![]() In all the posts I’ve scrolled through on Tumblr, never have I once seen one that mentions Langston Hughes or Audre Lorde, Their Eyes Were Watching God or I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. But lists of “best books to read in autumn, sitting in a window seat, looking out onto the rooftops of London,” rarely include authors of color, or authors outside of the Western canon, even though there is a plethora of LGBTQ+ novels included in these kinds of compilations. Generally speaking, dark academics prefer “classic” literature for the most part, such as works by the triple threat Bront ë sisters, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Charles Dickens, Henry David Thoreau, and Virginia Woolf. But lately I’ve been thinking - staples of dark academia literature include works like If We Were Villains and A Secret History. I love dark academia (although it is not without its issues- glamorizing intoxication and all nighters are just a few examples), not only because of the general moodiness and that certain je ne sais quoi of it all, but also because dark academia makes me feel like I’ve traveled back in time and it’s possible to live without technology, for at least a little while. Ironically, (since dark academics crave a time when technology wasn’t as advanced, to befriend and fall in love in person), social media has kept the dark academia community thriving, with moodboards on Instagram, “how to” guides on Tumblr, videos on Tiktok of gothic architecture, candles and old books, and playlists on Spotify and Youtube meant to make you feel like you’re a 19th century villain in a classic work of literature. ![]() 2017 brought a wave of interest, and dark academia became more of a subculture and started moving onto other platforms as well. The origins of this aesthetic were on Tumblr around 2015 and it was meant to be a book club of sorts, focusing on classic and gothic novels such as Jane Eyre and Frankenstein. Many people have turned to dark academia during the pandemic, while schools were remote, looking for a nostalgic way of learning. Clothes adherent of this aesthetic wear are reminiscent of garments in fashion before World War II, which include blazers, pleated knee length skirts, Doc Martens, cardigans and button down shirts, which are usually muted, darker colors, such as navy, beige, dark green, burgundy or gray. The aesthetic tends to romanticize darker things as well as celebrating pretentiousness and education, whereas many other aesthetics rebel against learning. Dark academia is an aesthetic associated with classic literature, art, music, philosophy and the general fashion/culture of the 1800s-1940s. If the term dark academia is unfamiliar to you, let me try to explain. In the past months since the pandemic has started, dark academia has gained a dedicated cult following across the globe, connected by platforms such as Instagram and Tumblr. What kind of aesthetic do you think these vignettes conjure? If you guessed dark academia, you would be correct. Hanging up your trench coat after going to a performance of the Brandenburg concertos with your significant other, snowflakes dusting your hair. while absent mindedly twirling your fountain pen, occasionally taking a break to step out onto your balcony to look at the stars. Feverishly reviewing your notes about Macbeth at 3 a.m. Debating about philosophy with your friends while walking to a secondhand bookstore in Edinburgh. ![]() Rain pattering softly on the roof as you sip tea and read Wuthering Heights in a wingback armchair in front of a crackling fire.
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