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*''Compulsion'' (1959)
 
*''Compulsion'' (1959)
 
*''If...'' (1968)
 
*''If...'' (1968)
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*''La prima notte di quiete (1972)''
 
*''Suspiria'' (1977 or 2018)
 
*''Suspiria'' (1977 or 2018)
 
*''The Shining'' (1980)
 
*''The Shining'' (1980)

Revision as of 18:45, 24 October 2021


Dark academia is a popular academic aesthetic that revolves around classic literature, the pursuit of self-discovery and a general passion for knowledge and learning. It is one of several variations of academia aesthetic, each with a unique subject focus.

Dark academia's visuals stem primarily from upper-class European culture of the 19th century and American Prep. The upper class of this time period emphasized a liberal education in which Latin, rhetoric and classics were taught subjects. These are now seen as unusual and slightly esoteric, creating an allure that presents schooling as not dreary or boring, but one that cultivates people that learn for the sake of joy.

Pretentiousness is celebrated within the dark academia community. Romanticizing education and moments in life is the core appeal of the aesthetic. Making grandiose statements and wishes for success is a common text post subject.

Other than the appreciation of learning, dark academia thought includes themes of criminality, danger and mystery. Secret societies, cults and murder are subjects within the aesthetic. Characters within the works of fiction associated with dark academia, especially The Secret History and Kill Your Darlings, live decadent and self-destructive lifestyles involving drugs, moments of intense violence and secrets.

People who use this aesthetic are usually referred to as dark academics. However, using this term in other contexts could potentially cause confusion as the title "academic" typically refers to researchers and professors, while dark academics do not necessarily have recognized credentials.




History

It is important to note that in multiple ways, dark academia is not new. Rather, it is a continuation of different pre-existing aesthetics that had a basis in artistic periods, literature and mannerisms surrounding the upper class. The dark academia aesthetic referred to in this article is within the context of mid-late 2010s-early 2020s internet culture wherein users, largely teenagers, discuss the contents of the page online. This phenomenon is largely confined to youth culture on social media such as tumblr, Instagram and Tiktok.

The largest and most notable influence on the aesthetic is the ideas and lifestyles of Romantic-era nobles and intellectuals such as Lord Byron, Percy Shelley, Mary Shelley and Edmund Burke. The cohort was known for writing poetry and prose of great beauty while living languid and privileged lives. Their works emphasized emotion, imagination, and historical.

The later Aesthetic and Decadent movement, headed by Oscar Wilde, lends the "dandy" and homosexual aspects of the internet aesthetic.

All of these historic periods were reflected in Donna Tartt's The Secret History. The sublime, picturesque and beautiful are concepts frequently repeated by the narrator, Richard Papen; the main characters vacation in a remote mansion and get drunk, discuss intellectually stimulating topics and lived decadently, like the Romantic poets did in their famed Geneva trip; and the ritual for Bacchanal is a representation of the same fascination with the irrational.

Appreciation for Donna Tartt herself comes from the Esquire article "The Secret Oral History of Bennington: The 1980s' Most Decadent College," which describes "the baroque wickedness, the malignant glamour, the corruption so profound as to be exactly what is meant by the word decadence."[1] This cements the connection of Donna Tartt and her alma mater to the precedents. Additionally, her androgyny, close friendships and rock-and-roll lifestyle are admired by the dark academic audience.[2] Its publication of 2019 also links this article to the rise in popularity c. 2020.

The tag "Dark Academia" originated sometime around 2015 on tumblr and had a relatively smaller reach and referred to the main work that started the aesthetic: The Secret History.[3] The aesthetic resembled a book club more than a true aesthetic and users largely communicated through asks and reblogs to discuss the work itself, with less of an influence placed on fashion and lifestyle. Similar with other fandoms, the The Secret History fandom produced moodboards; however, they did not resemble the typical dark academia aesthetic, instead taking on a more minimalist look with photographic emphasis on symbols relating to characters, typography and fancasts.[4]

Multiple other fandoms also contributed to the development. Many of the visuals came from the Harry Potter series, which was popular at the time; the films' set design (largely from Oxford University), whimsy surrounding studying, leather-bound books and mystery are clear links to the dark academia aesthetic.

