Awareness of the pollution that we cause, as a civilisation, is no longer just a light interest in environmental issues, but rather an essential need for our survival Cottagecore » Kotidžkor | 65 Svest o zagađenju koje kao civilizacija činimo nije više samo lakonsko interesovanje za ekologiju već je i nasušna potreba za preživljavanjem MOVEMENT FOR T HE R ESTOR AT I ON OF NAT UR E AND S I MP L I C I T Y New life, new idyll In the romanticised “cottagecore” universe, the ability to grow tomatoes in a garden is far more important than how skilled you are at Powerpoint, the only urgent message is the one sent by water boiling in a teapot – and the feeling of personal fulfilment comes from inner harmony, and not from status symbols. Poeticmeadows, loosebouquetsof simpleflowers, long dresses from the early 20th century that evoke modest cuts, the harmony of inheritedtablewareandhouseholdutensils from bygone times… ese are all common motifs of rustic beauty which, thanks to social networks, now have a common denominator. e term cottagecore (a blend of the English words “cottage” and “core”, as a suffix of musical genres from the 1980s), emerged inorder todescribe a return to simpler life postulates, a slower rhythm, but a swift departure from the principles brought to us by the accelerated digital age. What does “cottagecore” look like? Just like the cover of Taylor Swift’s album Folklore, which rediscovered sensuality in nature. Like numerous workshops for the restorationof old crafts, suchas pottery, gardening, knitting etc. It is akin to the increasingly common fashion motif of patching tears in clothing, repairing worn-out items and preserving and loving everything together. Of course, we also can’t overlook the fact that “cottagecore” fits nicely into our increasingly evident need to live in harmony with nature, which is fighting for its own survival, and that the awareness of the pollution that we cause, as a civilisation, is no longer just a light interest in environmental issues, but rather an essential need for our survival. In the romanticised “cottagecore” universe, the ability to grow tomatoes in a garden is far more important than how skilled you are at Powerpoint, baking bread with a crust that’s perfectly crunchy is something you can put on your CV under “special skills”, the only urgent message is the one sent by water boiling in a teapot – and the feeling of personal fulfilment comes from inner harmony, and not from status symbols. Such escapist aesthetics represent a counterpoint to the hectic pace of notifications and the endless avalanche of information from the “feed”. In truth, a kind of irony can be seen in the fact that the visual nature of Instagram, as one of the most influential social networks, contributed to the popularisation of this movement.Moreover, the fact thatwe’ve all spent a goodpart of this year under lockdown has only increased the significance of the “cottagecore” trend. Like itornot, duringthepandemicwe’veall somehow returned to that authentic versionof life that’sfilledwith long conversations, simple home pleasures and a chamber atmosphere. ose who’d previously embraced this version of the eternal idyll were only a few steps ahead – it is logical for us all to have the desire to transfer our experiences of the new normal to something warmer and more akin to our nature. Kako izgleda kotidžkor? Baš kao omot albuma Folklor Tejlor Svift, koja je ponovo otkrila senzualnost u prirodi / What does “cottagecore” look like? Just like the cover of Taylor Swift’s album Folklore, which rediscovered sensuality in nature Tekst/Words: Ivan Radojičić Fotografije/Photography: iStock iStock / ilona titova
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