bruttolike

Bruttolike is a neologism used in online discourse to describe media, design, and aesthetic practices that deliberately embrace rough, unconventional, or imperfect elements. The term is typically applied to visuals, sounds, and objects that appear intentionally unpolished or excessive in a way that challenges conventional standards of polish and beauty.

Etymology and origin The word is commonly analyzed as a portmanteau blending an Italian root such as brutto, meaning ugly, with the English word like. Its exact origins are uncertain, but it began to appear in English-language online communities in the 2020s, where users discuss aesthetics that foreground texture, misalignment, glitch, and other perceived flaws as intentional stylistic choices.

Usage and scope Bruttolike can describe various domains, including graphic design, fashion, music videos, memes, and digital art. Typical features include low-fidelity or glitchy textures, saturated or clashing color palettes, visible seams or editing artifacts, coarse typography, and a deliberate rejection of conventional smoothness. In fashion, bruttolike design might emphasize oversized silhouettes and rugged fabrics; in digital media, it may involve unrefined color grading, rough cuts, and unapologetically loud presentation. The term is used both descriptively and evaluatively, sometimes as a badge of authenticity and subcultural credibility, and other times as a critique of perceived low effort.

Reception and context Bruttolike sits within broader conversations about authenticity, anti-polish aesthetics, and resistance to mainstream beauty norms. It overlaps with related concepts such as lo-fi, glitch art, brutalism in design, and ugly fashion. As a relatively new and evolving term, its precise meaning can vary across communities and platforms.

See also: ugly aesthetics, lo-fi culture, glitch art, brutalism in design, meme culture.