Many of these blogs reblogged content from art history-centered tumblrs, which posted photos of architecture and paintings in the movements described in the visuals section. As bloggers discussed the media that has come to be associated with dark academia and multiple people posted art history content, the community formed and the name was created.

The name was popularized through 2017-2018 through a number of different text posts on tumblr; user holocene-days listed the three canonical Dark Academia films and books[5], (this page is under construction)

The aesthetic evolved over time from an aesthetic that had a small community, was learned through osmosis and focused specifically on the media into what it was today. Dark Academia evolved in ways that the aesthetic was communicated; character collages became popular as people more in tune with online aesthetic culture, specifically Studyblr, and the aesthetic became codified through different social media. In spreading to different audiences, the aesthetic became something more aspirational and lifestyle-oriented, with guides and recommendations instead of purely visuals to look at.

On June 30th, 2020, The New York Times published an article entitled "Academia Lives — on TikTok," making dark academia and the aesthetic community in general, known to an audience typically separate from online youth culture.[6]


Philosophy

One of the main appeals of dark academia is intrigue that comes with being in a secretive cohort of intellectuals.

Romanticizing the university experience and appreciating the environments and activities associated with Dark Academia (which is included below) is one of the most common motifs.


Visuals

Dark Academia as a whole utilizes the colors black, dark brown, forest green, dark orange, cream, gold and burgundy. The photographs tend to be dimly lit, as to give the appearance of illumination through only candle light, a sun-less day, or light being unable to reach the interiors of a deep, alcove-filled room. As such, chiaroscuro and tenibrism, the contrast between light and dark, is a common motif within images and outfits. White statues in the dark, pale skin (see Eurocentrism) contrasting dark clothing and the art movements described below are examples of this style. Often, photo editing is employed to increase the shadows of the image.

The artworks utilized in dark academia come from the periods typically associated with European civilization: Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassical, Academic, Romantic, Aesthetic and Pre-Raphaelite periods are the paintings that are the most commonly reblogged, with subjects such as anatomical studies, vanitas, Christian and Classical mythology and portraiture of people wearing clothing in the dark academia colors.

Sculpture is always done in white marble and in the styles of Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical. Technique, such as in the illusion of flesh, psychological presence, diaphanous fabric and drapery, is admired.

Gothic, Beaux-Arts and Neoclassical architecture are featured frequently in dark academic images, as most of the prestigious campuses, museums and libraries were built in this style. Other common buildings are Baroque palaces that evoke masked balls, English manor houses and Victorian streets. Red brick, rusticated stone, wrought iron fencing, Gothic arches, mahogany paneling, classical columns and generous ornamentation are common traits shared among these spaces. Some of the most common buildings reblogged are: the campuses of Harvard, Oxford and Cambridge; the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum; the Gloucester Cathedral; and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The romanticization of studying, journaling and letter-writing is demonstrated through appreciation for calligraphy and stationary. Fountain pens and typewriters are proudly displayed and users would often take images of the results of their notebook entries, not unlike Studyblr. However, their writing is cursive and decorations are sparse.

Images associated with literature are another common photo subject. Antique books, screenshots of e-books with highlighted lines, annotations and typography are common. Latin, ancient Greek, English and French are popular in dark academia both as subjects of linguistic study and in aesthetic images of text. A recent (around spring 2021) tumblr trend is the use of "comparatives/parallels/web-weaving," which are short compilations of 5-10 quotes and/or images from poetry, literature, art, movies, etc. that center around one motif such as "the kitchen table" and "women and horror." Note that this type of post is not exclusive to Dark Academia, and is more aligned with fans of literature in general.

Nature can make an appearance in the aesthetic, mostly in the form of British moors, autumnal forests and occasional images of seaside cliffs. Dreary weather such as fog and rain enhances the gloomy nature of this aesthetic. This further adds to the romanticism of sneaking into the forest to do pagan rituals, as well as creating a connection to the poetry of the American Romantics. The influence of the Picturesque and the Sublime, as outlined in the work of Edmund Burke, is another aspect of this.

Boarding school imagery, such as school uniforms, living in a dormitory and running away, is more common in a more youthful and playful interpretation of the aesthetic. Here, the sense of mystery, danger and kinship are enhanced and the professionalism and sophistication connotations are lessened.

Cafe society is also another influence on the aesthetic. Coffee shops are associated with both the flaneurs of 19th-century Paris and the contemporary stressed college students of today. As such, that space is romanticized and images of coffee, people-watching and studying within the space is popular.

