Propaganda I am falling for: minimalism.

I hate the gray and white empty houses as much as anyone, but I think we’ve misplaced our use of the word minimalism in a way that benefits consumerism. The Miriam Webster dictionary defines minimalism as a style or technique (as in music, literature, or design) that is characterized by spareness and simplicity. Through the development of tech and finance bros having an obsession with ugly gray things, we have changed minimalism from an art technique to a reminder of capitalism and corporate life. Of course people hate it. But what if we looked at minimalism through a lens as to which we can find more peace of mind, save money, and have quiet rebellion against a broken consumer based system?

I was first introduced to minimalism a few years ago. I tried it for a while, and eventually failed because I thought I had to have a boring aesthetic as a minimalist. After a few years of over stuffing my wardrobe with clothes I don’t wear and having a cluttered mind that could not focus on doing anything I loved other than buying things, I returned back to the idea of minimalism through the YouTuber Malama Life and my brain that felt like it was constantly buzzing extraordinarily loud at all times of day. I was thinking about going back to my minimal lifestyle, but I kept putting it off due to my Depop addiction. But one day I was pissed off at a friend of mine and I was doom scrolling for hours and the noise got way too loud. I put my phone down, got a trash bag, and got rid of everything in my dresser except for about three things. It took me five minutes because I knew that half I hated most of the stuff that was overflowing out of those drawers, and what I didn’t hate was in my laundry room. A couple of days later, I did the same thing to my closet. And somehow now, most of that clutter is gone and I’m stuck with only things that I love.

Throughout the years I have seen many trends praising maximalism for having personality in spite of a colorless world, and I agree with that completely. Maximalism has been a staple in the art, fashion, and music world and now in the stage of capitalism we are in, wearing color is a revolutionary act. However, the internet has a nasty habit of turning everything into something unsustainable. We have all heard it— there is no ethical consumption under capitalism. When I was a minimalist and I first saw these houses with a bunch of posters and trinkets and these closets with a ton of vintage pieces, I decided to break my habit and spend a bunch of money on room decor. These videos promote the idea that minimalism is wrong if you are a creative person or have good style. At least, that's what I believed.

Maximalism has a huge place in the art world, however I do not think it should be on our TikTok feeds that have basically turned into one big Amazon ad. Now, I had the question— what about thrift stores? If it is second hand it is obviously better to buy. This is something that I believe is a personal choice based on your own goals. Part of why I am choosing to commit to minimalism is because I need to save money. I have been on a spending spree for quite some time, and I noticed how not one time did I feel fulfilled in what I bought.

The main idea in minimalism is creating space for what matters and choosing what to allow in your life with extreme intention. Everything you own or do takes up some amount of space in your mind, whether you realize it or not. I have simply decided to get rid of the ugly and weird textured things I own and stop buying more of it. My mind has felt more free and there is a sort of pride I have in intentionally trying to not submit to a hyper consumption mindset. It makes me feel in control of the state of my world while I am not buying into the lies that giant corporations are trying to feed us in a bottle.

An idea I had to let go of with minimalism is the one that says it is all one aesthetic. I have always been drawn to the arts and I never liked the empty office feeling. I like wall art (with color) and beautiful clothes. I like collecting physical media and having tattoos. Art is political, and despite what finance bros are telling you, so is minimalism. Through owning less stuff, I have made the choice to not sacrifice my sense of self. I have a personal taste and style and I will not quiet that, just to fit the label of minimalist.

In order for minimalism to help you with your bank account and mindset, you need to make it work for you. If you value having lots of books like I do, buy them from small bookstores but still buy them. You do not need to listen to the people who act like you’ll get crucified for purchasing things that really add value to your life. If you like having 324 Spotify playlists there is no reason to get rid of all of them. The point is enjoying what you love, and decluttering what you only slightly like or strongly dislike. You are held by invisible chains that you can get rid of by deciding you aren’t a mindless consumer anymore.