Liminal space (aesthetic)

Photo of liminal space
An empty hotel hallway, an example of a liminal space

In Internet aesthetics, liminal spaces are empty or abandoned places that appear eerie, forlorn, and often surreal. Liminal spaces are commonly places of transition, pertaining to the concept of liminality.

Research from the Journal of Environmental Psychology has indicated that liminal spaces may appear eerie or strange because they fall into an uncanny valley of architecture and physical places.[1] An article from Pulse: The Journal of Science and Culture has attributed this eeriness to familiar places lacking their usually observed context.[2]

The aesthetic gained popularity in 2019 after a post on 4chan depicting a liminal space called the Backrooms went viral. Since then, liminal space images have been posted across the internet, including on Reddit, Twitter, and TikTok.

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