Origins

Vaporwave originated around 2010, stemming from a blend of seapunk, chillwave, and hypnagogic pop.
The primary visual aspect of Vaporwave takes the pastels and holographics of seapunk and adds elements such as retro advertising, neons, and Greco-Roman art/architecture. The term "Vaporwave" is derived from from Vaporware, which refers to computer software or hardware that is advertised to the public but not actually released.
Daniel Lopatin and James Ferraro can be credited with severing Vaporwave from Chillwave with the release of Chuck Person's Eccojams Vol. 1 (2010) and Far Side Virtual (2011), respectively. Ramona Xavier, AKA Vektroid, AKA MacIntosh Plus AKA New Dreams LTD subsequently released the album Floral Shoppe (of “リサフランク420 / 現代のコンピュー” fame) in 2012, which defined the genre through its prime.
Blank Banshee further popularized Vaporwave by mixing it with electronica, making it more palatable to the general listener. This new subgenre is often referred to as Vaportrap.
Vaporwave music began with a focus on sampling and remixing popular music from the 80s and 90s, as a form of plunderphonics. However, as the genre progressed, the focus shifted to more original mixes. Sampling is still prevalent in Vaporwave music, though the method of splicing and remixing has often become more complex when compared to earlier releases. Though many artists are still producing vaporwave to this day, the "peak" of the genre is considered to be between 2010 and 2016.
The aesthetic aspect of Vaporwave often highlighted VHS degradation ("glitches"), retro advertising, and the art and architecture of the 80s and 90s. A hallmark of the Vaporwave aesthetic is "dead malls"--shopping centers that have been nearly abandoned--that still retain the interior design of past decades. Because of the spotlight Vaporwave places on consumer culture, it is often viewed as a critique of late-stage capitalism. More specifically, Vaporwave art and music often reframes pre-recession consumerism as soulless or superficial, and this forces the audience to confront the overarching emptiness of consumer culture as a whole. Articles exploring this concept more in-depth can be found in the "Further Reading" section of this Carrd.

Praxis

Rather than leaving dead malls to waste away, advocate for these spaces to be turned into community centers, shelters, housing units, etc. If redeveloping isn't sustainable, there is the option to re-tenant with anchor stores that better fit the local demographic (see: What Should Be Done With America's Abandoned Malls)
Donate old tech that would otherwise become e-waste. Older (but still functional) computers, printers, etc. can be refurbished and put to use in educational settings. If a device isn't functional, it can still be recycled or otherwise repurposed (see: Places to Donate Used Computers and Other Electronics)
Extend the life of your devices by learning how to repair simple issues. This is often more cost-effective than purchasing a replacement and further reduces overconsumption/e-waste (see: Phone Repair Help: Learn How to Fix It Yourself)