Has "cute" gone too far?

[Keroin]

*DISCLAIMER* No offense is intended to the various members of this board (Etoile), who provide us with moments of feline hilarity (Etoile), and general cuteness (Etoile).


I’ve read a few articles lately discussing the increasing fascination with “cute” in our culture - “Addicted to Cute”, in Vanity Fair, is long but worth the read – and it got me to wondering about this trend.

From emoticons, to “kittehs”, to funny baby videos, our culture is being swamped with cute. Why?

I have to admit that I am guilty of succumbing to the culture of cute, at times. I like cupcakes, as many here are aware. I have even started using emoticons in my posts, which I swore I would never do . And, yes, funny cat photos/videos sometimes make me laugh.

But I am not a complete convert. The words “kitteh”, “puppeh” or “bunneh” still make me want to “barfeh”. Babies do nothing for me, nothing. I have no “aawww” response when looking at a baby dressed as a “bunneh”. Those big-eyed anime characters annoy me. I don’t…cuddle. I will never wear a "snuggie", thankyouverymuch.

Bah humbug.

So, how do you feel about all this cuteness? Is it too much? Or is it just what our culture needs after suffering through a decade of bad news?

Is Etoile secretly taking over our brains through the clever use of cat imagery?

 

[Netzach]

*DISCLAIMER* No offense is intended to the various members of this board (Etoile), who provide us with moments of feline hilarity (Etoile), and general cuteness (Etoile).


I’ve read a few articles lately discussing the increasing fascination with “cute” in our culture - “Addicted to Cute”, in Vanity Fair, is long but worth the read – and it got me to wondering about this trend.

From emoticons, to “kittehs”, to funny baby videos, our culture is being swamped with cute. Why?

I have to admit that I am guilty of succumbing to the culture of cute, at times. I like cupcakes, as many here are aware. I have even started using emoticons in my posts, which I swore I would never do . And, yes, funny cat photos/videos sometimes make me laugh.

But I am not a complete convert. The words “kitteh”, “puppeh” or “bunneh” still make me want to “barfeh”. Babies do nothing for me, nothing. I have no “aawww” response when looking at a baby dressed as a “bunneh”. Those big-eyed anime characters annoy me. I don’t…cuddle. I will never wear a "snuggie", thankyouverymuch.

Bah humbug.

So, how do you feel about all this cuteness? Is it too much? Or is it just what our culture needs after suffering through a decade of bad news?

Is Etoile secretly taking over our brains through the clever use of cat imagery?

Have you ever looked at a magazine article or news program from Japan? I don't think we really understand "cuteoverload.com" in the West. It's not even close, not remotely. I also get the impression that in Japan, cuteness in aesthetic doesn't imply loss of seriousness to the degree that it does in the West - so the dismissive impulse is interesting. Is it also dismissive because we gender cute so strongly here, whereas cute aesthetics are so pervasive in Japan that it's likely men and women and people of all ages will interact with items designed for cute?

 

[Keroin]

Have you ever looked at a magazine article or news program from Japan?

Apparently that's where we're headed, according to the VF article. *shudders*

I lived in Japan about 20 years ago and even then there was a culture of cute. It was not as prolific as it is now, but it was there. The stationary was what really sticks in my memory, the ultra-cute paper and matching envelopes.

 

[Netzach]

Apparently that's where we're headed, according to the VF article. *shudders*

I lived in Japan about 20 years ago and even then there was a culture of cute. It was not as prolific as it is now, but it was there. The stationary was what really sticks in my memory, the ultra-cute paper and matching envelopes.

Yep, I think that's still one of the strongest crossover items, I know that it's heavily imported, traded and bought, even when - who's writing letters anymore?

 

[Keroin]

Yep, I think that's still one of the strongest crossover items, I know that it's heavily imported, traded and bought, even when - who's writing letters anymore?

Good question.

I have to admit. I do miss good, old fashioned, snail mail letters from my friends overseas. But if trees are saved I'm happy.

What's interesting to me, regarding Japan, is that they are also a very brutal, almost sadistic culture in many ways - at least that was my opinion when I lived there. I'd love to hear Rida's take on this.

