Dark Academia Aesthetic
Dark Academia aesthetic is defined as a subculture or community formed on social media with a focus on an aesthetic that emphasizes the beauty, art and taste in academic pursuits.
It is a combination of multiple disciplines, mainly classical arts education, Greek and gothic architecture, calligraphy and philosophy.
- February 26, 2023
- Dagmara Mach
Dark Academia aesthetic is associated with the melancholic beauty of ruined or decaying institutions, such as abandoned schools or universities, as well as a fascination with the macabre, death, and the supernatural.
Different aesthetics can be expressed in a variety of ways including through fashion, art, literature, culture, views, and ideals.
The conventional definition of an aesthetic is a branch of philosophy that deals with the nature of beauty, art, and taste, as well as the creation and appreciation of beauty (Merriam Webster, 2022). The Dark Academia (DA) aesthetic expands on this definition by digitizing the core values of an aesthetic, which are beauty, art, and taste, and elevating them to an intellectual level.
The Dark Academia aesthetic elevates the aesthetic value of the movement to an intellectual level by combining multiple disciplines, such as classical arts education, Greek and Gothic architecture, calligraphy, and philosophy, to breed hybrid scholars/teachers and foster cross-cultural and interdisciplinary knowledge.
This elevates the followers’ knowledge of these subjects and fosters a growing appreciation of humanities subjects which were marginalized due to the neoliberalization of education in the 20th century.
Dark academia aesthetic has changed the conventional definition of an aesthetic by digitizing the core values of beauty, art and taste and elevating them to an intellectual level.
The combination of disciplines and the hybridity it brings in knowledge and skills makes the dark academia aesthetic appealing to millennials and younger generations.
Dark academia promotes and inspires a growing appreciation of humanities subjects which were previously marginalized, making them more appealing to the younger generations who are searching for artistic outlets and a sense of romanticism in their studies and hobbies.
Dark academia aesthetic can be expressed through fashion, interior design, visual art, and literature.
Dark academia elevates its followers’ cross-cultural and interdisciplinary knowledge along with digital/social media literacy.
The aesthetic romanticizes studying, reading books, writing poetry/fanfiction and promotes a growing appreciation of Humanities subjects that were marginalized after the neoliberalization of education in the 20th century.
The Dark Academia aesthetic thus opens up a space for more academic research and creates an online learning community inspired by the theories of Engaged Pedagogy.
Dark Academia has changed the conventional definition of an aesthetic by digitizing the values of beauty, art, and taste and elevating them to an intellectual level.
The aesthetic now functions as an informal mode of education and digitalization of the practice of informal education.
Dark Academia breeds hybrid scholars/teachers as it combines multiple disciplines and promotes cross-cultural and interdisciplinary knowledge.
It also promotes a growing appreciation of Humanities subjects that were marginalized and contributes to the making of an online learning community.
Dark Academia opens space for more academic research on the impact of DA on education and the students’ growing identities in a changing digital world.
The origin of the Dark Academia aesthetic is not well documented, however, scholars agree it emerged from a combination of various cultural and historical influences, including Gothic literature, classical education and literature, as well as a fascination with mystery, death, and decay.
The emergence of Dark Academia as a cultural trend can be seen as a reflection of a growing interest in nostalgic and romanticized depictions of the past, as well as a desire to escape the bleakness and monotony of contemporary life.
Some scholars speculate that the marginalization of humanities subjects in education and the shift towards neoliberal values in the 20th century, may have created a cultural void that the dark academia aesthetic seeks to fill.
Thus, the popularity of the aesthetic among young people could be a reaction to these changes and a desire to reconnect with the intellectual and cultural values associated with the humanities.
The shift away from the humanities subjects in education during this time period may have contributed to a growing sense of nostalgia and longing for the classical education and the knowledge and skills that these subjects traditionally offered.
This likely fueled the development and popularity of the Dark Academia aesthetic, which valorizes the learning and values associated with these subjects.
Additionally, the aesthetic and themes associated with Dark Academia have been influenced by the perceived intellectual prestige and cultural significance of these subjects.
The idea of a dark, eerie, and mysterious atmosphere in academia is a common cultural trope that has been explored in various forms of media for decades, which may have contributed to the development of dark academia as an aesthetic.
The humanities subjects that were marginalized after the neoliberalization of education in the 20th century include subjects such as philosophy, history, literature, and the arts, which were seen as less practical and less connected to the job market, as compared to subjects in the STEM fields.
The focus shifted towards technical skills and measurable outcomes, leading to decreased funding and support for the humanities.
Dark Academia aesthetic functions as a mode of knowledge dissemination on social media platforms such as Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and TikTok.
The content related to Dark Academia posted on these platforms contributes to the dissemination of knowledge, turning followers of the aesthetic into “epistemic agents”.
Dark Academia is a social media movement followed by the digital generation (Generation Z) that transcends the task of content generation and creates Digital Pedagogical Moments.
Digital Pedagogical Moments are the result of the epistemological curiosity of dark academics, who are a group of avid readers and knowledge seekers who use technology as a tool to explore new ways of knowing and forming knowledge.
Not all followers of Dark Academia can be considered dark academics, as it takes engaged participation in the aesthetic to become one.
The concept of Digital Humanism goes beyond just using technology in the classroom and requires an effective blend of technology and pedagogy to enhance student participation.
In this sense, Digital Pedagogy is about using technology effectively to achieve the pedagogical goals of the lesson and generate enriching pedagogical experiences.
The social media aesthetic of Dark Academia functions as an informal mode of education, digitalizing the practice of informal education that previously took place in literature circles and study groups.
Dark Academia has changed the conventional definition of an aesthetic by digitizing the core values of beauty, art, and taste, elevating the aesthetic to an intellectual level and promoting cross-cultural and interdisciplinary knowledge among its followers.
Research shows that DA promotes an appreciation of Humanities subjects that were marginalized due to the neoliberalization of education in the 20th century, making it a hub for knowledge and artistic expression.
Dark Academia opens up space for further academic research on issues relating to Dark Academia, education and students’ growing identities in a changing digital world.
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