Chasing Shadows

Dark Academia, because studying under fluorescent light is overrated. 

Dark Academia, an internet aesthetic that has gained substantial popularity in recent years, is a unique blend of gothic architecture, vintage fashion, the liberal arts, and more. This aesthetic pays homage to academia and a dying thirst for knowledge. The essence of living a dark academia lifestyle is the romanticization of education and university life such as: studying by candlelight, drinking copious amounts of black coffee, and enjoying (pretending to) the smell of musty old books. At the same time, it requires dancing on the edge of self-destruction which can manifest in a variety of horrifying ways. But perhaps the most interesting part of it all is the allure of the unknown, which permeates every facet of this world in all its mysterious glory. 

What drives the characters in dark academia literature to make choices that lead them down such obscure and treacherous paths? What compels them to relinquish the security of their lives in pursuit of such profound uncertainty? And why the hell do we love it so much?

Well, at the heart of the genre seems to lie a deep-rooted theme of intellectual curiosity. Many of its protagonists are highly intelligent individuals who possess this trait to such a capacity, that it often becomes their pivotal flaw. These characters are driven by an insatiable thirst for knowledge that goes beyond social norms and conventional boundaries. They propel themselves forward into the pursuit of something obscure and often forbidden. And, this comes at the expense of their own well-being. 

The settings within these stories are like a real estate catalog for the bizarre. Picture ghost-infiltrated boarding schools and prestigious universities where supernatural occurrences are the norm. Bonus points if it has an ancient library that has more secrets than a Kardashian family reunion. In these esteemed institutions, the main pursuit isn't academic excellence—it’s solving riddles and giving the authorities a run for their money.

These backdrops serve as tangible embodiments of the quest to uncover hidden truths. It cultivates an ambience of solitude and isolation, distancing itself from the bustling modern world and contemporary society. It’s as if what happens within the hallowed halls of such academic institutions are secret realms of its own, discreetly embedded within a wider reality. To me, this is a fundamental part of what makes the aesthetic so captivating. Moreover, the exhilaration of an undercover side quest ties in heavily to the character's resistance against societal norms. The characters embrace an unorthodox life and defy the status quo, usually thrusting themselves into perilous territory. 

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A striking example of this theme of indulging in dark desires is evident in If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio (no spoilers of course), where a close-knit group of theatre students fall into tragedies akin to the Shakespearean plays they have been assigned to enact. As they immerse themselves in their characters, they become increasingly entangled in the world of the plays, eventually being drawn into the dark and forbidden aspects of Shakespearean lore. Their passions blur the lines between fiction and reality, character and actor. Similarly, The Secret History by Donna Tartt, a pioneer of dark academia literature, presents us with a group of intellectual, yet deeply flawed characters who become entangled in a web of murder and deceit. This novel vividly illustrates how the pursuit of knowledge can lead to maddening and destructive obsession.

Nevertheless, the allure of the occult within dark academia may also originate from a sense of “unbelonging.” The protagonist of The Secret History, Richard, is an outsider who is drawn to a reserved group of five Greek students. Ignoring the forewarning from his academic counselor—who cautioned him against engaging with the eccentricity of the Greek department's professor, Julian Morrow—Richard proceeded to approach the professor directly. He was then presented with an extraordinary condition for enrollment, which now made clear why the group was so small. The only way Richard could join the class was to abandon all previously enrolled courses and fully immerse himself in a curriculum meticulously crafted by Julian himself. 

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Contemplate, for a moment, if such a demand were made of you. Would you not be ridden with skepticism? Why would you make such a sacrifice to enter a small, unconventional academic circle? This anomaly within dark academia literature underlines the allure of breaking free from convention and the constraints of traditional learning. You don’t need me to tell you what Richard did next. 

Bunny by Mona Awad delves into a similar theme, introducing us to the character Samantha, who finds herself on the fringes of a cult-like group of four girls who eerily call each other “Bunny.” The “Bunnies” are often compared to the "plastics" from Mean Girls, a tight-knit, exclusive girl clique characterized by their distinctive appearance and commitment to superficial ideals. Samantha, initially an observer on the outside who was somewhat disturbed by the Bunnies, became inexplicably drawn to the seductive allure of this inner circle. Eventually when presented with the opportunity, she made the conscious choice to immerse herself in their peculiar world. At the climax of the novel, Samantha was no longer in a position to escape. It’s safe to say that by the end, the characters and the reader alike, are pushed into the brink of madness.

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But I find that dark academia does not romanticize the pursuit of chasing shadows without acknowledging the darkness that accompanies it. The protagonists in these narratives are not immune to the consequences of their actions, and their obsessive curiosity leads them into a high stakes game of chess with death. Perhaps it is in this duality that the subculture finds its depth and complexity. 

As consumers of this aesthetic, we might be spellbound by the portrayal of intellectual rebellion and the relentless pursuit of knowledge, no matter the cost. We yearn to escape the confines of the ordinary, transcend the boundaries of our own lives, and experience the thrill of moral ambiguity that these characters embrace without having to actually do so ourselves. Dark academia characters then become vessels through which we can vicariously step into the action from the comfort of our homes. We're right there with them, knowing full well that if we were ever confronted with a cultish invitation in our own lives, we'd probably set a world record for the fastest sprint in the opposite direction. 

A guide to dark academia. // Picture by: Ayra Rajwani, THE UNDERGROUND