Cue a humanities student sitting on the grass outside the Old Merensky Library writing poetry in a dusty notebook. The sounds of Lana Del Rey streaming through their consciousness and a cup of iced coffee resting on their knee (just for the aesthetic). Cue dark academia.
So, what is dark academia? In a nutshell, dark academia is all about the romanticisation of university life. It is every academic’s dream, revolving around calligraphy and museums with touches of Greek architecture. As the name suggests, it is usually set in dark, gloomy atmospheres. Metaphorically, characters go through dark times, plagued with painful circumstances and craving rebellion. Dark academia is a step back in time, set in historic institutions and quiet libraries where secret societies slip through corridors dressed in deep browns, reds, and blues. Critics argue that the aesthetic’s “dark” side is that the iconography focuses on Western ideas of education, making it exclusionary. However, you simply need to tune in to some dark academia-themed media to realise that the aesthetic provides a light for the “outsiders”, those who have always found themselves on the fringes of society.
Another Country
A film directed by Marek Kanievska and based on the play by Julian Mitchell, focuses on the oppressive systems imposed on students in an English public boarding school. After a scandal hits the school, the body of school prefects tightens rules and makes things exceptionally difficult for students who are seen as “outsiders”. Each scene is dark academia at its finest. Set in a prestigious institution, young English men play cricket after school and sit at their windows, reading and writing as they overlook ancient order. Prefects, referred to as “gods” hold an elite position, act with great secrecy as they enforce unjust rules on fellow students. The film begins rather grimly; from the outset, the viewer becomes aware of the deadly consequences of this dark, oppressive environment. Kanievska’s artistry can be admired through his use of establishing shots allowing viewers to be immersed in the vast school grounds, bringing to life every student’s dark academia fantasy.
Amongst the rolling cricket fields and dusty libraries is young Guy Bennett (Rupert Everett), who is discovering his identity. He begins to question his sexuality and has a relationship with a fellow student. Along with this, he is exposed to new ideologies by his close friend Tommy Judd (Colin Firth), who has to deal with school life as a Marxist. Set in the 1930s, there is no place for homosexuality or Marxism in an English boarding school. Kanievska uses the pristine aesthetic of dark academia paralleled with controversial actions to highlight the oppressive nature of these systems. Bennett desperately wants to become a “god”, however, despite his loyalty to the school, his sexuality and association with a Marxist student restrict him. It goes beyond academic aesthetics by zooming into a marginalised individual’s struggles, critiquing his restrictive environment and highlighting how he breaks away from this to carve his path in the great big world.
Invisible Man
As Bennett breaks free of repressive education institutions, so too does Ralph Ellison’s nameless protagonist in Invisible Man. The novel follows the academic journey of the protagonist as he navigates life as an African American man living in the early 20th century. The novel, dark and horrifying, has many grotesque episodes. Parts are set in an all-black Southern college and the protagonist spends the first half of the novel attempting to “improve” himself to be what white society deems as civilised. In the second half, there are secret societies as well as characters rebelling against the oppressive nature of white America. Ellison frames the ideal environment of dark academia with his studious young learners and secret societies. Even with the constant Western influences and themes of improvement, his novel critiques the “civilisation” destroying the lives of African Americans.
The unnamed protagonist sheds light on the struggles, cruelty, and hypocrisy that African Americans faced leading up to and during the Civil Rights Movement. Ellison writes about cruel events used to humiliate African American men. He sets disturbingly racist scenes, highlighting the ridiculous and hypocritical ideas of white authority. Education is used as a tool of oppression as African Americans are taught selective ideologies. Along with this, the secret societies in the novel’s second half, who are acting against oppressive racial segregation, become exclusionary and suspicious of each other. In no way does the ideal dark academia education aesthetic bring about a positive change. Ellison explicitly highlights the hypocrisy and danger of controlled education systems. His nameless protagonist and coming-of-age scenes scripted for dark academia shed light on racially oppressive systems and the hypocrisy of higher education.
Lana Del Rey
Another landmark of dark academia is Lana Del Rey. Any student embodying the aesthetic has Del Rey booming in their airpods. Her music is a sweet mixture of Alternative Rock and Baroque Pop, and her majestic classical rhythms reject social and musical norms. Her music is best known for its cinematic elements and is artistically poetic. She sings about hopeless romances, drugs, and illicit affairs, just to name a few. Her songs can be classified as rather dark and disturbing at times, and her music videos include montages, cinematic filters, and vintage props. Any time spent listening to a Del Rey album can be described as taking a nostalgic trip back in time but still managing to enjoy the pleasures and freedoms of the 21st century.
Many of her lyrics are powerfully emotional. They allow her to indulge desires that should stereotypically rather be suppressed. In “Let the Light In”, Del Rey sings about needing her lover desperately. The lyrics are emotional and explicit, as she sings of yelling at her lover’s door and being unclothed under her overcoat. This song highlights the desire and need for intense love. Another unconventional Del Rey song is “Radio”. The lyrics highlight her desire for fame and money. She stresses how she should be loved because she is famous and how she has achieved the American Dream, which she finds to be “sweet like cinnamon”. These lyrics illustrate an unusual desire for sensationalism. While it is usually desired, it is never so explicitly stated as in Del Rey’s lyrics. She creates the space for listeners to engage in their own freedom. Her music is majestic and uncontrollable. Her creation of dark academia allows for a sense of youth, belonging and freedom in environments that are strict and controlled.
Bennett, the unnamed activist in Invisible Man and Del Rey’s sweet sounds all let the light in on oppressive and rigid environments. Their nostalgic dark academia backdrop creates the space for freedom, individuality, and expression. Yes, dark academia in itself is restrictive, as it is unarguably directed at an academic elite. However, it is so much more than just monotone Pinterest boards and wordy Instagram captions.
