Echo

Part 1 | Phase 3 | Poll 15

Hello Darklings! 🦇 And welcome back to The DeadLock Chronicles Aesthetic Tournament! Today I'm dealing with some endometriosis pain, so we're taking it nice and easy! 🥲 Before we continue on with Phase 3, let's see the victor of our last poll.

Aaaaaand it's...The After Hours Aesthetic! 🎉🥳 I want to take a moment to thank all 27 participants who voted in the poll, may your pasta be cheesy and creamy ✨ After Hours will move onto Phase 4 where it shall face off in the first finale of the Tournament! For now we bid adieu to The Cybergoth Aesthetic. I gotta say, I'm really surprised that After Hours won, and by such a large margin! But I'm so thrilled because I really do love it's warmth and hazy palette.

Let's take a look at our updated Bracket Chart:

It's time for our next poll of Phase 3! Now The Decopunk Aesthetic battle off against The Film Noir Aesthetic!

As stated before, The Decopunk Aesthetic is defined as a subset of the -punk sci-fi genres. It has a sleeker and shiny aesthetic compared to Dieselpunk, which has a tendency to be more gritty and dark aesthetic to it. Often times, Decopunk will use slightly more modern technology compared to the times it's supposed to evoke like VHS tapes.

In it's first poll, Decopunk won against The DIY-Punk Aesthetic in it's first poll by 60%. It saw victory again against The Cybergrunge Aesthetic in it's second poll by 66.7%! Will Decopunk continue to climb it's way to the crown? Or will it finally meet it's match?

As you've heard previously, The Film Noir Aesthetic is defined as a genre of crime film that was popularized from the 1930s to the 1950s. Its cynical characters, stark lighting, and existential philosophy are hallmarks of the style. The tropes often came about from the rise of "hard-boiled" crime fiction from the Great Depression, with the familiar tropes of urbanism, fast-paced slang, sex, and violence came into print, which contrasts the previous decade's country house mystery. Its visual identity relies heavily on things like sharp contrasts and dramatic compositions influenced by German Expressionism.

Previously, Film Noir won against The Ghostcore Aesthetic by 65.6% in it's very first poll! In it's second poll against The Golden Age of Comics Aesthetic, Film Noir took the victory once again by 57.1%! Will the classic aesthetic lead the way for the crown? Or will it taste defeat before it can grab at it's highest victory?

I think these two aesthetics are in the ultimate battle of optimism vs pessimism! Decopunk is adorned by gleaming chrome, sunburst motifs in sparking golds, and rich and bold colors. Decopunk is filled with utopian ideas of the machine and industrial era, while painting a gorgeous future free from the smog and grease those ideals are renowned for. And if there's one thing Decopunk pushes above all else, it's progress, progress, progress!

Then we have The Film Noir Aesthetic. Famously opposite of Decopunk in every where. Aside for the two aesthetics shared love of retro elements and fashion, the two couldn't be anymore different from one another. Between rain slicked streets, cigarette smoke, and morally gray characters, Film Noir is always pondering the darkness of humanity. It's cynicism in an iconic trenchcoat, basically.

So, what do you think? Is The Deadlock Chronicles full of hope or quiet despair? Color, or shades of gray? Limitless possibilities or a world defined by black and white thinking? Only you 🫵 get yo decide!

Next time, we'll be advancing onto Phase 4 and the finale of Part 1 of the Aesthetic Tournament with a battle between our victor versus The After Hours Aesthetic! See ya then!

Previous Poll: After Hours vs. Cybergoth

Part 1 | Phase 2 | Finale

Hello Darklings! 🦇 And welcome back to The DeadLock Chronicles Aesthetic Tournament! Apologies for the long wait, I've been all over the place 😅 Before we officially begin Phase 3, let's see the victor of our last poll.

Aaaaaand it's...The Film Noir Aesthetic! 🎉🥳 I want to take a moment to thank all 14 participants who voted in the poll, may your pillow sides stay cold ✨ Film Noir will move onto Phase 3 where it shall face off against our previous victor, Decopunk. For now we bid adieu to The Golden Age of Comics Aesthetic. I am not surprised to see Film Noir come out on top, the moodiness in the aesthetic and it's iconic use of shadows and mystery feels more fitting for The Deadlock Chronicles overall!

Let's take a look at our updated Bracket Chart:

It's finally time to begin Phase 3! 🥳 Now without further ado, it's time to see The After Hours Aesthetic battle off against The Cybergoth Aesthetic!

Part 1 | Phase 3 | Poll 14

As stated before, the After Hours Aesthetic is defined as an aesthetic inspired by the forlorn atmosphere of empty or seemingly abandoned places that are usually bustling with people. I was personally drawn to the aesthetic for its darkened golden glow that permeates the memories of my childhood of driving in cities. Very fitting for late-night Gotham, which will be the stepping stones of our AU, but this may be restrictive as the AU expands into Metropolis and likewise places. Unless you wanna see Metropolis casted in golden darkness 😈

In it's first battle, After Hours won by 56.5%! And in it's second battle, After Hours won by 53.6%! Very very close to drawing a tie both times. Does After Hours have what it takes to come out on top again? Or will it finally taste defeat?

As you've heard previously, The Cybergoth Aesthetic is defined as a subculture that originated in the late 1990s, drawing influence from Raver, Rivethead, and Cyberpunk aesthetics. The style is characterized by its futuristic and post-apocalyptic fashion, which combines a base of black, industrial-style clothing with UV-reactive neon colors. The most iconic elements of the look are synthetic dreadfalls known as "cyberlox," large goggles (often worn on the forehead), and accessories like gas masks, biohazard symbols, and circuit board patterns. The fashion is completed with massive platform boots and is designed for the high-energy "industrial dance" style performed in clubs to electronic music genres.

In it's first battle, Cybergoth won by a whopping 71.4%! However the second battle wasn't as easy, as Cybergoth won by 57.1%, almost a tie. Can Cybergoth repeat it's earlier success? Will it only skirt by again? Will it finally taste defeat?

I think these two aesthetics are in a battle over who truly owns the night ✨ After Hours captures all the glamour of nocturnal living: smoky clubs, neon signs, smeared makeup, sharp suits. That limbo in time when the party is over but not quite. It's the seduction of the nightlife, warm and hazy, beckoning you to hide away from sunrise. Cybergoth is far more dystopian than that. From it's industrial roots to it's platform boots and glitching neon signs, Cybergoth is more of a rebellion against a sterile reality, whereas After Hours indulges in the glamour of tonight.

So, what do you think? Does The Deadlock Chronicles feel seductive? Do you feel temptation in it's growing shadows? Does it feel like a night you never want to end? Or does it feel rebellious? Does it's shadows feel like a cover from burning light? Is the night the last battleground before a terrible day? Only you can decide 😎

Next time, we'll be advancing in Phase 3 with our second battle between The Decopunk Aesthetic versus The Film Noir Aesthetic! See ya then!

Previous Poll: Phase 2 | The Golden Age of Comics vs. Film Noir