It seems like there’s an infinite supply of standoffish warriors and grim reapers for this community to caption, usually with motorcycles. But what was its original use case?

I jokingly proposed “It’s the equivalent of the art on Lisa Frank binders, but for boys.” But not really: it’s too aggressive to sell to kids whose parents (and likely schools and similar community norm-setters) would veto it, and it’s too fantastical for adults; I’d expect if you had it on display at home, it’s in the same category of Grown Up Mature Decor Don’t that anime wallscrolls or action movie posters are.

That pretty much leaves T-shirt designs for self-described badasses and maybe posters for college dorms-- is there enough of that to fuel this ecosystem? Or is there a community which generates thus stuff out of internal demand (like the furry subculture and high-intensity fandoms)

  • Dr. Wesker
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    9 months ago

    It’s art for people who took the Myers-Briggs and got “Harley-Davidson” as their personality type.

  • @lath@lemmy.world
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    189 months ago

    Long before the age of man, we had phone wallpapers. And these ones were very badass for 12-year olds and such.

  • @Aleric@lemmy.world
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    69 months ago

    I used to just look at my boomer uncles’ Facebook feeds but now they’re all full of “Trump is Jesus” bullshit instead.

  • swab148
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    28 months ago

    From what I’ve heard, it’s pretty easy to make on some of those free online AI pic generators.

  • @owenfromcanada@lemmy.world
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    13 months ago

    too fantastical for adults

    I have a number of GenX (and a few boomer) coworkers who would disagree, based on their truck wraps and window decals at least.

    Nothing is quite like a lonely Midwestern dude with a negative emotional IQ.