 

[graceanne]

I only like the lolcats, cause they're funny. I do not like cute for the sake of cute. Pictures of kitties and children I don't know don't do anything for me.

 

[Keroin]

I only like the lolcats, cause they're funny. I do not like cute for the sake of cute. Pictures of kitties and children I don't know don't do anything for me.

My reaction to cute varies on the type of cute it is. For example, when I worked as a vet assistant, I dealt with lots of kittens and puppies and every now and then I'd see something that was undeniably cute and...yeah, the heart strings were tugged.

As for babies and children, I think I'm just missing the maternal gene.

But as to the larger topic, there's something I find mildly disturbing about the cultural shift towards all-things-cute. Wish I could say why but at this point it's just a gut instinct.

 

[kaycee217]

My reaction to cute varies on the type of cute it is. For example, when I worked as a vet assistant, I dealt with lots of kittens and puppies and every now and then I'd see something that was undeniably cute and...yeah, the heart strings were tugged.

As for babies and children, I think I'm just missing the maternal gene.

But as to the larger topic, there's something I find mildly disturbing about the cultural shift towards all-things-cute. Wish I could say why but at this point it's just a gut instinct.

And why's that? I like and appreciate cute, but it can also make me want to throw up sometimes. Despite this, I don't see anything inherently wrong with it.

EDIT: speaking of cute, nice avatar .

 

[Keroin]

And why's that? I like and appreciate cute, but it can also make me want to throw up sometimes. Despite this, I don't see anything inherently wrong with it.

As I said, I don't have a rational explanation, at this point in time. In the VF article, the author speaks of the need (as a culture), to show "the face of dependency", and I think this has something to do with it.

There's nothing wrong with cute, on its own, but as a cultural trend, too much cute feels like regression to me.

EDIT: speaking of cute, nice avatar .

Tee hee.

 

[kittyn_]

Cute simply is. I like -most- things cute, but I think it has something to do with loving visuals in general. Cute sights just make me smile, most of the time. I do have a huge hatred of a lot of 'cutesy' terms (kitteh, bunneh, etc, what's wrong with kitty and bunny?!)

As for to much cute? Unless you come across the people who have everything Hello Kitty they have ever seen in their life, I don't think to much exists. Like everything else, cute has some diehard fans, but overall people dabble in it, appreciate it when they see it, and then go on. It's just something to smile about for a minute it, or make you feel good by knowing you have it.

Stress relief by way of animated animals, annoyingly spelled words, and general fluff. Not a bad thing at all, generally speaking.

 

[BiBunny]

Wow. That article couldn't have been more pretentious if it tried, could it? Jesus Christ, talk about having a stick up one's ass. And that "culture of dependency" business made no sense whatsoever.

Sounds like somebody's got a bone to pick.

 

[TypicalDeviant]

I like the lolcats and other macros because they're funny, "cute" can go off and fuck itself. ;-)

 

[Cattypuss]

I do have a huge hatred of a lot of 'cutesy' terms (kitteh, bunneh, etc, what's wrong with kitty and bunny?!) .

I tend to call them cats and rabbits.

 

[intothewoods]

As I said, I don't have a rational explanation, at this point in time. In the VF article, the author speaks of the need (as a culture), to show "the face of dependency", and I think this has something to do with it.

There's nothing wrong with cute, on its own, but as a cultural trend, too much cute feels like regression to me.



Tee hee.

I scoured the article for the "face of dependency" bit, and I have to say I don't get how this translates to American or western culture. I'm not entirely sure it makes sense for Japanese culture either, for that matter. I think cuteness has always been appealing, and the internet just made a few things go viral. I mean, it's an amusing article, but the author is stringing together everything from cupcakes to Obama. Eh. I just don't think this is a recent phenomenon.

I have some thoughts on the maternal angle, but I have to go eat. Back later!

 

[DeepGreenEyes]

I really don't get the Lolcats and the kitty pics and the bunnies and the millipedes or whatever else gets posted. At all. But then again, there's a lot that I find funny that legions of people think is supremely stupid.

