Aesthetic is a subset of theme, and theme is what connects the setting, the plot and characterization and provides them with a sense of consistency, so you really have to ask yourself what your story is about on an implicit level. Most fantasy (not all) is about a battle between good and evil. That dichotomy should inform the aesthetics (just compare the appearance of the protags to the orcs in Tolkien, for example).
Sci fi is typically more about the effects of some future change on social institutions and the individuals embedded in them, a la Dune or Star Trek. Science fantasy mixes the two, putting good vs. evil in a futeristic setting, like Star Wars. This too, informs the aesthetic.
I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.Carrying on from the above, the aesthetic of a particular species, race, or civilization conveys a lot of narrative information about them. Taking a sci-fi setting:
- Rough, cobbled-together technology with an emphasis on function over form indicates a scrappy, probably colonial mentality. These people are pioneers and survivors, probably not very sophisticated culturally but with an intense work ethic and a sense of self-reliance.
- Massive architecture with an angular, imposing look gives the impression of a culture that wants to be seen as powerful and ruthless. They may have an imperialistic mindset or be ruled by an iron-fisted dictator.
- Crystal Spires and Togas tells you that this culture is peaceful (at least on the surface) and highly advanced to the point where they can spend a lot of effort making things look fanciful regardless of whether it's efficient. If there's a Used Future beneath the surface layers, they're falling into decadence.
- Powerful machinery that belches steam and complex, utilitarian buildings with no concession to aesthetics indicate a technological culture that is seeking to dominate its environment. The oppressive weight of that mechanistic mindset dominates.
- Architecture sculpted to match the natural environment (or made from natural products) indicates a society that is either in harmony with nature or seeks to present that appearance. They may be super advanced and have chosen to live this way or relatively primitive and have no ambition to go beyond that.
One could go on almost indefinitely.
Edited by Fighteer on Feb 27th 2020 at 11:36:00 AM
"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"While in theory aesthetic inform theme, more often that not those themes become a thing on is own.
For example whem people think of elves they usually thing in a heavy aesthetic setting, which is why for example elves are usually heavy aesthetic race, with a huge importance on aparience in everthing they do.
Meanwhile I found orcs to be really hard to do because they are anti asthetic in general, in part because the apreciation of beauty is a thing of good guys in tolkien.
"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"Im not sure that I agree with that way of using the term "aesthetic". I would argue that a pattern of de-emphasizing appearances or not caring about ugliness is an aesthetic all its own. A choice to move away from explicit aesthetic standards is itself an aesthetic choice, which reveals important information about those characters. In fact, I would go so far as to say that a "non-aesthetic" approach to fiction is impossible. Any choice will lead to an aesthetic of some kind.
I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.Its probably my fault for using that term, when I said un-asthetic I refer the idea that a race just sorta look like personal aparience dosent matter or is incidencial, is less a counter movement and just "whatever is, is" which is often use by author to show evilness.
"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"

Aesthetic, probably one of the thing most underated in speculative fiction, sinc a unique look can make wonder for a setting or story even if the story itself is generic or sub par.
I mean think of any memorable fantasy or sci fi series and you will see it have a particulary look: the uber barroque of warhammer 40.000, the weirdess of spelljammer or planescape, even tolkien drawing or art have a sort of....feel about it.
So let talk about speculative fiction aesthetic.
So for me I will talk with fantasy: what aesthetic did you think would make dwarves, elf and orc unique?.
with dwarves im thinking their fortress being hexagonal or more geometrical in nature, rather than the typical scale up human fortress(which is weird by being of shor statures), with mural of more abstract representations.
Now elves...the issue there is so many variation because elves are pretty much a aesthetic race(which is why I think they are so many compare to dwarves) but maybe circular bulding? I imagine being more geocentric their city, granted I like the idea of elves using biotecnology and their cities being...alive in a sense.
with Orc I think more of plain and funcional with them being meritocratic, any decoration come as victory of sort, granted maybe some wealthy orc can invent victory of any sort to loophole the idea.
So any sugestion? or any question of your owns?.
"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"