Light Academia

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

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

Like Dark Academia, Light Academia also involves an interest in literature, music, art, history, and learning in general. 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. Images of Western architecture, including church buildings, libraries, museums, and universities, feature frequently in Light Academia visuals.

Visuals

Note that a lot of the imagery here crosses over with Dark Academia. The color palette and time of day will look different, so the two aesthetics are distinct enough.

Antique books
Art museums, with people interacting and viewing the art
British estates, especially oak-paneled rooms
British moors
Boarding school-related imagery such as uniforms and sneaking out
Campuses of prestigious universities such as Oxford and Harvard
Chateaus and palaces
Coffee and tea
Desks that showcase the OP's stationary collection
Fountain pens
Gothic and Beaux-Arts architecture
Homoeroticism
Newspapers at cafes
Paintings in the Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassical, Academic, Aesthetic, and Pre-Raphaelite periods
Sculpture in the Classical, Hellenistic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical periods
Streets of antique European cities such as Paris and Florence

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
Waist Coats
Uniforms

Shoes

Wingtips
Mary Janes
Doc Martens

Accessories

Headbands
Glasses
Hair Ribbons
Hair Clips
Knee high or ruffle socks
Watches
Leather Belts
Cuff Links
Brooches
Pearls
Berets
Leather Belts

Colors

Browns
Cream
Rose
Burgundy
Green
Yellow
Navy Blue
Beige
Off-White
Grey
Black
White

Patterns and Materials

Tweed
Corduroy
Plaid
Leather
Houndstooth
Gingham
Flannel
Tartan
Madras
Knit and Crochet
Lace
Argyle
Cashmere
Silk/Satin

Websites & Stores

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

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/Press Flowers
Bookshelves
Wood Furniture and Antique Furniture (lighter shades)
Fancy Mirrors
Framed Photos and Art
Antique Mirrors
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
The Carpenters
Chopin
Edith Piaf
Foxygen
Frank Sinatra
The Ink Spots
Lana Del Rey
The Supremes
Vampire Weekend
Vince Guaraldi
Johannes Bornlöf

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)
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)
A Silent Voice (2016)
The Theory Of Everything (2014)
Tolkien (2019)
Whiplash (2014)
Yes, God, Yes (2019)
Five Feet Apart (2019)
Wonder (2017)

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
Queens Gambit
A Series Of Unfortunate Events
Sex Education
Skins
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

Bakeries
Bookshops
Cafés
Libraries
Museums
Old Buildings

Outdoors

Camping
Canoeing
Foraging
Gardening
Hiking
Picnics
Runs
Swimming
Walks

Sports

Archery
Badminton
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

Gallery

Resources

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

Pinterest Boards

Reddit

• r/LightAcademia