I saw this tweet this morning, and have been thinking about it since... As such, I'm proposing a new taxonomy:

For this (over the next few tweets), I'll refer to the suffix (-core, -punk, -wave, etc.) as the Scene, and the prefix (Cyber-, Steam-, Cottage-, etc.) as the Setting. https://twitter.com/acegiak/status/1291271215705804802

Given the highly political nature of the -punk Scene, and the tangential nature of the -core and -wave Scenes to the Punk music genre, I'm going to focus the taxonomy on the political framework of each Scene. I.e. Each Scene will apply a different political view to each Setting.

Therefore, the taxonomy will allow for a Setting/Scene-Matrix: Cyberpunk, Cyberwave, and Cybercore will all be possible, sensical, and (ideally) understandible philosophies and aesthetics that could have supporters and adherents.

Lastly, I'm going to try my best to adhere to definitions that make the most sense, given the existing genres that share some of those combinations. E.g. Cyberpunk _does_ exist, and it means things _right now_; I'm going to make sure it means as close to that after I'm done.

First up, let's deal with the -punk Scene. The most popular example is definitely Cyberpunk, which I feel is best founded in Jeff Noon's VURT, but later better exemplified in works like The Matrix, et al. The -punk Scene relies — as its name suggests — on a rejection of the...

...status quo. However, this isn't a baseless rejection. It's not rebellion for rebellion's sake. -punk envisions a context where — via the Setting — the world is in a dystopia. The -punk Scene envisions restisance to this Setting, however it is ultimately pessimistic.

No about of shadowrunning is going to solve the Cyber-dystopia...

We can extrapolate this to Cottagepunk: the context of the Cottage aesthetic as a dystopia, perhaps imagining a dystopian world ruled by terrifying fae overlords, or a provincial, backward authority...

...such as Midsommar or The Village. _However_, the dystopia would be actively resisted _within the context_. I.e. the resistant forces would themselves be embroiled in the Cottage aesthetic, using it to fight back. Ultimately, it would be a pessimistic one.

The -wave Scene is a natural follow on from -punk, as I feel it envisions somewhat of the opposite: via the Setting, the -wave Scene purports a world harmonised via the Scene's influence. A utopia has been built (or is in the process of being built) by adhering to the Scene's...

...aesthetics and ideologies. This Scene is inherently optimistic. Cyberwave would, therefore, exist as a technologically progressive dream, where by use of the Cyber aesthetic and ideology, the world is idealised.

Cottagewave is an obvious (if problematic) subculture at this point: by reverting to a Cottage-esque lifestyle, things are inherently better.

The -core Scene is perhaps the weirdest one, because it doesn't make a particularly bold stance _almost on purpose_. It is aesthetic for aesthetic's sake. This isn't to suggest it is shallow, but rather that it exists alongside an unaltered status quo.

Where -punk and -wave exist in inherent fantasies (imagining the world massively altered by the Settings), -core can, and probably does, exist now as an entreached and fully realised existence.

-core represents the rejection of the norm for the trappings of the Setting, without implicit political leanings.

Now, this one might be considered the most controversial of my new taxonomy, so I'll just pop down a little evidence: the Hardcore music genre.

And Metalcore, et al. These genres are more about aesthetic — fashion, artistic, audible, etc. — than they are about specific message. Punk, as a genre, pushes an ideology. Various -wave genres push a idyllicism, even if not a specific ideology. -core, however, pushes a...

...feel. It's about _feeling_ Metal, etc.

Which would mean that Cybercore would be about living _now_ whilst rejecting modern norms in favour of a cybernetic aesthetic (think: Cybergoth). Cottagecore would likewise mean rejecting modern urban living for a quaint cottage.

There are other Scenes that I haven't named here, and this isn't intended to be an exhaustive list, but rather a way of suggesting how they might relate to one another: differentiated along lines of how they _think_ and _feel_ about the Settings to which they are ascribed.

And obviously, there is no end to the types of Settings there could be...

But the possibilities!

E.g.: Hopepunk, Hopewave, and Hopecore are all EXTREMELY different philosophies under such a taxonomy, as opposed to just different ways to say the same thing.

An interesting addition to contemplate! https://twitter.com/CrownedRat/status/1291730560616935425

Though it does make me wonder if the Matrix allows for Gothgoth...

I want to add two new ones to the taxonomy: -esque and -goth.

-esque is pure aesthetic without intentional ideology. The aesthetic is pervasive: unlike -core, it isn't aesthetic among a different norm, but rather the aesthetic IS the norm.

-esque often brings unexamined ideologies with it, which makes it very problematic. By not specifically reinforcing an ideology, the evils of an aesthetic can dominate. Consider 40K which I would describe originally as Industrial Fascistpunk but is not Industrial Fascistesque.

-goth is like if -punk, -core, and -wave merged: the world is presented in an "apparently" ideal status quo, but there is a rebellious aesthetic/ ideologyoutside of the norms which exposes the status quo's darkness. It is ultimately pessimistic, or at least grim.

Consider Petrolgoth: draping oneself in the aesthetics of a post petrol apocalypse, in the modern day, to point out the complacency and foolishness of using fossil fuels. Our consider the actual Goth against the Romans...