Dark academia is all about romanticising education, Not forcing it. Don't force yourselve to study literature and poetry. Nothing is aesthetic about that.
Lean yeah but you need to be careful to romanticize the material itself not the idea of education then people become disappointed with the reality cause it'll never live up to their unreasonable expectations
@@Saber23 Of course. Education isn't all unicorns and roses, but romanticizing it can help sweeten up an otherwise hard chore. When you put emphasis on education, you tend to care more about the routine and preparing yourself for the task, instead of just doing it carelessly
Books mentioned - Mary Shelley Frankenstein, The Secret History, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Murakami (Norwegian Wood), A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man; Films mentioned - Victor Frankenstein (2015), Kill Your Darlings (2013), Dead Poets Society (1989), Good Will Hunting (1997), Midnight in Paris (2011), Genius (2016), Tolkien (2019); TV series mentioned - Hannibal.
Some fiction reads for my baby's that don't feel like reading classics right this minute. Dark Academia: •The Doll Factory by Elizabeth McNeil •The Lost Ones by Anita Frank •His Dark materials by Philip Pullman •Kafka on the shore or Killingcommendatore by Haruki Murakami •Terry Pratchett novels with Wizards and Death in them Light Academia/cottagecore: • Howls moving castle and House of many ways by Diana Wynn Jones • The hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien • Anything with Peter Rabit in all honesty •Terry Pratchett with witches in them Anime bonus: mahoutsukai no yome, yuru camp, Black Butler, Snow White with the Red Hair and Kino's Journey.
I didn't know that these aesthetics are called dark academia 😳 now, I will be doing further research on something I've loved for a long time but I don't know the name. Also, DORIAN GRAY!! ❤
A tip on reading plays that works for me is sort of acting out the differing characters, I usually attribute accents to the characters and essentially perform them to myself. The crucible is also such a great one :) I would recommend Percy Shelley's Prometheus Unbound for those who are trying to get into greek style plays but need a transitory piece first :)
Physics major here. Thank you for recognizing that science can be dark academia too! I feel left out sometimes Also, the TV show The Magicians is super dark academia. A secret graduate school for master magicians!
Lovely! Here's my list of dark academia ish shows and movies: The Bletchley Circle, you got murder, you got 50's ladies doing cryptography work to solve 'em, feminism, you name it. Babylon Berlin, amazing depiction of pre-depression Weimar Berlin, amazing photography, costume porn and again...murder (preferably watched in german). Linking science? The imitation Game with everyone favorite Bandersnatch, biopic of Turing's life and work, it never gets more Oxfordy than that. For more occult dwellers, Penny Dreadful, stunning visuals, gore and victorian driven death (with the very appearance of Dr. Frankenstein himself). On the same note, Crimson Peak has one of the best renditions of Edwardian era costumes, and Tom Hiddleston in a WAISTCOAT, also murder. And to close this not so exhaustive list, for my _cottagecore_ peeps, go watch Anne with an E, it's the cutest, the most wholesomest (words) coming of age story based off Anne of Green Gables.
Babylon Berlin is literally the reason I'm learning German because it is simply MARVELLOUS THAT SHOW! also; I'd recommend watching Kill Your Darlings- another Daniel Radcliffe phenomenal that brought me to adore this aesthetic and become a part of it. It's my all-time favourite film!!
Midnight in Paris is my absolute favourite movie! I've watched it again and again and it is still amazing. The actors, the sets and the visual representation is so mesmerising!
Oh, I have some books that I think no one named: -No Longer Human (Osamu Dazai) -Demian (Hermann Hesse) -The Moon Over the Mountain (Atsushi Nakajima) -The Metamorphosis (Frank Kafka) -Strait is the Gate (André Gide) -First Love (Ivan Turgenev) -Somokuto (Santoka Taneda) -The Miner (Natsume Soseki) -Notes from the Underground (Fyodor Dostoyevsky) -The Myth of Sisyphus (Albert Camus) -Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Lewis Carroll) -The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe -Dogra Magra (Kyusaku Yumeno)
@h e l l o m o r t a l s yes! I discovered most of those books in Alter Ego, and I loved them. I already knew some of them and I thought that they were really interesting and that people watching this video would see them interesting too.
