What is dark academia?

A trend romanticizing education, literature, music, and activities.

How can I shop for dark academia items?

Utilize apps like ShopTagr for discounts and cashback offers.

Sizing discrepancies and budget limitations may pose challenges.

"The Secret History" by Donna Tartt and "Heroes" by Stephen Fry.

Consists of movie soundtracks and classical compositions.

Jack Edwards explores the dark academia trend on his Youtube channel, embracing its aesthetic through mood boards, literature, and fashion, while grappling with the financial limitations compared to the trend's perceived opulence.
A critical reflection on the dark academia trend reveals its allure in music, style, and literature but also underscores its shortcomings in diversity and the risk of fostering toxic productivity and elitism, urging a cautious and inclusive approach to its adoption.

What is dark academia?
A trend romanticizing education, literature, music, and activities.
How can I shop for dark academia items?
Utilize apps like ShopTagr for discounts and cashback offers.
What challenges might I face with online shopping for dark academia items?
Sizing discrepancies and budget limitations may pose challenges.
What are some recommended dark academia books?
"The Secret History" by Donna Tartt and "Heroes" by Stephen Fry.
What is the dark academia playlist mentioned?
Consists of movie soundtracks and classical compositions.

00:00

Jack Edwards is fascinated by the dark academia trend and decides to try it out on his Youtube channel.
Dark academia romanticizes education, literature, music, and activities, which Jack finds intriguing.
Jack creates a mood board with a specific color palette and iconic dark academia elements.
He shops online using ShopTagr, an app that helps find discounts and cashback offers.
Jack purchases staple dark academia items like Doc Martens shoes, books, candlesticks, and a calligraphy set.
He reads "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt and "Heroes" by Stephen Fry, both fitting the dark academia theme.
Jack experiments with dark academia outfits inspired by Daniel Radcliffe in "Kill Your Darlings."
He faces challenges with online shopping, like sizing discrepancies, but finds success with certain items.
Jack enjoys the dark academia aesthetic but acknowledges the disparity between his budget and the perceived wealth of those in the trend.
Jack concludes his dark academia experience by reading by candlelight and reflecting on the overall experience.

10:19

The film that inspired the video is about the "beat generation" of writers, including Allen Ginsberg, Lucian Carr, and Jack Karouac, who were anti-establishment and irreverent.
The task for the day is to typewrite a letter using an old typewriter that requires pressing each letter multiple times to make a mark.
A dark academia playlist consisting of movie soundtracks and classical compositions is mentioned, giving a powerful feeling.
The individual finds typewriting exhausting and not relaxing due to the focus required to avoid mistakes.
The individual listens to a podcast called the World Book Club with Bernadine Evaristo, the author of "Girl, Woman, Other," and finishes work for the day.
Attempting calligraphy is challenging, with the individual struggling to create thick lines and running out of ink frequently.
The individual reflects on their mediocre calligraphy attempt, feeling fine with their level of achievement.
The individual finishes reading "My Year of Rest and Relaxation," a book detailing different types of depression and the protagonist's decision to disconnect from the world for a year.
The individual wears a tie bought for six pounds from Old Spitalfield's Market, listens to Edgar Allan Poe stories on Librivox, and watches the film "The Riot Club," a dark academia film with a twist at the end.
The individual attempts wax-sealing an envelope, finding it fun and successful, and finishes reading "Dead Poets Society," finding it charming and wholesome.

20:06

The speaker recommends watching the film over reading the book, expressing a preference for the visual medium. They discuss their final outfit, praising the color of the suit and their immersion in the dark academia trend.
The speaker reflects on the dark academia trend, appreciating the fashion, music, and color palette but criticizes its lack of diversity in media representation, highlighting the exclusion of non-white and non-male individuals.
They caution against the potential pitfalls of dark academia, warning against toxic productivity, elitism, and intellectual snobbery. They emphasize the importance of critical examination of the trend and encourage incorporating aspects of it into one's lifestyle with caution and inclusivity.