Violent imagery addresses the "dark" moniker. Like in the novels and films, murder and death are popular subjects. This is displayed through murder weapons that are also aesthetically pleasing, i.e. vials of poison, ornate daggers and even occasional images of guns. Blood, such as on clothing or on white statues (bashing someone's head) is another example. Graveyards are also another location that is commonly reblogged due to the connotations with Gothic literature and memento mori.

For the purposes of citation, as well as a way to view inspiration, here is a link to the Wayback Machine's snapshots of the dark academia tag on tumblr.


Fashion

Dark Academia fashion emphasizes a high-class but vintage form of dress which is an amalgamation of different historical periods. Usual fabric choices are more upscale, like cashmere, wool and tweed, but linen and cotton are also very common. Patterns are minimal, with plaids and argyle being the most common. Accessories are usually minimal, like bracelets, rings, pendants, watches, cuff-links and other dapper add-on pieces.

One of the appeals of a Dark Academia wardrobe is the versatility of the pieces, as many of them could be mixed and matched. Like with school uniforms, this allows students/academics to not have to concern themselves too much with choosing their outfits in the day.[7]

The main inspiration for dark Academic fashion comes from 1940s prep school uniforms, as seen in blazers, pleated skirts and regimental striped ties. Stereotypes surrounding humanities professors also influenced the fashion. Tweed blazers with elbow patches are one of the "essentials" of a dark Academic wardrobe, as explained here. Elements of the 1950s suburban American preppy look are often incorporated, such as sweater vests or sweaters worn tied over the shoulders. Autumn is the most common and desired season, as Dark Academia outfits often layer pieces over each other.


Tumblr 6a25622fdda202d1e5d838f2954b3c50 8a71433a 640

Tops

The shirts worn by Dark Academics can be masculine, professional button-ups or more ornate blouses that include details such as lace, puffed sleeves, and some ruffles. Collars are incredibly important to the look, and they often are either layered under outerwear or used as a statement, such as in sailor-style shirts.

  • Turtlenecks
  • Fisherman's sweaters
  • Sweater vests
  • Cable knit jumpers
  • Jumpers/sweaters
  • Shirt dresses
Tumblr de1c5b8eaf6e37ea6464a5f2f58b721c 96fccb7c 640

Bottoms

  • Dress pants
  • Ankle pants
  • High rise pants
  • Trousers
  • Cigarette pants
  • Linen shorts
  • Tweed trousers
  • Plaid skirts
  • Mid-length or long skirts
  • Sailor skirts
  • Pleated skirts
  • Pencil skirts
Tumblr 3bdd6b40ae71a843320841b027b60423 9db693cd 640

Outerwear

  • Cardigans
  • Blazers
  • Waistcoats
  • Pea coats
  • Suit jackets
  • Trenchcoats
  • Overcoats
  • Duffle coats
  • Chesterfield coat
  • Coat dresses
  • Smocks
  • Dark colored apron
    7c8449de6ae7cd7cc2ab9885c083641f

Shoes

  • Oxfords/brogues
  • Loafers
  • Wingtips
  • Boat shoes
  • Dr. Martens
  • Mary Janes
  • Chelsea Boots

Accessories

  • Silver or gold jewelry
  • Broaches
  • Simple rings
  • Satchel
  • Wire-frame glasses
  • Short, neat fingernails
  • Belts that match your shoes
  • Knee-high socks
  • Watches
  • Sweaters tied over the shoulders
  • Undone or loosely tied ties
  • Dark-colored umbrellas
  • Kerchiefs/bandanas


Media

Dark Academia media tends to fall into two types: the first is media that is established as classic, also known as part of "the canon," meaning that the work is considered by academics to have artistic merit and is worthy of academic study. These books tend to be from the Classical Era (such as the plays of Sophocles, philosophical theory, etc.) and Western literature up to the mid 20th century. Literature such as this does not include dark academia tropes, but are considered dark academia because it has the same associations with intelligence, refinement and academia. Note that what is classified as high literature is connected to critiques of Eurocentrism.

The second group is media that is not studied by academic professionals and may often be "pop" literature, which means it primarily seeks to entertain instead of create a philosophical dialogue. They are included here for having dark academia visuals and tropes.

