GRUNGE Aesthetic

The GRUNGE aesthetic is characterized by a layer of abrasive filth which roughens an underlying source of beauty to soften its presence and make it more palatable to a jaded audience. This applies to grunge as applied to music, type, design and fashion. True beauty can be hard to look at or listen to directly, because it has been homogenized through repetition in modern mass media.

A contrasting grunge facade can enhance the artistic experience by providing a yin to the yang of a gratingly pleasant image or tune. This differentiates grunge from punk, in that the latter solely focusses on the abrasiveness and despises the underlying elegance.