Today, I’ve been looking at articles pertaining to observations of cute aesthetics. I found this interesting article by Kitty Hauser from the London Book of Reviews website. Hauser reviews two books regarding Japanese cute culture and fashion and how its own economic turmoil has been an influence on cute aesthetics, culture, and fashion.

I also found another interesting article by Gary Genosko called The Natures and Cultures and Cuteness. He writes about the psychology of cuteness. He writes that the feelings we have for babies are similar to those feelings we have when we see cute Disney characters or cute animals. And how we buy into it.

In this article I found in the Speak-Up archives (part of UnderConsideration), author Marian Bantjes defines The Aesthetics of Cute by different categories and characteristics. It’s a really funny read.

Lastly, I found this article on CabinetMagazine entitled Fifteen Theses of the Cute by Frances Richard. In this piece, Richard writes about his thoughts regarding ‘Cute’ and what it ‘is’.

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And here are some images by artist Gemma Correll (who is an artist I recently discovered…I LOVE her art!):

San-X’s cute orange, Mikan (they are so cute!! EEE! I just want to spend money on them!):

I have probably spent in the hundreds on San-X related merchandise too…I mean, how could any one resist stationary that has a cute character like this:

…Beerchan! So cute! Makes me want a drink.