Novels (and films) that are considered Dark Academia take place in an academic setting, which includes high schools, boarding schools, and universities. These schools will have a prestigious reputation, with elements of exclusivity. The students would be of a higher socio-economic status, with mannerisms, clothing, and character concerns that reflect this.

The time period varies, but the 19th-mid 20th centuries are the most popular. The latter half of the 20th century to contemporary times would not include references to pop culture, technology, or the despairs typically associated with modern life (capitalism, consumerism, environmental destruction, etc.) This lack of modern technology may be one of the reasons why the contemprary audience is attracted to the genre- it is a form of escapism that allows the audience to be immersed in an environment that is extremely different from the quarantined audience of 2020.[8]

The academic setting would also influence the characters in that their subject of study would appear in allusions and character motivations. The subject is almost always of the humanities; for example, Shakespeare in If We Were Villains or the classics in The Secret History. Knowledge is often esoteric and forbidden, creating a seductive allure.

The most common traits among the media considered Dark Academia is the emphasis on prose. Elevated vocabulary, lavish detail, and insight into emotions and human character are paramount. Quotes are often shared among the community, making the work cemented as part of the Dark Academia "canon."

Here are the common tropes and traits of dark academic-specific media, not canonical literature. Note that not all works below have all traits:[9]

  • Intelligence, Machiavellianism, coldness and elegance are common traits among the protagonists
  • A common character archetype is the "Obsessive Artist," wherein someone dedicated to their study is willing to self-destruct or harm others for the sake of their work
  • The characters commit a crime- murder, more often than not
  • The characters keep secrets from each other and have intense interpersonal drama such as betrayal and blackmailing
  • Elements of esotericism and forbidden knowledge
  • Motifs of hedonism, temptation and hubris; similar to Shelley's Frankenstein wherein the character has a god complex due to their intelligence or Faust, where the titular character trades knowledge for their soul.


What is considered dark academia media is largely subjective and there is not a set list of rules associated with the aesthetic. The media associated with dark academia is recommended through tumblr posts, Goodreads bookshelves, Letterboxd lists, etc.

The dark academia community tends to read books or watch movies. Anime, plays, musicals and podcasts are included here for their resemblance to the aesthetic, rather than them being discussed in the dark academia community.

Books

Please do not list books by authors in the list below. By author surname:

  • The Women in the Dunes by Kōbō Abe
  • The Lessons by Naomi Alderman
  • The Rachel Papers by Martin Amis
  • Bunny by Mona Awad
  • Ninth House - Leigh Bardugo
  • Possession by A.S. Byatt
  • The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare
  • The Shakespeare Secret by Jennifer Lee Carrell
  • The Glass Essay by Anne Carson
  • Belle du Seigneur by Albert Cohen
  • The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
  • The Magus by John Fowles
  • The Likeness by Tana French
  • Mythos, Heroes and Troy by Stephen Fry
  • The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman
  • The Lie Tree by Frances Harding
  • A Discovery of Witches series by Deborah Harkness
  • Shades of London series and Truly Devious series by Maureen Johnson
  • The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones
  • Dead Poets Society by N.H. Kleinbaum
  • A Separate Peace by John Knowles
  • Nada by Carmen Laforet
  • Women in Love by D.H. Lawrence
  • The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks and We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
  • Oleanna by David Mamet
  • The Year of the Gadfly by Jennifer Miller
  • Songs of Achilles by Madeline Miller
  • The Starless Sea - Erin Morgenstern
  • I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson
  • A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
  • If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio
  • The Harry Potter Series - J.K. Rowling
  • Memoirs of a Woman Doctor by Nawal El Saadawi
  • Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih
  • Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers
  • The Raven Boys series by Maggie Stiefvater
  • The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark
  • The Truants by Kate Weinberg
  • A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
  • Memoirs of Hadrian by Marguerite Yourcenar

Authors

By author surname:

  • Arthur Conan Doyle
  • E.M. Forster
  • Nikolai Gogol
  • Count Lautréamont
  • Alexander Pushkin
  • Arthur Rimbaud
  • J.D. Salinger
  • V.E. Schwab
  • Donna Tartt

Comics

  • An Unkindness of Ravens
  • Deadly Class
  • Fangs
  • Gotham Academy
  • Hooky
  • Morning Glories
  • Promethea
  • Purple Hyacinth
  • The Umbrella Academy
  • Unwritten
  • Your Throne
Lucien Carr (Dane DeHaan, Left) and Allen Ginsberg (Daniel Radcliffe, Right), both have their hands held out as if to 'high-five'. Allen's palm is visible to the audience reveling a gash down the center, Lucien is holding the knife they used with his other hand. The characters are performing a 'Blood Oath' while at a party.

