While this cute trend seems perfectly harmless, there have been discussions about the more problematic aspects of cottagecore. For one it serves as a sort of escapist fantasy that requires a certain amount of privilege to achieve, which has gained ire from non-white people for being non inclusive. Cottagecore also sells this romantic notion of leaving urban life to live off the land without asking who’s land you’re actually living on, giving a troubling colonial vibe to the aesthetic.
Regardless of its issues the themes and ideas that make up cottagecore often show up in the “wholesome” video games that many of us enjoy. While I will be talking about colonialism I am only equipped to handle it from my perspective as a Filipino born in a country that was colonized and an American currently living on colonized land.