Changes: Light Academia

Revision as of 12:54, 1 October 2021

Light Academia is an academic aesthetic and the visually lighter counterpart of Dark Academia.

Dark Academia typically involves intense and negative themes, including literary tragedy, discussion of the meaning of life, heartbreak, oppression, escapism, and death. In contrast, Light Academia’s themes are generally positive, focusing on optimism, sensitivity, joy, gratitude, friendship, motivation, and happy endings.

Similar to Dark Academia, Light Academia involves an interest in literature, music, art, history, and learning. Light Academia visuals, literary inspirations, and philosophical themes are generally Eurocentric and classicist. Some proponents of Light Academia have attempted to resist this Euro-centrism by utilizing academic clothing from non-Western European cultures, and recommending, quoting, and discussing books by non-European, non-English-speaking, and non-white authors.

However, visuals from classical antiquity still play a significant role in Light Academia, and the Western canon are a significant part of the philosophy. Western architecture, including church buildings, libraries, museums, and universities, feature frequently in Light Academia images. Haussmann-era Paris and images of domesticity also differentiate Light from Dark Academia.

History

Light Academia was created in a Tumblr text post by the user 'plantaires' on January 17, 2019. The user wrote, "you’ve heard of ‘dark academia’, now its time for ‘light’ academia… wearing light linen sundresses in foreign countries, eating picnics and pastries in the afternoon sun while reading poetry and laughing with your friends, the burning passion and excitement when you finally make a breakthrough in your research, falling asleep in your lovers arms sunkissed and happy… everything is beautiful and hopeful and no one dies."^[1] As there are no light academia tags, and as demonstrated through its propositional tone, this is the post that created the aesthetic. The dissemination of the term was largely a whim, and it was other users who expanded upon her idea, as opposed to deliberate aesthetic creation, as demonstrated by her confusion in the tags of another text post, where she wrote, "did I... accidentally coin a term?"^[2]

Visuals

Light Academia tends to utilize the colors white, tan, cream, gold and other pale colors. The photographs are taken in natural lighting, with generous sunshine, often overlapping with Golden Hour images.

Cozy and domestic imagery is a popular motif in Light Academia and contributes to the softer and more loving environment of the aesthetic. Unmade beds with books on the sheets, food (typically coffee, bread, and fruit), and cluttered apartments are images that appear more often in Light Academia than Dark.

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. These sculptures are extremely popular because they fit into the Light Academia color palette easily.

The artworks utilized in light academia come from the periods typically associated with European civilization: Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassical, Academic, Romantic, Aesthetic and Pre-Raphaelite periods are included. However, Light Academia does not emphasize these eras of painting as much as Dark Academia. Rather, Impressionist art, which uses a light color palette and images of middle class life and nature, making it an overall softer and welcoming atmosphere, is more popular.

Baroque, Beaux-Arts and Neoclassical architecture are featured frequently in light academic images, as most of the prestigious campuses, museums and libraries were built in this style. Rusticated stone, wrought iron fencing, white marble, classical columns and generous ornamentation are common traits shared among these spaces. In addition, Haussmannian apartments and streets (the "classic" Parisian stone buildings with white plaster molded interiors) contribute to the simultaneous elegant and comforting atmosphere.

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, etchings for chapter pages, 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.

Nature photography, often overlapping with Cottagecore, can appear. Fields of grass, bushes of flowers, crawling ivy, and orange groves are some examples. Like Cottagecore, these plants are controlled and mild.

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.

Fashion

Tops

Blazers
Turtlenecks
Corduroy jackets
Cardigans
Cable knit sweaters/jumpers
Button up shirts/dress shirts
Sweater vests

Bottom

Linen shorts
Dress pants
Cigarette pants
Skirts

Outerwear

Trench coats
Pea coats
Duffle coats
Overcoats
Waistcoats
Uniforms

Shoes

Wingtips
Mary Janes
Doc Martens
Oxford shoes

Accessories

Headbands
Glasses
Hair ribbons
Hair clips
Knee high or ruffle socks
Watches
Leather belts
Cufflinks
Brooches
Pearls
Berets

Colors

Browns
Cream
Rose
Burgundy
Green
Banana yellow
Navy blue
Beige
Off-white
Grey
Black
White

Patterns and Materials

Tweed
Corduroy
Plaid
Leather
Houndstooth
Gingham
Flannel
Tartan
Madras
Linen
Knit and crochet
Lace
Argyle
Cashmere
Silk/satin

Websites & Stores

Boutique 1861
Orezoria
Miss Patina
COS
Storets
Roam Vintage
Aritzia
Ralph Lauren
Adored Vintage
Mango
Cottagecore Fashion (Contains elements of Light Academia)
Etsy - Light Academia
Uniqlo