Lucien Carr (Dane DeHaan, Left) and Allen Ginsberg (Daniel Radcliffe, Right) are performing a blood oath while at a party.

Movies

By year released:

  • The Invisible Man (1933)
  • Rope (1948)
  • In a Lonely Place (1950)
  • Dial M for Murder (1954)
  • Compulsion (1959)
  • If... (1968)
  • La prima notte di quiete (1972)
  • Suspiria (1977 or 2018)
  • The Shining (1980)
  • Another Country (1984)
  • Clue (1985)
  • Maurice (1987)
  • Withnail & I (1987)
  • The Unnameable (1988)
  • The Chocolate War (1988)
  • True Believer (1989)
  • Dead Poets Society (1989)
  • Metropolitan (1990)
  • Scent of a Woman (1992)
  • School Ties (1992)
  • Peter's Friends (1992)
  • Shallow Grave (1994)
  • Heavenly Creatures (1994)
  • Immortal Beloved (1994)
  • Total Eclipse (1995)
  • Good Will Hunting (1997)
  • Wilde (1997)
  • The Ninth Gate (1999)
  • The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
  • The Skulls (2000)
  • Wonder Boys (2000)
  • The Emperor's Club (2002)
  • The Pianist (2002)
  • The Dreamers (2003)
  • Bright Young Things (2003)
  • Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
  • Capote (2005)
  • Like Minds (2006)
  • The Prestige (2006)
  • The Great Debaters (2007)
  • Brideshead Revisited (2008)
  • The Reader (2008)
  • Detachment (2011)
  • Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
  • Kill Your Darlings (2013)
  • The Imitation Game (2014)
  • Testament of Youth (2014)
  • The Riot Club (2014)
  • The Theory of Everything (2014)
  • Victor Frankenstein (2015)
  • The Danish Girl (2015)
  • Rebel in the Rye (2017)
  • The Bookstore (2017)
  • Phantom Thread (2017)
  • Disobedience (2017)
  • Colette (2018)
  • Mary Shelley (2018)
  • Vita & Virginia (2018)
  • The Nightingale (2018)
  • Tolkien (2019)
  • Elisa y Marcela (2019)
  • Knives Out (2019)
  • Las Niñas (2020)
  • Shirley (2020)
  • The Dig (2021)
  • Seance (2021)

TV shows

  • The Alienist
  • Ares
  • Deadly Class
  • Elementary
  • Endeavour
  • Freud
  • Gentleman Jack
  • Good Omens
  • Hannibal
  • His Dark Materials
  • House of Anubis
  • How To Get Away With Murder
  • Mindhunter
  • Murdoch Mysteries
  • The Magicians
  • The Nevers
  • The Night Gallery
  • Ordeal By Innocence
  • Penny Dreadful
  • Pennyworth
  • Poldark
  • Prodigal Son
  • The Queen's Gambit
  • Sherlock
  • Taboo
  • The Umbrella Academy
  • A Series of Unfortunate Events

Anime & manga

  • 91 Days
  • Ancient Magus Bride
  • Baccano
  • Black Butler (especially the Public School Arc)
  • Black Museum: The Ghost and the Lady
  • Bungou Stray Dogs
  • Code Geass
  • Colorful
  • Doukyuusei
  • From Up on Poppy Hill
  • Fullmetal Alchemist (both the 2003 and 2009 version)
  • Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo
  • The Garden of Words
  • Gosick
  • Hyouka
  • Joker Game
  • Monster
  • Moriarty the Patriot
  • The Promised Neverland
  • The Royal Tutor
  • Saga of Tanya the Evil
  • Steamboy
  • Vampire Knight
  • Violet Evergarden
  • Whisper of the Heart
  • Tales from Earthsea
  • The Wind Rises
  • Your Name