You just mentioned the book list in the game, ALTER EGO. I love that game. They are nice books, but most of the Japanese books mentioned, like Dogra Magra, don't have translations in different languages. I've been wanting to read Dogra Magra for a long time, but all I got are incomplete English translations. And so when I watch the stage version of it, I can only rely on the visuals and my limited knowledge of the Japanese language.
I almost screamed when you named Hannibal, because is my favorite TV show and I'm obsessed with it. Hannibal Lecter inspired me to study even more, to write, to read, I absolutely admire how smart he is and I will never regret to be obsessed with it, because it was positive. I didn't expect Hannibal in a Dark Academia video, but it's totally perfect. And the cinematography, what can I say... WOW. The way they represent Graham's thoughts, analysis, the art, the acting of Mads Mikkelsen, the colors, the script... I've acted, and I know how hard it is to act like a psychopath as Hannibal Lecter and like a broken man as Will Graham. (Spoiler) I hope they release a season 4, because we all know that they survived. How? I don't know. But there is a post-credits scene were Bedelia doesn't have her leg, is on the table, already cooked. There are two more chairs. TWO. And Bedelia graved a fork with fear, trying to defend herself for what is coming, and that is Will and Hannibal (oh, and they finally accept they love each other)
I would recommend people to read Russian literature. It's depressive sometimes, but the wealth of the language, ideas and characters are really great. My favorite: Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin Demons, The Gambler and the Idiot by Dostoevsky Thunderstorm by Ostrovsky Anna Karenina by Tolstoy P. S. I apologize if I made mistakes in the message. I'm not sure that I translated the titles of all the books correctly.
I LOVE russian authors. It started when I started reading Nabokov and ever since then it's been a rabbit hole ever since. I just finished Anna Karenina, and now I'm starting on the brother's karamazov
Frankenstein is one of my absolute favorites! I analyzed it and basically wrote a small essay in my goodreads review. I just fell completely in love with it, and tore through reading it. I could talk and decipher it for hours, it’s just so amazing
Another really great video! I enjoyed how you really let the whole aesthetic and genre breathe, and to see how you developed your passions is really interesting.
I've been living the DA life since about 1975. I had no idea it even had a name until recently. I truly love it. The warm, rich asthetics, the history, the objects, education, etc. I used to scour antique stores, garage sales, thrift stores in the pursuit of decor that suits my DA style. Over about a 45 year span I have collected many treasures that I still love to this day. It's a way of life that is enriching and beautiful. Sometimes I look at my things and its amazing and almost like living in a fantasy world of beauty.
I’m so glad I found your channel, severely underrated. At first listen I thought you were a popular productivity-book channel with a few million subscribers but was shocked when I actually looked through your account. Wishing you all the best, keep doing what you’re doing.
I love your videos so much. I discovered them yesterday while looking for more academics to subscribe to, and I love your approach on literature, especially the idea that asking for recommendations can become a slippery slope into doubting yourself after placing expectations on books in spite of literary taste being subjective.
Heyyy, a really ""dark academia"" serie (19th century, victorian London with murder, paranormal, dr Frankenstein, Dorian Grey and blooooood) it's Penny Dreadful (it's on netflix) I watched it and It's a fantastic Serie
I just read your essays today and i love them! I specially love the one were you tell the story of how you knew u wanted to be a writter 💛 i wanna to be one too so you are actually an inspiration for me 🌈 i'm cheer u up from Chile 💫
When you mentioned Hannibal, I literally said yay out loud lmao. It's my favourite tv show, so I'm always happy to hear anyone mention it! Also this is a great video, thank you so much for making it!
Thank you so much for mentionning Hannibal! It's pretty underrated in the dark academia aesthetic but it fits it perfectly well. The psychology, the looks, everything!
Another great TV show that has a Dark Academia feel is Forever with Ioan Gruffudd. Unfortunately, there's only 1 season because it was cancelled, but I still consider it one of my favorite TV shows. It's about a guy who was born over 200 years ago and he can't die (he also doesn't age) and he works as a detective helping solve these copycat murder cases based off of infamous serial killers. There's also an obvious villain, but the writing of the show, the acting, all of it was chef's kisses!
I read The Secret History as a 19-20 yo when it first came out, I saw Dead Poets Society at the movies, and since then I've been loving academic/school/college settings in books and films, and the entire scholar aesthetic. It's not until today (as a middle aged woman, refusing to grow up), that I learn there is such a thing as dark academia and academia aesthetic - this is a subculture I would've rocked in my 20s! Now I just snatch up pieces of inspiration, I'm already all about books and history and such, but I wouldn't mind making it even more academia!
Now I feel so old... I remember being 16 and talking to my literature teacher and in that year I just dived into all the books you recommended and even got into the aesthetic, seeing the young generation rediscovering the wheel and labeling it is so nostalgic
was gunning for you mentioning hannibal as the tv series and i can't believe i was right HAHA. it inspired me a lot so it's nice to see it get some love! love the video 💙
You are so amazing, I have seen so many people say that to be part of the aesthetic you HAVE to do certain things, you speak the truth, wells done and god bless you.
I highly recommend "Crimson Peak" - the movie itself, while beautifully made, is quite simple in it's typical gothic romanticism. But the aesthetic! I think mostly historical correct and breathtaking.
I like your tangents. This video was definitely not long. I love Shelley, so I am going to give Joyce a try. Always in for a new book. Thanks for the suggestions. Cheers!
In addition to expressing yourself in a very engaging and entertaining fashion, your enunciation is absolutely brilliant. I would strongly encourage you consider doing a podcast. Also, if you have not already read it, I would encourage you check out Hermann Hesse's Demian. I've just found your youtube channel, so I'm off to explore more episodes. Great stuff!
I totally get what you mean with not forcing yourself to embody a style. I LOVE reading and literature and aesthetic films and history and research and STEM (computer engineering uni here) BUT I also like punk and rock scenes, I watch anime and read manhwa and love drawing and scifi. As as a jack of all trades, I simply can't dedicate myself fully to something and I honestly think it'd be a shame to shackle myself to a specific style or trope and not use my best years for discovery and trying out everything under the sun ^^ That being said, I think this aesthetic is pretty dope, and if I HAD to choose one, it'd be it. It can grow toxic or elitist sometimes and I have a deep hatred for modern day education systems but thankfully, most dark/light academia lovers encourage a very healthy love of knowledge and the search and dedication for it, not to mention that a lot of people in this generation are more mature and self-aware/forced into awareness about what's cringy or generally despised behaviour, which is a relief. Sorry for the rant, love the aesthetic genre and the sweet passionate people in it, thanks a TON for the suggestions and 10/10 would recommend passion for knowledge :3 (also thanks for mentioning Hannibal! such an underrated gem!)
I knew you were going to talk about Hannibal :) I loved the look of everything in that show. There was a costume & prop auction held after the series ended & I really wanted to bid on some of the items but I live in Surrey, UK & the postage alone on top of the cost of the item was too expensive for me at the time unfortunately... I tried to recreate some of the food (obviously not human meat!) and floral designs from the show using the Hannibal cookbook created by the on set chef however... wasn’t too bad.
I watched Midnight in Paris like few weeks ago, before watching this video, but I am so glad that it is on your list haha, I love the movie, and bought several books regarding the lost generation context. Looking forward to reading them :)))
I personally think Dr Faustus by Christopher Marlowe should be on the list too. It follows the main theme of dark academia concept, the obsession for knowledge. Edit: I commented before watching the full video. But I'm not gonna delete this.
I came to your channel for the commonplace book content and have now watched more videos than I can count. There's a 90's movie that is on zero dark academia lists and it is a TRAVESTY. It's called School Ties, it stars Brendan Fraser, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Chris O'Donnell. Brendan Fraser is a Jewish boy who gets a scholarship to a Catholic prep school and must conceal his religion from his classmates. It's set in the 1950's and it's loosely based on the writer's life, Dick Wolf. (Yes, law & order Dick Wolf) It's so good. I'm glad there's finally a name for this thing I've been into for over a decade. It makes finding new recommendations for media so much easier!
