Dark Academia: How ‘The Secret History’ became the spokesperson for an aesthetic
“Who gives a f--- about an Oxford comma?” asks the opening lyrics of a song by Vampire Weekend. There are just some things that are so irreversibly “Dark Academia” in aesthetic that if you know, you know. Donna Tartt’s ‘The Secret History’ is unshakably the stalwart overseer of the trend, and if you don’t agree, I’ll fight you on it. Let me just take off my tweed blazer and tuck my wide-leg wool trousers into my socks.
If you are new to ‘Dark Academia’ let me give you a crash course.
“Dark academia is an aesthetic centered on higher education, writing, the arts, and classic Greek and Gothic architecture, as well as romantic longing and death.” - Wikipedia
I often think of it as Hogwarts for adults. That’s not to say that teens and young adults can’t enjoy it as a style choice, but it does have a “mature” element to it that is undeniable very “adult”. Even if the characters we live through in the pages and on screen are arguably anything but.
‘The Secret History’ will forever be one of those books that I point at and go “this changed my life”. If you’re also unfamiliar with the cult phenomenon that is ‘The Secret History’, let me get you caught up:
“Under the influence of their charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at an elite New England college discover a way of thinking and living that is a world away from the humdrum existence of their contemporaries. But when they go beyond the boundaries of normal morality they slip gradually from obsession to corruption and betrayal, and at last - inexorably - into evil.”
The summary alone isn’t enough. The reading experience is like having an uncomfortable epiphany. Like many great books, the characters are not particularly likeable, but they have layers and flaws and complexities that draw you to them.
There is an inextricable loneliness that moves like an undercurrent to this aesthetic. Not for a lack of friends or connections, but more philosophically. Considering the strong ties with study, and especially of the classics, there also comes a kind of questioning over the meaning of it all.
Intellect and knowledge comes with many pros, but the cons? You think too much. An existential crisis is almost always on the verge of overwhelming you, but for the most part you can keep it squashed down, drown it below the surface of everything else.
If ‘The Secret History’ taught me one thing it was this: human beings will always be victims of their own hubris. This insatiable appetite for knowledge, to revere and reinvent ancient texts and practices, to become masters of the human condition; it’s not healthy. We buckle under the traditions we so desperately want to maintain.
#aesthetic
Dark Academia is a feeling, and as mentioned at the start, when you know, you know. I think ‘The Secret History’ is placed at the top of the pile when it comes to recommendations because it both romanticizes it, and then shows the suffering consequences. You can’t help but think “what if, what if, what if”. How could the story have differed for them all? But then the story wouldn’t have been even half as delicious.
Other books that I like to single out as “game changers” for me include ‘Call Me By Your Name’ by Andre Aciman and ‘Jane Eyre’ by Charlotte Bronte. I would argue that they are also within the sphere of Dark Academia. CMBYN because of the intellectual writing, and the scholarly exploration of a relationship Elio and Oliver endure.
(CMBYN - Another book/film that will stay with my forever)
As for ‘Jane Eyre’, I think it’s the Gothic element, as well as the inwardly, philosophical narrative Jane provides for us.
The two books would have very different colour stories, CMBYN definitely does not fit the Dark Academia colour palette, but it FEELS right. ‘Jane Eyre’ is Dark Academia through and through, especially if you’ve seen the more recent adaptation with Michael Fassbender as Rochester.
There are traits of the Gothic throughout Dark Academia, but less as a device and more as a stylistic perspective.
If you’re interested, here’s couple of my favourite songs on my “Dark Academia” playlist:
‘Oxford Comma’ - Vampire Weekend
‘Greek God’ - Conan Gray
‘Daddy Issues’ - The Neighbourhood
‘Strawberry Blond’ - Mitski
‘My Heart Goes Bum Bum Bum’ - Flatsound
Because every good aesthetic has an even better soundtrack, just try searching for it on Spotify and you’ll find a great boon.
Maybe the most unfortunate aspect of Dark Academia is a general lack of inclusivity. The main characters in the fiction accredited to the trend are often white, male, and although may struggle or come to terms with questions of sexuality, they are often punished for it, or never truly reconcile it.
(thank you Mr Harry Styles for your perfect embodiment of a an aesthetic!)
For me, I think that speaks more to the traditions of academia, especially in Western cultures. Where private, more elite schooling is still more widely accessible to boys and men, and where on-campus hierarchies and societies are toxic churches of the patriarchy.
For the audience and practitioners of the aesthetic, I think it’s more diverse. The followers themselves are welcoming and come from a wide range of perspectives, even if the material cannot boast the same.
In terms of achieving the aesthetic, I found this said, which is hilariously true:
Dark academia has been observed to be an affordable aesthetic to cultivate, especially in comparison to cottagecore. One writer noted that while a cottagecore lifestyle requires a home in the country and leisure time for crafting, "the simple act of putting on a blazer and reading Dostoevsky is far more doable." - (Wikipedia)
See? You just need to snuggle deep into your favourite blazer and crack open a book. What are you waiting for?
Also, please feel free to join The Secret History Dark Academia Appreciation Soc right here.
written by Sarah
