The term was originally coined in the late

1950s to describe the abstract visions of artists like Frank Stella and Carl Andre

But has since been co-opted into an aesthetic that leans heavily on class privilege

And the ability to choose less today

I want to critique what minimalism has become and then point towards a minimalist lifestyle that moves away from

aesthetics and into politics ultimately minimalism has promised for

socio-economic and environmental reasons

but we need to understand that its current state is more an extension of consumer culture than a movement toward an

environmentally and materially conscious society the trend of minimalism as a

Personal aesthetic has spiraled out of control in recent years

Somehow it has become the opposite of what it was trying to be now for certain minimalists

The lifestyle means a tightly curated wardrobe of expensive clothes in an aesthetic of white on white on white

Using the minimalism as a style merely replaces one form of conspicuous consumption with another

Take for example the buy less but buy better mindset that is invaded minimalism

Yes, buying a $400 pair of shoes might in some cases be more environmentally friendly than buying four sets of

$50 shoes because the pricier shoes will most likely last longer and produce less waste than four pairs

However most people don't have the money for that

So this minimalist philosophy uses the excuse of having little

To buy the most expensive things perhaps minimalists are purchasing less

But they're still buying into the idea of creating status via

Expensive items thus if you don't have the means or the money to rid yourself of your belongings and purchase just the right things then

minimalism must not be for you. As Chelsea Fagan puts in her opinion piece in The Guardian the only people who can

quote-unquote practice minimalism in any meaningful way are people upon whom it isn't forced by

financial or logistical circumstances and

This new trend of minimalism as a visual aesthetic has now been conflated with a surge of self

optimization by using the right technology and

Paring down your life in the right way minimalism can portably deliver happiness

Financial security and free time to those who follow its path

Unfortunately it can only be viewed as a key to happiness by those who already have more than enough for low income people buying

Inexpensive clothing or owning less furniture isn't a choice

It's a structural reality minimalism

However can offer so much more than a stylistically slimmed down wardrobe it can instead mean a purposefully

anti-consumerist and

Environmentally conscious lifestyle that works against the power of capitalism. The focused with minimalism

Then is not necessarily working to edit your furniture choices and activewear down to the cream of the crop

But instead on working hard to critically assess your consumption choices. Day to day this looks like choosing not to buy the latest

Thousand-dollar iPhone or if you're cleaning out your closet choosing not to sell your clothes if you don't need the money and instead

Donating them to a progressive organization if you do in fact need to get a new pair of pants consider buying

Secondhand the idea is to understand that consumption feeds a system that affects a tremendous harm on the environment and on

Marginalized people minimalism can offer guidance, not as a stylistic choice

But as a mindset that helps reroute our unconscious purchasing habits into a well informed

consumption critical stance

Minimum has slowly grown more popular as it is taken hold of the American psyche and with that transition

Minimalism has become more watered-down and at times the opposite of what it originally

intended to be. So it's important to remember that as an aesthetic trend and a way to find happiness

minimalism can sometimes be just another

insidious form of conspicuous consumption.

As a pro-environment and anti consumption choice however minimalism can offer a way to navigate an economic system that

constantly pressures us to buy more

Having and buying less do not need to be status symbols or the subject of an Instagram post, they can instead be

radical political and environmental acts

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