Plays

  • Another Country
  • The Inheritance
  • Spring Awakening
  • Total Eclipse

Musicals

  • Bare: A Pop Opera
  • The Count of Monte Cristo
  • Dogfight
  • Frankenstein: A New Musical
  • Hadestown
  • Jekyll & Hyde
  • Light in the Piazza
  • Natasha Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812
  • Phantom of the Opera
  • Spring Awakening
  • Sweeney Todd
  • Twisted

Podcasts

  • Aaron Mahnke's Cabinet of Curiosities
  • Dark Dice
  • Lore
  • Myths & Legends
  • The Magnus Archives
  • The Penumbra Podcast
  • Prose Talk
  • Unobscured
  • The White Vault

Video games

  • 1917: The Prologue
  • Alicemare
  • Alter Ego
  • Bloodborne
  • Call of Cthulhu
  • Detention
  • Dishonored
  • GrimGrimoire
  • Layers of Fear
  • The Last Door Season 1
  • The Metamorphosis
  • The Room VR: A Dark Matter
  • Rusty Lake game series
  • Vampyr
  • What Never Was


Tumblr 5f47ba417c70594772bb63ffb55cece0 bf780866 640

Music

The music typically associated with Dark Academia evokes the same historical and elite aesthetic through classical music, which is regarded as upper-class and traditional and multiple people within these types of families were encouraged to pursue music to create a wide profile of skills. Specifically, the classical music used is wide-ranging, as Baroque (Bach, Vivaldi) and Romantic (Liszt, Tchaikovsky) is included. The classical music used in the aesthetic is typically in a tone more romantic, melancholy, epic, or severe, as it is played in the minor key and with piano and strings.

Contemporary alternative music is extremely popular, arguably more so than the classical and allows for the lyrics to carry across the motifs of romance, betrayal, mystery and crime. Classical allusions and metaphors with nature are also common techniques. There is a wide variety of instrumentation, although some common characteristics are: the use of strings or piano, slow and deep bass and backing or echoing vocals. Tempo tends to be slower and like in classical, has a more melancholy and contemplative tone. The genres that these songs fall into are alternative rock and indie.

On YouTube, it is popular to create videos that are playlists for studying, with the video showing an image with the Dark Academic aesthetic. Titles conveying the common tropes in the genre are common, for example, "talking with the ghosts in an abandoned library."[10] These playlists are a common entry for people into the aesthetic. The trend appeared in late 2020 and early 2021, as seen by the most popular videos being created approximately the same time.[11]

Musicians

  • Active Child
  • Alexander Scriabin
  • The Amazing Devil
  • Antonio Vivaldi
  • Arlie
  • The Aubreys
  • Barns Courtney
  • Brandi Carlile
  • The Brobecks
  • Claude Debussy
  • Coast Modern
  • Crows in the Rain
  • The Decemberists
  • Declan McKenna
  • Dermot Kennedy
  • Enigma
  • Enya
  • Erik Satie
  • Fiona Apple
  • Florence + the Machine
  • Foxygen
  • Franz Liszt
  • Frédéric Chopin
  • Gerhard Trede
  • The Good, the Bad and the Queen
  • The Gothic Archies
  • Greer
  • Half Alive
  • Hans Zimmer
  • Hozier
  • Jaymes Young
  • Kate Bush
  • Keaton Henson
  • Lana Del Rey
  • Leonard Cohen
  • Lola Blanc
  • Lord Huron
  • Lorde
  • Ludwid van Beethoven
  • Missio
  • Mother Mother
  • Mumford and Sons
  • Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
  • Nick Drake
  • Peter Gundry
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
  • Sergei Rachmaninoff
  • Sleeping At Last
  • Sufjan Stevens
  • Tally Hall
  • Tamino
  • Tori Amos
  • Vancouver Sleep Clinic
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
  • The Young Veins

Albums

  • Violent Things by The Brobecks
  • We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic by Foxygen
  • The Tragic Treasury by The Gothic Archies
  • Wasteland, Baby! by Hozier
  • The Magic by Lola Blanc
  • In the Aeroplane Over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel
  • Boys For Pele by Tori Amos
  • Take a Vacation! by The Young Veins
  • Happier Than Ever by Billie Eilish
  • by the way, I forgive you by Brandi Carlile

Playlist

Official Aesthetics Wiki playlist

The Aesthetics Wiki staff creates official Spotify playlists for aesthetics, which compile the songs most frequently featured on existing playlists dedicated to those aesthetics. Pages about aesthetics that have an official wiki playlist will not include other playlists.


