From 4chan to A24: How 'Liminal Spaces' Became the Internet's Defining Aesthetic

The article traces the rise of 'liminalism,' an internet aesthetic celebrating eerie, empty transitional spaces like abandoned malls and fluorescent backrooms. Originating from 2019's 'The Backrooms' creepypasta on 4chan, the movement has grown into a massive digital art phenomenon across Reddit, Facebook, and TikTok, where millions curate found images that evoke nostalgia, unease, and apocalyptic loneliness. Unlike AI-generated surrealism, these communities embrace real-world photography of mundane non-spaces, signaling a democratic, bottom-up migration of critical art discourse into popular internet culture.