Sadbois and Sadgirls

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Sadboi/Sadgirl
Example of the "Sadgirl" archetype.
Decade of origin	Mid-2010s
Key motifs	Melancholic imagery, depictions of loneliness and isolation, introspective text, digital distortions, references to youth culture, VHS filters
Key colours	Predominantly dark tones (black, gray), desaturated colors (dull blues, purples, greens), with occasional contrasting bright accents
Key values	Self-expression, emotional vulnerability, a sense of shared experience
Related aesthetics	Dead Inside Devilcore Doomer Drain E-Boy E-Girl Emo Emo Rap Glitch Art Grunge Liminal Space Lo-fi Tradcath Coquette Traumacore Trillwave Trxsh Vaporwave

Sadbois and Sadgirls is an aesthetic that originated online, notably on Tumblr, in the mid-2010s. It is characterized by the expression of feelings of disaffection, loneliness, anxiety, and sadness, often through specific visual and thematic elements. While the terms "Sadboi" and "Sadgirl" are frequently used to describe individuals associated with this aesthetic, its expressions are not limited to specific gender identities.

The aesthetic draws from a range of influences and is often conveyed through a combination of digital imagery, text, and a focus on melancholic themes. This can include the use of black and white edits of anime or cartoon shows, sometimes from the 80s and 90s, imagery related to cigarettes, "trippy" or surreal visuals, and references to depression and self-harm. Vaporwave-inspired visuals and expressions of sexuality or heartbreak can also be present.

Characteristics of this aesthetic include the exploration of sadness as a common experience, sometimes even romanticizing melancholic feelings. This can involve an ambivalent relationship with traditional notions of mental health and treatment. The aesthetic has been observed to facilitate a sense of community among individuals who share these feelings, offering a space for self-expression and validation. The rise of this aesthetic coincided with increased discussions of mental health on social media and in popular culture, as well as the popularization of Emo Rap (e.g., XXXTentacion, Lil Peep) and Dark Pop (e.g., Billie Eilish, Melanie Martinez) music.

The aesthetic's name appears to be derived from "Sad Boys," a music collective founded by Yung Lean and Yung Gud in 2012.

Visuals

Under Construction

Fashion

Under Construction

Philosophy

Under Construction

Criticism

Under Construction

Subgenres

Simpsonwave

ＳＵＮＤＡＹ ＳＣＨＯＯＬ

Simpsonwave is a subgenre of Vaporwave that emerged online in the mid-2010s, characterized by its combination of clips and imagery from the animated television series The Simpsons. It often incorporates themes of heartbreak or social isolation. Simpsonwave has been subject to criticism, with some arguing that its use of comedic imagery can trivialize depression.

Music

Genres

Under Construction

Musical Artists

• gabriel black
• Crywank
• Salvia Plath
• Halsey
• Joji
• Billie Eilish
• XXXTentacion
• Juice WRLD
• Lil Peep
• Aakon Keetreh
• $uicideboy$
• Penelope Scott
• Lael Hansen
• Elvis Depressedly
• Nicole Dollanganger
• Red House Painters
• Twenty-One Pilots
• Codeine

Songs

• "bury a friend" - Billie Eilish
• "needy" by Ariana Grande
• "What was I made for" by Billie Eilish
• "no tears left to cry" by Ariana Grande
• "Crybaby" by Melanie Martinez
• "everything i wanted" - Billie Eilish
• "death bed" - Powfu and Beabadoobee
• "garbage bag" - Lael Hansen
• "listen before i go" - Billie Eilish
• ”Feel Better” by Penelope Scott
• "Easy Way Out" by Gotye
• "Empty" - Olivia O'Brien
• "Everybody Dies in the Nighttime" - XXXtentacion
• "You'll Miss Me When I'm Not Around" - Grimes
• "my life is boring" - Lael Hansen
• "Isle of Flightless Birds" - Twenty-One Pilots
• "Semi-Automatic" - Twenty-One Pilots

Media

Shows

• Bojack Horseman (2014-2020)

Movies

• Blue Valentine (2010)
• Dancer in the Dark (2000)
• Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
• Manchester by the Sea (2016)
• Melancholia (2011)
• Requiem For A Dream (2000)

Resources

External links to help get a better understanding of this aesthetic.

Playlists

• sad bois jams for sadbois Spotify playlist by yooliam
• Sadbois Playlist Spotify playlist by pattycakearoo
• Sadbois and 4lokos Spotify playlist by uwuandchill
• SadBoiShit Spotify playlist by s0ftskelet0ns
• Sadbois Spotify playlist by mymmel888
• sadbois Spotify playlist by PapaPraedo
• sadbois Spotify playlist by Sophia Poirier
• Songs For Sadgirls Spotify playlist by Bella Doña
• Sadgirls Spotify playlist by Hurfatuljannah
• SadGirlsClub Spotify playlist by 11101337023
• SadGirlShit Spotify playlist by karakicks
• sadgirls..🌙 Spotify playlist by Mimi Thuy Thanh Pham

Gallery

Sadgirl Realness