison to Cottagecore’s more stereotypically “feminine” feel. Common visuals in the aesthetic include:

Farmhouses
Cabins
Unfinished wooden furniture
Old or rusty tools
Taxidermy such as deer heads
Fireplaces
Farm animals, especially horses and cows
Rural landscapes

Fashion[]

Rusticcore fashion is made up of practical, work clothes and/or homemade clothing made of simple materials such as wool and cotton. Fall colors, especially browns and reds are key. Rusticcore fashion shares some overlap with Grunge, since a lot of original Grunge fashion was clothing that farmers and people like that wore because the clothing was intended to be long-lasting to be able to handle the wear and tear of the rigors of working on the farm. Common aspects of rustic fashion include:

Plaid
Denim
Jeans
Overalls
Work Boots or Tennis Shoes
Knit Sweaters
Wool Socks
Leather Belts

Activities[]

Most activities associated with the Rusticcore aesthetic involve things that would be usually be done in rural areas and farms.

Woodworking and Carpentry
Sewing, Knitting or Crocheting
Gardening
Raising farm animals such as chickens and cows
Horseback Riding
Hiking
Playing Guitar
Stargazing

Media[]

Movies[]

Stand by Me (1986)
Field of Dreams (1989)
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
Babe (1995)
The Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
When Evil Lurks (2023)

TV Series[]

Lassie (1954-1974)
Heartland (2007-)
Anne with an E (2017-2019)
Yellowstone (2018-)
Reservation Dogs (2021-)

Literature[]

Heidi by Johanna Spyri
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder (series)
A Mercy by Toni Morrison
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
Shane by Jack Schaefer
Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese

Music[]

A lot of Rusticcore music involves folksy, acoustic music and has generally a loose, improvisational feel to it, like a bunch of friends gathered together on the front porch with whatever they could find and just have a jam session. Country and Folk are the genres most strongly associated with Rusticcore. Popular bands and artists include: