What is #corecore?
Have you come across the newfound “corecore” phenomenon on TikTok? Well, it’s definitely something to take note of! As NBC News’ Kalhan Rosenblatt eloquently defines it, corecore consists of various visuals—from memes and headlines to clips from movies and television shows—paired with an energetic soundtrack. It can be quite a stirring experience!
In a recent interview with Mashable, Kieran Press-Reynolds – one of the very first people to identify this trend – referred to #corecore videos as “meme-poems”. Know Your Meme was slightly more critical: they characterized it as an aesthetic embodied in stylized video edits and meme compilations that are both glitzy and moldy. If all of this has left you perplexed, take some time to watch a few examples by clicking here.
Although I’m sure that the #corecore trend will quickly become a distant memory in just a few weeks, it does speak to the evolution of video platforms. It’s not so much about emotional maturation as much as it is about how people interpret editing videos today.
@flicksaga Yea #nichetok #corecore ♬ The Sound of Myself – Disasterpeace
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Background of #corecore
Web 2.0 gave rise to a world of new possibilities in the online space, with platforms like Imgur, Tumblr, StumbleUpon and Reddit becoming home to an array of images that could now be sorted according to user preference. This was quite different from preceding image-sharing sites such as Photobucket or Flickr – not forgetting MySpace and Facebook too – which essentially provided users public albums for their photos along with some basic tags and comment options. Back in the days of MySpace and early Facebook, it was all about flooding social media with your personal photos – from high-quality shots by a professional photographer to blurry images taken at a wild party. The only thing that mattered was the sheer number of pictures we could share; there wasn’t much time for pondering or discussing their content. For example, I remember posting one particular photo where I had duct tape wrapped around my hands while partying at an underground punk house in Nassau County!
As users began to share images on social media platforms, they started curating photos not just based on subject matter but also the emotions generated by them. This is how Reddit developed its SFW porn subreddit system with subreddits like/HumanPorn and r/EarthPorn. Similarly, Tumblr customers created initial internet aesthetics such as soft grunge in a similar fashion. That same procedure is still being used today; it has grown into multiple types of aesthetics and intricate labels for certain meme visuals.
While video classification didn’t quite keep up with the internet’s transformation of static images, TikTok was able to bridge that gap. Internet users are now more knowledgeable about different types of videos and connecting certain feelings with visuals – something that seemed almost impossible before TikTok came along.
TikTok and its predecessor Vine have already left, and will continue to leave, a more influential imprint on digital video than YouTube or Twitch due to the effortless editing capabilities they offer users. I stand by this statement yet again.
So why TikTok?
TikTok isn’t just a free Adobe Premiere, it’s an opportunity for teenagers to gain invaluable knowledge on how sound and images work together in the best way possible. This hands-on experimentation is what leads to trends like #corecore – videos that inexplicably evoke emotions from viewers unlike any other app before it!
From what I have seen of #corecore videos, they take on a Neo-A Softer World/Adam Curtis documentary style. They are a condensed version of the trend that emerged several years ago where individuals would film one second everyday and put it together into an annual summary with LCD Soundsystem’s “All my Friends” as its soundtrack. But since these type of video is being made by Gen Z instead of millennials, there isn’t any trace left from dull self-centered glimpses at their personal lives; rather, mild dystopian fragments representing all different sorts of media they consume abound!
I find it all extremely captivating. Although the videos feature a lighthearted atmosphere, there is an air of sincerity that permeates them. It feels as if we are watching footage from an ancient culture or artificial intelligence attempting to comprehend what humanity entails. Alternatively, perhaps more accurately, these clips reveal a younger generation who have matured during progressive sociopolitical turmoil and uncontrolled pandemics using digital technology in order to uncover the meaning of life – or just gain popularity on social media!
So how do we use the #corecore trend as marketers?
As marketers, understanding how to leverage trends such as #corecore on TikTok is essential for staying relevant and engaging with younger audiences. By learning what elements make this trend popular, you can implement similar tactics into your own marketing campaigns to maximize brand engagement and reach.
Key components of #corecore
The first step to using #corecore as a marketer is identifying the key components of the trend that attract users. It’s clear from the content that Neo-A Softer World/Adam Curtis documentary aesthetics is a major element driving its success, so marketers should consider incorporating similar visual styles into their own videos. Even if your videos don’t necessarily follow this style, simple additions like analog effects can go a long way towards modernizing your visuals and creating an emotional connection with viewers. Additionally, focusing on storytelling within each video is also critical; viewers find value in digesting complex narratives through short-form videos rather than longer forms of content like articles or podcasts.
Sound design of #corecore
When it comes to sound design and scoring music for these types of videos, there’s no hard and fast rule for what works best—music choices are highly subjective. However, many successful creators have found success by blending ambient electronic music or lo-fi hip hop beats with natural sounds like birds chirping or the wind blowing through trees. This combination lets viewers connect with nature while still keeping the overall mood of the video upbeat and engaging.
Finally, marketers should take advantage of hashtags when promoting their content featuring #corecore aesthetics. Hashtags are a great way to quickly get your content seen by a large swath of users; they can help potential viewers find new content more easily and simultaneously allow creators to join conversations related to their own work within TikTok discussion threads. Moreover, using popular hashtags associated with #corecore such as #neosoftworld or even creating ones that haven’t been used before could be beneficial for increasing exposure across platforms since other social media sites like Twitter often feature trending hashtags from TikTok discussions in their own feeds.
Corecore Conclusion
To wrap up, leveraging the popular #corecore trend on TikTok can be an effective way for marketers to tap into younger audiences in ways that resonate with them on both an aesthetic and narrative level. By experimenting with visuals that evoke emotion while also utilizing soundscapes tailored specifically toward this demographic, it is possible to create compelling marketing campaigns that drive engagement and reach far beyond what was previously imaginable.