Are we really getting cuter? I haven't read the VF article, but what about all the unicorns and rainbows and Carebears and Precious Moments (aka children of the corn) and Hello Kitties and "hang in there baby" cats that have lorded over the Western cultural landscape for many years? Is part of it that it's moving more into the adult realm?

(Obviously I just need to read the damn article.)

 

[Keroin]

I really don't get the Lolcats and the kitty pics and the bunnies and the millipedes or whatever else gets posted. At all. But then again, there's a lot that I find funny that legions of people think is supremely stupid.

Are we really getting cuter? I haven't read the VF article, but what about all the unicorns and rainbows and Carebears and Precious Moments (aka children of the corn) and Hello Kitties and "hang in there baby" cats that have lorded over the Western cultural landscape for many years? Is part of it that it's moving more into the adult realm?

(Obviously I just need to read the damn article.)

LOL.

Actually, what inspired this thread wasn't really the article but a dinner conversation last night. One of my friends is a quadriplegic who has limited use of one arm and hand - enough so that he can manipulate a mouse. Because of this, he spends a LOT of time online. Last night he was bitching at the sheer volume of "cute" he runs across, and sometimes has to sift through while working, and that reminded me of the VF article, and then I was curious what other people thought about it and...here we are.

ETA: Plus I was bored and wanted a new topic to chat about. Yeah, not much work done today.

I'm really not the grinch who stole cuteness.

Honest.

I get you on the sense of humour thing. Much of what cracks me up does nothing for most other people I know.

 

[JMohegan]

I thought the point of lolcats was the insult and/or annoy people. Like graceanne's troll drawings, or Bibunny's av. I don't get "cute" from that at all.

And Lit is the only place I see this type of stuff. Keroin, if your friend is feeling overwhelmed by it, I'd say he needs some new links on his Bookmarks Bar.

 

[satindesire]

I love the culture of cute. I own many "cute" things (hello kitty items specifically) and specifically buy "cute" for my own personal joy. My husband says I tend to have a very "cute" and sweet personality and many people call me "cute" instead of 'pretty', or say I "act cute". I've noticed that I really don't do this on purpose just to try and be "cutesey", that's just my personality. I wear bright colors, lots of pink, wear my hair in ribbons and pigtails, and generally carry myself in a sweet way because I like being sweet and 'cute'.

I enjoy the Kawaii-madness in Japan's culture and don't think I could ever tire of it.

However, I've noticed that the culture of cute in Japan is still respected and appreciated even when older people and men enjoy it, where as someone who enjoys things like that here in the US are considered "immature" or "fake", and I'm treated with disdain and sometimes downright hostility because of my attitude and the way I dress, which I find ridiculously bigoted, it's like no one appreciates anyone who has manners anymore! I'm 25, married, with a nine month old, if I want to wear pink and pigtails, that's MY damn business! I don't dress inappropriately, EVER, but when I do dress, I make sure what I'm wearing looks "cute" (I.E. bright playful colors, funky shoes, unique hair accessories, awesome nail art, etc.)

I can totally respect that some people can get sick of it when it's "forced", but when someone like myself who finds the "cute culture" like home and relates to it in a very natural and age-appropriate way gets mistreated because of it, that grates my nerves.

 

[Keroin]

I thought the point of lolcats was the insult and/or annoy people. Like graceanne's troll drawings, or Bibunny's av. I don't get "cute" from that at all.

And Lit is the only place I see this type of stuff. Keroin, if your friend is feeling overwhelmed by it, I'd say he needs some new links on his Bookmarks Bar.

Oh, I think he surfs quite extensively but because of some of the work he does - lengthy explanation, which I'll skip - he runs into cute along the way.

Ironically, he has no problem with the many conspiracy theory websites, videos, etc. Last night I got to hear all about the giant, alien space craft sitting over the south pole. I can't really fault him, though. I'm not sure what I would do if I was confined to a wheelchair 24/7.

 

[Keroin]

I love the culture of cute. I own many "cute" things (hello kitty items specifically) and specifically buy "cute" for my own personal joy. My husband says I tend to have a very "cute" and sweet personality and many people call me "cute" instead of 'pretty', or say I "act cute". I've noticed that I really don't do this on purpose just to try and be "cutesey", that's just my personality. I wear bright colors, lots of pink, wear my hair in ribbons and pigtails, and generally carry myself in a sweet way because I like being sweet and 'cute'.

