# Aesthetics Wiki MCP

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An [MCP](https://modelcontextprotocol.io) server that lets LLMs search, read, and discover aesthetics from the [Aesthetics Wiki](https://aesthetics.fandom.com) (cottagecore, dark academia, y2k, goblincore, and thousands more).

Backed by the MediaWiki API. No API key required. Zero setup: run it straight with `uvx`.

## Why

The Aesthetics Wiki is one of the richest open catalogues of visual subcultures on the internet, but its content is locked behind a web UI. This server turns it into a structured tool so an LLM can actually *use* it:

- **Mood-boards and visual research** — pull a gallery of real reference images for any aesthetic in one tool call.
- **Brand and creative direction** — explore adjacent styles, find the right tag for a feeling, compare neighbors.
- **Writing and worldbuilding** — get grounded vocabulary (fashion, music, motifs) instead of generic LLM vibes.
- **Serendipity** — `random_aesthetic` is a cure for blank-page syndrome.

## Tools

| Tool | Description |
| --- | --- |
| `search_aesthetic(query, limit=10)` | Full-text search across the wiki. |
| `get_aesthetic(name, max_chars=6000)` | Fetch a page's cleaned content + main image URL. |
| `get_aesthetic_images(name, limit=12)` | Gallery of image URLs from a page — perfect for moodboards. |
| `list_related(name, limit=20)` | List aesthetics linked from a page (neighbors/related). |
| `random_aesthetic(count=1)` | Pick random aesthetics for inspiration. |

All tools are read-only.

## Example output

```jsonc
// get_aesthetic(name="Cottagecore", max_chars=600)
{
  "title": "Cottagecore",
  "url": "https://aesthetics.fandom.com/wiki/Cottagecore",
  "summary": "Cottagecore is an internet aesthetic that romanticizes a simple, self-sufficient life in harmony with nature, drawing inspiration from an idealized vision of Western rural and farm life. Gaining widespread popularity in the late 2010s and early 2020s on platforms like Tumblr and TikTok, it serves as a form of gentle escapism from the pressures of modern, capitalist society...",
  "main_image": "https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/aesthetics/images/3/34/Cottagecore.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20230730224216"
}
```

```jsonc
// list_related(name="Cottagecore", limit=5)
{
  "source": "Cottagecore",
  "count": 5,
  "related": [
    { "title": "Fairycore",   "url": "https://aesthetics.fandom.com/wiki/Fairycore" },
    { "title": "Goblincore",  "url": "https://aesthetics.fandom.com/wiki/Goblincore" },
    { "title": "Grandmacore", "url": "https://aesthetics.fandom.com/wiki/Grandmacore" },
    { "title": "Farmcore",    "url": "https://aesthetics.fandom.com/wiki/Farmcore" },
    { "title": "Naturecore",  "url": "https://aesthetics.fandom.com/wiki/Naturecore" }
  ]
}
```

## Quick start

Requires Python 3.10+ and [`uv`](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/). Nothing to install manually — `uvx` fetches and runs it on demand.

### Claude Code / Claude Desktop

Add this to your MCP config (`~/.claude/settings.json`, project `.mcp.json`, or `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json` on macOS):

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "aesthetics-wiki": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["aesthetics-wiki-mcp"]
    }
  }
}
```

Restart your client and the 5 tools show up automatically.

### Other MCP clients

Any client that speaks stdio works. Just run `uvx aesthetics-wiki-mcp` as the transport command.

### Manual install

```bash
uv tool install aesthetics-wiki-mcp      # or: pipx install aesthetics-wiki-mcp
aesthetics-wiki-mcp                       # starts the stdio server
```

## Example prompts

- "Find aesthetics related to dark academia and show me a visual moodboard."
- "Give me 5 random aesthetics and a one-sentence vibe for each."
- "What are the core elements of cottagecore? Any adjacent aesthetics I should know?"
- "Compare y2k and 2014 Tumblr aesthetically."

## Development

```bash
uv sync
uv run aesthetics-wiki-mcp        # start stdio server
uv run python -m py_compile src/aesthetics_wiki_mcp/server.py
```

Test interactively with the MCP Inspector:

```bash
npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector uv run aesthetics-wiki-mcp
```

## License

MIT. Content from the Aesthetics Wiki is licensed CC-BY-SA 3.0 by its contributors; this project only proxies read access and attributes the source in every response URL.

## Credits

Built by [Leonardo Cametti](https://github.com/leonardoca1). Data © [Aesthetics Wiki](https://aesthetics.fandom.com) contributors.