Dark Academia

Based on a recommendation, I recently read The Secret History by Donna Tartt. This book tells the story of a group of clever, sophisticated undergraduates studying classics at an elite New England college. The group is led by Julian, a professor who happens to be a wealthy genius with a mysterious reputation. Reading the book felt like a mirror, not of what I was in college, but of what I wish I had been and would still like to be, minus the drugs, cigarettes, and murder, none of which appeal to me. My favorite character, Henry, is never without a book, can read multiple languages, and doesn’t seem to mind his insomnia, as it gives him more reading time. The students argue about translations of passages from Greek classics. They spend weekends at the estate of a wealthy aunt recreating Dionysian rituals. The six manage to make all of this look sexy, glamorous, and cool.

In addition to being a psychological thriller, the book, I subsequently discovered, is a seminal text for dark academia, a term I had not heard before. Dark academia is officially (assuming Google is the official) defined as an aesthetic centered on higher education (my dream is to go back to school), writing (my profession), the arts (my hobby), and classic Greek and Gothic architecture (my preference), as well as romantic longing and death (my obsessions when I was in high school which still make an appearance now and then). Those who identify with the aesthetic are attracted to ancient art (yup), classic literature (definitely), and mythology (check), and they drink their coffee black like their souls (!), thus spake Wikipedia. (There is also a fashion culture associated with dark academia which is appealing but not of interest to me. I am too boring to have a look.) This all sounds great – a subculture I identify with, a group of people who value what I value. The problem is that this subculture exists largely on TikTok and Tumblr; everyone involved is roughly the same age as my son. I am very, very late to the party. (There is a subparty - studyblr – where young people, mostly women, blog about studying and learning while displaying their study schedules, notebooks, and coffee. Where were people like this when I was in college? One of the common denominators of the studyblr crew is Duolingo, which I happen to love. The more I discover the more embarrassing this all becomes.)

Is dark academia for me? Not really, not when my college days ended so long ago. I think I am left with what I am always left with – my books. Yes, it would be nice to have someone with whom I could discuss classic literature or Gothic architecture, but ultimately, I want to read the books, not discuss them or post on Tumblr about them. More than the aesthetic of learning, what I really love is the learning itself. So, back to my books, my notebooks, my index cards, and my musings. Maybe once in a while I will daydream that I am Henry minus murder, suicide, and migraines, Henry in the good days, drinking coffee in Julian’s office, future philosopher king imbibing from the cup of a sage. I was never invited to that party, but I suspect I would have enjoyed it.