Love your advice about not buying into the prescribed book list. I got into the alethic because I love classical music, classic art and literature, and old movies. Enjoyed the movie recs, because movies often give me new books to read. I'll read any play that has been adapted as an opera. Also, I really need to read Picture of Dorian Grey again. It's been ages. Great recommendations on reading plays as well.
I'm happy to see this becoming a trend. As a child I read Sherlock Holmes and Edgar Allan Poe's poetry and that sparked my fascination with the Victorian era and the "Oxford University aesthetic". I became obsessed with the idea of becoming an old fashioned academic type. Basically learning everything from ancient history to advanced mathematics. Started my journey in 2007 and still going strong today. Greetings from Germany!
ok so i'm greek, went to a greek school etc so i studied greek tragedies and comedies. The thing is, in my class we were kinda artsy and aloof and somehow we had not gotten into any cliques and played together. So at breaks after ancient greek or after a lesson of helen of troy we would just pretend we were ancient greek actors and remade the old plays just for fun and i think it was one of my favorite things :)
After I saw this show up on my RU-vid, I started watching. I became intrigued by the Frankenstein movie mentioned so I paused the video, and watched the entire movie. Ngl best movie watched recently, thank you for recommending. (Don’t worry I continued the video after finishing the movie)
Have you read If we were villains by M.L. Rio? That’s the book that made me realize this genre existed and since it’s a faster paced version of The Secret History but with Shakespeare students, I think you’d love it.
I am watching Hannibal at the moment and when you got to movie recommendations I instantly thought of it, because I just love this show. Then you actually mentioned it and I was so pleased with myself for some reason.😂
I've always been super fascinated with philosophy, stoicism and different literatures, but I've never thought this sub-culture would exist until recently, and I love it
there's a book called "if we were villans". i never read him, but i would love. it's too dark academia also, i LOVE your videos!! sorry for bad english, my motter tongue is portuguese.
I came into this aesthetic by accident and i was so confuse as to what was that --mind you, english is not my first language, so 'translating 'Dark Academia' into spanish was weird(?)-- but later on i got curious and i started thinking about things that i had seen before that 'were' Dark Academia such as Kill Your Darlings, but as i found your videos on an accidental click, i had to pause and type midway just to say that im so grateful you talk about Hannibal tv series. That show is a wholesome masterpiece.
Bletchley Circle has a lot of Dark Academia elements to it, but is very underated. The story goes about post WWII. Women that were recruited as codebreakers has gone home after the war and has to forget the amazing abilities that their smart minds are capable off. Until they get sucked into the mystery of murder. They have to get back together and work as a team to solve what the police could not. There is also another part of the series called Bletchley Circle: San Fransisco. This TV series started the domino chain that eventually got me introduced to Dark Academia. It's worth a look if you enjoy a good mystery with codes, patterns, and early 1900s aesthetics.
I think Midnight in Paris is a great movie, and one interesting to rewatch! I liked how The Secret History had many layers- and how the author made the characters say bêtises from time to time that not many of the readers could really get (it was like finding Easter eggs) but I felt Tartt was unfair with the characters in the end. Have you read The Name of the Rose? It's a book I love and recommend- but that many find unreadable- with a very strong MIddle Ages-Academia vibe.
Idk if I'm the only one, but his voice and the topic of dark academia is so therapeutic. I listen to it just before I go to sleep and probably half way through I just sleep 😅 but nevertheless, I like his videos on dark academia over anyone's tbh
For history, check out the Edwardian Teddy Boy aesthetic from 50s & 60s UK. In the 1980s, there was a major revival of the style in the US based on a TV mini-series set mainly at Oxford called 'Brideshead Revisited'. And for major style points, pronounce it "Wesscut".
WAIT i have a copy of dorain gray that i stole (aka couldn't return it because of quarantine) from my school's library that's just like your frankenstein one! i didn't know they published multiple books with that style of cover, that's so cool! also i just found your channel like an hour ago and i absolutely love your videos :)
I really don't think anyone has mentioned this but The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is an EXCELLENT modern dark academia film not only because it features literary characters but it's also 20th Century/late 19th Century heavy and has a very similar vibe to Frankenstein.