Building off of this, contrasting from the pure Apollonian intellect of academia is the desire for Dionysian ecstasy, irrationality, and lust. These motifs specifically originated from The Secret History by Donna Tartt, which is expanded in the history section. In the community, there is the desire to encounter altered states of consciousness, which reveal "purer" and more intense emotions and losses of control. The way this is shown is largely through reblogged quotes from literature and jokes about reaching this state of being.

You’ll keep reading as soon as you guess the big reveal(s) to see if you are wrong (spoiler: you most likely won’t be). Another one of the main appeals of Dark Academia is intrigue that comes with being in a cohort of intellectuals. In the works of fiction that are thought to be the Dark Academia "canon," ( The Secret History, If We Were Villains, The Dead Poets Society) there is always a clique of students that share a common passion for their subject. The appreciators of Dark Academia enjoy the close bonds of a group of friends- but one that transcends the typical thought of casual, pleasure-based friends and into something more profound and intimate. Can a night spent studying hard before an exam be a romantic experience? Perhaps those who feel relieved to have completed their formal education might find it difficult to believe such an idea. And yet – the dark academia aesthetic, one of the most influential online visual trends of recent years, suggests that there is nothing more beautiful than time spent perusing dusty books from a university library. The aesthetic of dark academia represents a fantasy about the lives of humanists from a few decades ago, maybe a century ago – a bit pretentious but nevertheless appealing. Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/glasses-book-education-eyeglasses-1052010 What is dark academia aesthetic?

Crawford, Amy (October 19, 2021). "Dark Academia: An emerging aesthetic sub-culture". University of Dundee . Retrieved June 6, 2022. Specifically, the community enjoys the emotional connection to their subject of study. This is almost always the humanities (literature, history, philosophy, etc.) and languages, as opposed to STEM or artistic creation, which are celebrated in Science Academia, Theatre Academia, Art Academia, etc., off-shoots created specifically for these different subjects. Specifically, the humanities are insights into the purpose and nature of human society. There is a strong emphasis on appreciation of poetry, prose, and art history in an intuitive fondness for its beauty. Becoming star ballerinas for the most prestigious ballet school and stage – the Paris Opera Ballet – has completely engulfed Delphine, Margaux, and Lindsay’s lives. The Sun Down Motel– a newer ghost story that we loved – first introduced us to Simone St. James. You can expect vengeful ghosts, haunted places, and a mystery with a suspenseful plot. Gloomy, meandering staircases; ancient, dark libraries; stories set in old colleges, universities with beautiful Gothic architecture and darkened hallways with a sinister twist; eccentric students— dark academia books are something you can’t miss.

Café society is also another influence on the aesthetic. Coffee shops are associated with both the flaneurs of 19th-century Paris and the contemporary stressed college students of today. As such, that space is romanticized and images of coffee, people-watching, and studying within the space is popular. And most often, the dark academic is a TikTok user, emulating a look they’ve only seen onscreen or in books, and living a version of a dream life in which they can spend their days reading the classics in a centuries-old library. Dark Academia is a popular (and the original) academic aesthetic that revolves around classic literature, the pursuit of self-discovery, and a general passion for knowledge and learning. Because this is an internet aesthetic, it largely entails sharing photographs, making outfits, and participating in certain hobbies through social media. Thompson, Maya (September 29, 2021). "Foiling fiat lux: Dark academia and the mirage of digital aesthetics". The Daily Californian . Retrieved November 7, 2021. Jennings, Rebecca (July 7, 2020). "This week in TikTok: Are you cottagecore or more "dark academia"?". Vox . Retrieved July 15, 2020.

However, negative emotions and drama within these platonic and romantic relationships are also important. The characters from the above works have their own judgments on the other members in their clique and their actions, often developing alliances, toxic romances and sexual relationships, a clear leader, and an ostracized member. In the works of fiction, the murder/other crime leads the friend group to develop tension where betrayal and loyalty becomes life-or-death (see the Media section for more details.) Of course, it is not exactly clear if people do pursue the negative aspects of cliques in real life, but multiple text posts celebrate the characters in the novels (see Criticism.) TIP → I’d suggest tying in your rug color to your wall color! Top 20 Items That Will Complete Your Dark Academia Look