A guide to dark academia
A guide to dark academia. Is dark academia the new basic?
Introduction
Dark academia, a trend, sprouting from the basis of academics is on the peak of its popularity from last three years. After this sort of popularity, it’s important to ask, Is dark academia the new basic? Do people really know dark academia is? Or are they just awed by the looks of it. When it comes to aesthetics people just focus on what they look at, yes, I’m aware aesthetics means pleasing to eye, but its more than what meets the eye it’s how it makes you feel? what sentiments it evokes inside you? and what inspired the artist to capture the image? The dark academia is gloomy, obscure, and always tragic. The soul crushing tragedies, the chaos, and the beauty of it all, to quote donna tart, “Beauty is terror. Whatever we call beauty we quiver before it.”
Origin
So, when this started? Well, it peaked in the midst of the global pandemic when the schools closed, terminating the daily early morning coffee runs, reducing education to the blue glow of our computer screens and zoom, the lack of social interaction led people to fantasize about such ideas to fill the void. Now if we go back in time, the concepts and nature of dark academia can be seen since the 19th century where we find hit of dark academia in the book Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, the picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. In the beginning of 20th century, we got ourselves the book that is considered to be the bible of dark academia The secret history by Donna Tart and let us not forget about the beast itself Dead poet society. All these revolutionary films and books have always been part of something big.
Aesthetics
the aesthetic involving reading for extensive hours, studying till the hours blend into each other, writing your thoughts away, and not to mention the elite boarding schools and family with old money that provide for such lavish and extravagant lifestyle. Dark academia not only focuses on romanticization of academics but also melancholic hours of life especially of a student, acknowledging the loneliness that comes with youth among all other mundane emotions. the dark academia is usually seem to set in European prestigious boarding schools with detailed gothic architecture and dimly lit atmosphere almost giving a romantic vibe to it.
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/6f/9b/66/6f9b66e642c396a04acf1d6fd0d3920e.jpg
Fashion
Dark academia fashion is one of the elements that played a significant role in its popularity. The wardrobe is inspired by androgyny which make the fashion accessible to everyone. The main theme followed is fashion from 1920s, 30s and 40s. Rebecca Denette, stylist of Harry Potter, explains trend to be “preppy and deeply gothic” with emphasis on duller and darker color palette. the fashion is inspired by European boarding school dress code consisting of Sweater vests, tailored trousers, collar shirts, Oxford loafers, long trench coats, small leather backpacks, and plaid skirts with knee-high socks.
https://i.imgur.com/6OsVHtD.jpg
Concerns
Dark academia is all over the internet be it Instagram, TikTok, Tumblr or Pinterest there are thousands of people using #darkacademia every day, so its important to know what it preaches. On surface it looks like dark academia is rather positive since its inspiring our youth to romanticize academics and languages and acknowledge their emotions. Still, there is a darker side to it. If you watch all the dark academia inspired films and read all the books, you will find one thing in common: tragedy, be it in form of suicide or murder in cold blood. The unhinged, morally gray, rich white elite characters don’t seem to mind the rules. Therefore, resulting in something tragic to happen. The critiques have found lack of diversity in the books and film disturbing too as the trend is popular on global level the significance of diversity increases.
Theme
The only thing diverse in dark academia is its range of themes. It has everything to offer be it tragedy, passion, sin, love for literature or academic validation. It has a gloomy and intellectual vibe to it which no doubt makes the consumer feel it too, you enter this world of dimly lit libraries with dusty textbooks and grand pianos, wearing trench coats, drinking wine and coffee, feasting on mimosa. It is mesmerizing how human brain has an ability to make up such things to cope with the circumstances of reality. Other theme that has not gone unnoticed in dark academia is the homosexuality of characters. There is a pattern to it, defying the rules of society while still holding on to academic validation. Now keeping in mind there are psychological factors adding up too, since a person with sane mindset would never commit murder in cold blood or unalive themselves. There is trauma mixed with arrogance and the combination of two is not pretty.
https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67706c0000bebbeaff125461cd7b839e7494c2
Conclusion
Like any other aesthetic, dark academia is exquisite, but it has the deeper side too. Its as problematic as its charming and neither charm can be forgotten for the problematic side, nor the problems for charm.
It can be made more inclusive by upcoming artists from diverse background.
Dark academia book recommendations
The secret history
If we were villains
The priory of orange tree
The picture of Dorian gray
Frankenstein
The maidens
The atlas six
The ninth house
Dark academia movie recommendations
dead poet society
Maurice
Kill your darlings
The dreamers
The emperor’s club
The riot club
Tolkien
School ties
Thank you so much for reading the article. its my first ever blog so i admit there are going to be quiet a lot of mistakes but i tried. hope you like it. please share your thoughts in comments and let me know how you feel about it.
cheers.
email emmafatima21@gmail.com