Activities

The de facto Dark Academia activities are studying and reading. Learning about Dark Academia subjects (literature, languages, history, philosophy, etc.) is one of the ways that the Dark Academia community builds community. Holding book clubs, recommending readings and discussing theory with peers is done through tumblr asks and reblogs, discord servers and other social media sites. Solitary studying is more popular, however. Essay-writing, memorizing vocabulary and annotating literature are activities that are encouraged to pursue for fun. But unlike Studyblr, less emphasis is placed on sharing studying tips and the scholastic experience. Rather, the subject or the emotions felt during studying is discussed. For example, as opposed to infographics on the advantages of different note-styles, Dark Academics wax poetically about the euphoria associated with finally mastering a language.

However, social situations such as parties and being within a group are more than encouraged. Being drunk and having engaging conversations is a popular wish for Dark Academics to have and why many people bond over this aesthetic. Dinner parties, coffee dates, and picnics in the forest are a frequent outlet for this, and wine, coffee, tea, bread, cheese, and upscale, traditional dishes are mentioned frequently in novels.

Supernatural experiences and loss of control are activities that are wished for (but not done due to their improbability). There are frequent mentions of the "bacchanal," which was the inciting incident of The Secret History, where the characters experienced divine madness through ritual.

Creative pursuits are also encouraged. Romanticism is linked with expressing emotions. Journaling, acting in theater, writing poetry and creating art are examples of this desire. What makes these activities "fit" the aesthetic is how closely it aligns with the patrician and academic class of the eras. For example, expressing oneself through rap music or making drip paintings would not be considered Dark Academic, but playing Chopin's Nocturnes or painting a naturalistic portrait of a lover would be.

Visiting buildings that fit the Dark Academia visuals, such as libraries, art museums, historic houses, churches, etc. is another way of experiencing the aesthetic. Existing and daydreaming in the space, taking note of the architecture and the people existing in it is in line with the romanticism of the ethos.

Black and white image of a regatta

Sports such as squash, horse riding, croquet and lacrosse can be claimed as Dark Academia due to their connection with Preppy culture. Multiple private schools' aspiring Ivy League students are encouraged to involve themselves with these sports in order to create a diverse skill set. And as described in the Preppy page, many of these sports are obscure and would not be accessed by an average person.

Chess is one of the most connotative of dark academia due to its emphasis on strategy. As intellect and dramatic tension are two of the main pillars of the aesthetic's appeal. Chess has established itself as a sport done by calculating characters[12], with its ubiquity throughout history[13] fitting into the 19th-early 20th century aesthetic. Card games can have the same association.

Hobbies that are not necessarily intellectually or emotion-driven, but have the appearance of the aesthetic are also included. This includes calligraphy, book-binding and embroidery. The emphasis on improving oneself, dedication to a subject and active thinking and focus could be applied to these (and many more) hobbies. Again, what determines if a hobby could fit into the aesthetic is its resemblance to the visuals and connotations. The activities should fit the leisure class of the time periods.

For comedy's sake, many Dark Academics banter about committing crimes such as murder, art theft, and blackmail.


Criticism

Aestheticization of unhealthy behavior

Dark academia has been criticized for its apparent encouragement of unhealthy behavior in the pursuit of both the aesthetic itself and academic achievement.[14][15] Stress and procrastination related to education, depression and its symptoms, unhealthy sleep habits, including both under and oversleeping and excessive consumption of coffee, are frequently referenced and discussed in dark academic communities.

Western Eurocentrism

Dark academia focuses predominantly on languages, literature, architecture, art, poetry and fashion originating from Western Europe and has been consequently criticized as Eurocentric. Many dark academics have rejected an exclusionary interpretation of dark academia and encouraged academics to include non-Western languages, literature, architecture and clothing in their conceptions and use of the aesthetic.[16][17][18]

Lack of True Academic Thought

Another criticism of Dark Academia does not lie in its socio-political issues, but rather that Dark Academics are not necessarily intellectual, and overly emphasize the aesthetic, rather than actually participate in academic work. Many, if not most, of the works included in the Dark Academia canon are pop literature, often from the young adult genre. So, some literature fans are exasperated when Dark Academics assume a persona of being intellectual and sophisticated, when the novels they read do not express the same literary quality as more rigorous novels do.

