Freedom pain beauty uncertainty adrenaline air wings speed youth acceptance love space

Infinite Source is a song that really feels to me like it belongs to Grind Fiction. Something about the melody, the lyrics— some parts of it feel final, true, but overall the messaging just seems like “We’ll Live On Forever” even if its in a different form. Like I felt that intensely from the first listen. This feeling of freedom but also resistance, some defiance and joy and reprieve . . .

Grind Fiction (n.)

origin: Grindworld Forum, Sky Hedgehogian Maestro; also called Animemo/Shibuya Punk; a term to describe the fusion of anime, hip-hop, grunge, and techno. Coined for the stylistic elements and storytelling in the game Jetset Radio and its sequel. Examples include: Air Gear, Splatoon, and the Persona Series.
(source: https://aesthetics.fandom.com/wiki/Shibuya_Punk)

Typical commanalities in Grind Fiction using examples . . .

Air Gear

  • Teenagers having fun exploring the world on roller-skates/skateboards

  • Socially edgy fashion

  • Reckless abandon

  • Deeper political messaging regarding human freedoms

  • Damn good music

Splatoon

  • Teenagers having fun exploring the world on skates/whatever the hell they have in those games

  • socially edgy fashion. But also they’re like, squid people so . . . everything is edgy to us?

  • Deeper political messaging regarding human freedoms (i.e. the octopus people living in the subway)

  • Damn good music

The video that first introduced me to the concept of Grind Fiction:

Look anything with grinding and young people having an asbolute fucking blast is the core of grind fiction, okay? So, absolutely throw in the Tony Hawk Pro Skater games because God knows WE all had fun playing those games. If you’re grinding you’re living most definitely my dude.

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