Room Decor

Tea sets
Old photos
Mini statues
Candles
Vintage board games
Old-looking books
Record player
Old writing tools (fountain pens, dip pens)
Dried/pressed flowers
Bookshelves
Wood furniture and antique furniture (lighter shades)
Fancy, antique mirrors
Framed photos and art
World globes
Posters of classical artwork
Upholstered or tuft headboards

Music

Genres

Baroque Pop
Easy Listening
Jazz Swing
Light Classical
Soft Rock
Theme/Orchestra

Artists

The Beach Boys
Billie Holiday
Camille
Chet Baker
The Carpenters
Claude Debussy
Chopin
Edith Piaf
Foxygen
Frank Sinatra
The Ink Spots
Lana Del Rey
Maurice Ravel
The Supremes
Vampire Weekend
Vince Guaraldi
Johannes Bornlöf
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Playlists

Spotify

YouTube

Films

Movies

The African Doctor (2016)
Another Country (1984)
Billy Elliot (2000)
The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind (2019)
Dead Poets Society (1989)
The Emperor's Club (2002)
Enola Holmes (2020)
Everybody Wants Some!! (2016)
First They Killed My Father (2017)
Five Feet Apart (2019)
The Goldfinch (2019)
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018)
The Half Of It (2020)
The Harry Potter movie series (2001-2011)
Hidden Figures (2016)
Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
Hugo (2011)
Indian Horse (2017)
In This Corner Of The World (2016)
Kill Your Darlings (2013)
Little Women (2019)
Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
Nigerian Prince (2018)
Pride and Prejudice (2005)
The Riot Club (2014)
Roma (2018)
School Ties (1992)
Sense and Sensibility (1995)
A Silent Voice (2016)
The Theory Of Everything (2014)
Tolkien (2019)
Whiplash (2014)
Wonder (2017)
Yes, God, Yes (2019)

Television

Anne With An E
Bear in the Big Blue House
Between the Lions
The Crown
Dear White People
Derry Girls
Fleabag
Franklin
I Am Not OK With This
The InBetweeners
Politician
The Queen's Gambit
A Series Of Unfortunate Events
Sex Education
Lark Rise to Candleford
High Fidelity

Books

Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
Emma - Jane Austen
The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
Room on the Roof - Rusking Bond
The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett

Activities

In general, it all is about the warm and positive, pleasurable parts of student life. Frequently used examples are:

Travel

Art galleries
Bakeries
Bookshops
Cafés
Libraries
Museums
Old buildings
Historic houses

Outdoors

Camping
Canoeing
Foraging
Gardening
Hiking
Picnics
Runs
Swimming
Walks

Sports

Archery
Badminton
Ballet
Boxing
Croquet
Golf
Hockey
Ice skating
Lacrosse
Rugby
Swimming
Tennis
Water polo

Games

Board games
Card games

Liberal Arts

Learning an instrument
Visual arts
- Calligraphy
- Drawing
- Painting
- Photography
- Sculpting
Literary arts
- Poetry
- Music
- Letters
- Note-taking
- Language learning
Culinary arts
- Baking

Crafts

Carpentry
Crochet
Knitting
Embroidery

Gallery

Resources

cordurose - types of dark academia (For fashion heading.)

Pinterest Boards

Reddit

• r/LightAcademia

Amino

Light Academia Amino

↑ plantaires. (2019, January 17) you've heard of 'dark academia', now its time for 'light' academia. [Text post]. tumblr, archived on Wayback Machine. https://web.archive.org/web/20190503004121/https://plantaires.tumblr.com/post/182093386365/youve-heard-of-dark-academia-now-its-time
↑ plantaires. (2019, November). did i...accidentally coin a term? [tags on cottoncandybookwitch's text post]. tumblr, archived on Wayback Machine. http://web.archive.org/web/20210606232934/https://plantaires.tumblr.com/post/189078586375/cottoncandybookwitch-i-cant-decide-if-im-more

[1] taires. (2019, January 17) you've heard of 'dark academia', now its time for 'light' academia. [Text post]. tumblr, archived on Wayback Machine. https://web.archive.org/web/20190503004121/https://plantaires.tumblr.com/post/182093386365/youve-heard-of-dark-academia-now-its-time

[2] taires. (2019, November). did i...accidentally coin a term? [tags on cottoncandybookwitch's text post]. tumblr, archived on Wayback Machine. http://web.archive.org/web/20210606232934/https://plantaires.tumblr.com/post/189078586375/cottoncandybookwitch-i-cant-decide-if-im-more

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 Light ac basics.jpg|A light academia moodboard by @dontmindmymood on Instagram.
 Light academia.jpg|Image by @annasofiapark on Instagram.
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+Light Academia discovered by ♡🅻🅰🅳🅴🅴 ORCHARD♥︎.jpg|Image by janai bryce (@makaiangel) on Pinterest.
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