Reinventing the Rural Idyll: A study on the impacts of 19th Century England on the Cottagecore Aesthetic

Abstract

With new technologies, climate change, and consumerism, people find themselves between the choice of embracing the change or escaping from it. By trying to live a simpler life, being one with nature, avoid the superfluous, comes the necessity for something else: the bucolic, the idyllic. “Cottagecore” is the new term to define this trend that not only focuses on appearance and a specific aesthetic but also a lifestyle. This research analyses the longing towards past times; in particular, rural life in 19th century England, focusing on the countryside and the ideal of a life in line with nature. This bucolic imagery is found both in modern and Victorian writers, such as Louisa May Alcott, Thomas Hardy, and others. Furthermore, with film adaptations of both Victorian and modern novels, more visual and practical examples are given. With the guidance of scientific sources of the 21st century, awareness, and knowledge that people now have, this study tries to analyse whether returning to old times can be a solution or a disillusion; in particular, by considering crucial themes such as human rights and environmental issues such as sustainability.