Darkest Academia, also known as Gothic Academia and Goth Academia, is an academic aesthetic that incorporates gothic studies, literature, poetry, arts, architecture, music, and general Gothic related topics. It is related to finding beauty within the darkest places.
Contents
Visual
Black and red dominate darkest academia's color palette. Academia visuals typically feature architecture; however, goth academia features Gothic architecture almost exclusively. Skulls, headstones, blood, and other symbols of death are staples in darkest academia visuals. Religious and occult imagery, especially related to Christanity, are featured frequently.
- Statues, especially marble statues
- Crows
- The Moon
- Swords
- Fog
- Moths
Philosophy
Although dark academia and light academia have religious themes, which appear infrequently in visuals, goth academia is distinguished by its recurrent use of religious imagery.
Fashion
- Tweed jackets
- Dress shoes
- Scarves
- Black dress pants
- Black turtlenecks
- Black Doc Martens
- Semi-Baggy Sweaters
Written
Many popular works within Darkest Academia generally have a dark, gothic atmosphere to them. Some of the influential writers are:
- Anne Rice
- Ann Radcliffe
- Bram Stoker
- Carson McCullers
- Charlaine Harris
- Cormac McCarthy
- Dorothy Allison
- Edgar Allan Poe
- Eudora Welty
- Fyodor Dostoevsky
- Harry Crews
- Horace Walpole
- Howard Phillips Lovecraft
- Matthew Gregory Lewis
- Mary Shelley
- Toni Morrison
- Truman Capote
- William Faulkner
Music
Darkest academia music is typically calm and soothing. It is usually relaxed jazz or classical piano. Since it is Darkest Academia, the sound and feel of the music is emotional. For example, a piece called "Notre Dame, Notre Potrimoine" by Leon Noel. It is a classical piano piece that has a darker tone. Darkest Academia is not entirely, but for the most part, filled with somber music. A jazzy example would be, "A Little Death" by The Neighbourhood. A popular artist associated with this aesthetic and similar ones is Hozier.
Proto-Goth post-punk like Joy Division and The Cure also fit this well, musically and aesthetically.
Playlists
Spotify
- dark academia murder mystery Spotify playlist by Mer🔪
- Darkest Academia Spotify playlist by allie_akerley
- losing touch Spotify playlist by bellue
- DARKEST ACADEMIA Spotify playlist by wolfandlion
- to teach the darkness Spotify playlist by ianragan47
- Darkest Academia 👌🏻 Spotify playlist by Emily
- Classical Dark Academia by Gaby Sena
- Dark Academia Spotify Playlist by Albert Louis Baker
- dark academia Spotify playlist by malia🪐