I enjoy the Kawaii-madness in Japan's culture and don't think I could ever tire of it.

However, I've noticed that the culture of cute in Japan is still respected and appreciated even when older people and men enjoy it, where as someone who enjoys things like that here in the US are considered "immature" or "fake", and I'm treated with disdain and sometimes downright hostility because of my attitude and the way I dress, which I find ridiculously bigoted, it's like no one appreciates anyone who has manners anymore! I'm 25, married, with a nine month old, if I want to wear pink and pigtails, that's MY damn business! I don't dress inappropriately, EVER, but when I do dress, I make sure what I'm wearing looks "cute" (I.E. bright playful colors, funky shoes, unique hair accessories, awesome nail art, etc.)

I can totally respect that some people can get sick of it when it's "forced", but when someone like myself who finds the "cute culture" like home and relates to it in a very natural and age-appropriate way gets mistreated because of it, that grates my nerves.

I'm sorry if people make you feel bad for the way you dress, Satin. You'd blend in well in this town, whose motto could be "Anything goes!".

I am wondering, however, if your age does play a factor in your acceptance of the cute culture?

Maybe I'm just a cranky old curmudgeon?

 

[kittyn_]

I tend to call them cats and rabbits.

Yeah, I have a 4 year old. We allow kitty and bunny, I even accept them as legitimate terms in respect to their animals. I just don't see why we need yet ANOTHER way to say 'cat' and 'rabbit' is all, particularly one that is a perverted (in the non fun way) version of what are already improper names.

 

[WriterDom]

Cute is a choice isn't it? I mean you can probably find beheadings and donkey's fucking chicks just as easy.

 

[satindesire]

I'm sorry if people make you feel bad for the way you dress, Satin. You'd blend in well in this town, whose motto could be "Anything goes!".

I am wondering, however, if your age does play a factor in your acceptance of the cute culture?

Maybe I'm just a cranky old curmudgeon?

Oh, I don't really get bothered by it unless someone accuses me of being "fake"...I fucking hate that shit. Pardon my language. Not all nice people are nice for underhanded reasons, I'm nice because I want to be. It makes me happy to be sweet to people.

The fact that I'm still quite young possibly does make it easier for me to accept the cute culture. I am in many ways still childlike, even though I find myself with far more responsibilities than many people my age have, responsibilities and age don't necessarily equate maturity.

Maturity, however, does not necessarily equate being unable to accept or enjoy the cute culture.

 

[Keroin]

Cute is a choice isn't it?

It's biological. You're either born cute or you're not!!

I don't care what those "cute de-programmers" say

 

[DVS]

*DISCLAIMER* No offense is intended to the various members of this board (Etoile), who provide us with moments of feline hilarity (Etoile), and general cuteness (Etoile).


I’ve read a few articles lately discussing the increasing fascination with “cute” in our culture - “Addicted to Cute”, in Vanity Fair, is long but worth the read – and it got me to wondering about this trend.

From emoticons, to “kittehs”, to funny baby videos, our culture is being swamped with cute. Why?

I have to admit that I am guilty of succumbing to the culture of cute, at times. I like cupcakes, as many here are aware. I have even started using emoticons in my posts, which I swore I would never do . And, yes, funny cat photos/videos sometimes make me laugh.

But I am not a complete convert. The words “kitteh”, “puppeh” or “bunneh” still make me want to “barfeh”. Babies do nothing for me, nothing. I have no “aawww” response when looking at a baby dressed as a “bunneh”. Those big-eyed anime characters annoy me. I don’t…cuddle. I will never wear a "snuggie", thankyouverymuch.

Bah humbug.

So, how do you feel about all this cuteness? Is it too much? Or is it just what our culture needs after suffering through a decade of bad news?

Is Etoile secretly taking over our brains through the clever use of cat imagery?

Speaking of cuteness (or is that cuteneh?), how do you explain your present AV? And don't smack me! I'm just pointing out the obvious...or is that obviouh?