The use of books being a point for fashion and lifestyle inspiration without much emphasis on critical thought is another contention. This is especially true with appreciation for The Secret History, which is supposed to be a satire- people trying to mimic their lifestyle and personality of the characters are missing the point of the novel mocking the main characters.[19] Many books demonstrate that pretentiousness and isolation from non-academics create hubris, leading to the characters' downfalls; readers who understand the theme would be less inclined to assume these relationship dynamics, presumably.

Additionally, many critics claim that Dark Academia is more preoccupied with the visual aesthetic rather than studying and academia itself.

Fans of the aesthetic also, entirely inadvertantly, changed the semantic meaning behind academia as an amorphous class that includes the poor, people of color, and a variety of cultures to an aesthetic that emphasizes Western Eurocentricism and classicism, with a set lifestyle and mode of thought. From this, people will continue seeing academia as a group of pretentious ivory tower types instead of the diversity of the class. Anti-intellectualism and a lack of class solidarity results from this misconception of academia, and the aesthetic may perpetuate this view to the generation on social media.[20]


Resources

External links to help get a better understanding of this aesthetic.

Communities

Reddit

Discord Servers

Gallery

References and notes

All references marked with personal communication are interviews. To view transcriptions, access to the Dark Academia interview file on the Aesthetics Wiki Google Drive, which can be viewed here. Included in the file is the methodology, ethical guidelines and reach of the interview, as described by the Aesthetics Wiki interviewer. If you want to participate in this project, please contact graviphantalia.

  1. Anolik, Lili. (2019, May 29). The Secret Oral History of Bennington: The 1980's Most Decadent College. Esquire. https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/a27434009/bennington-college-oral-history-bret-easton-ellis/
  2. http://web.archive.org/web/20210616200450/https://bondsmagii.tumblr.com/post/185454206997/physically-im-present-but-spiritually-im-at
  3. metamorphoses (personal communication, May 31, 2021)
  4. To see examples, check the Aesthetics Wiki Google Slide https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1hy1KXcdszTHfTGje5MyS3KrNiucrCCpGFt5973Hd7P8/edit?usp=sharing
  5. http://web.archive.org/web/20170425035918/https://holocene-days.tumblr.com/post/155874596482/the-holy-trinity-of-dark-academia-that-is-kill
  6. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/30/style/dark-academia-tiktok.html
  7. A fashion class in the Dark Academics discord server
  8. This was discussed in a book club in the Discord server Dark Academics.
  9. This has been extrapolated from media that is the most frequent on dark academia lists such as The Secret History, Frankenstein and Kill Your Darlings. The list of tropes should not be seen as an authority and this conversation varies amongst different members of the dark academia community.
  10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjjfXbWWtWg
  11. This was found by searching "Dark Academia playlist" on YouTube and sorting it through most viewed. Through this method, one can find that the top ten videos were created from November 2020 to January 2021.
  12. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SmartPeoplePlayChess
  13. https://www.britannica.com/topic/chess/History#ref80430
  14. lil-bit-of-a-mess. (2020, December 1) [text post]. tumblr, archived on Wayback Machine. https://web.archive.org/web/20210610231557/https://lil-bit-of-a-mess.tumblr.com/post/636320046655881216/listen-i-love-dark-academia-i-really-do-it
  15. https://web.archive.org/web/20210610231229/https://sonderstudy.tumblr.com/post/190984411818/my-two-cents-on-dark-academia
  16. https://web.archive.org/web/20210316000025/https://sappylittlebitch.tumblr.com/post/620401404176154624/cultural-dark-academia
  17. https://web.archive.org/web/20210607212258/https://punkenglishnerd.tumblr.com/post/189453466668/to-all-the-people-saying-can-i-still-be-a-dark
  18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210607213344/https://ataphya.tumblr.com/post/645623340466339840/also
  19. http://web.archive.org/web/20210803185504/https://frogandtoadpdf.tumblr.com/post/620950992040673280/frogandtoadpdf-the-secret-history-is-fight-club
  20. http://web.archive.org/web/20210801203844/https://fakeblondeabigailhobbs.tumblr.com/post/636700069549260800/finelythreadedsky-finelythreadedsky-the