What Is Dark Academia & Why Is It So White?

[@zoelepholtz9364]

never thought id want a candle that smells like dirt, but I do

[@bespectacled]

yessss! 😂

[@panpan-tm9ns]

i discovered dark academia a week ago and my grades are sky rocketing

[@bespectacled]

omg that makes me so happy! 😊

[@oooceanman]

Imagine studying just being ur aesthetic Grades? Pleased Parents? Pleased You? Pleased Hotel? Trivago

[@freebeerishere]

damn you actually addressed the euro-centrism and talked about how boycotting fast fashion is a privilege ! thank you, great video and awesome work :)

[@bespectacled]

Thank you, Eden! ❤️

[@elsastralin8916]

I've never heard of the name "Dark Academia" before, but it literally is my aesthetic! Thank you for this video!

[@bespectacled]

Absolutely! I hope you're doing well

[@CharlottesReads]

procrastination is one of my worst habits lol

[@bespectacled]

Same here! It's the worst... but somehow also the best?

[@samsunggalaxya1323]

@@bespectacled how can procrastination be good? Did I miss something?

[@bespectacled]

@@samsunggalaxya1323 Haha, no, it's definitely not good in the long run... but I tend to enjoy whatever I'm doing (reading, watching a movie) instead of doing my work

[@samsunggalaxya1323]

@@bespectacled doing things you enjoy is good, but procrastination is so stressful! Btw your video is so good! I'll definitely watch other videos when I have time

[@bespectacled]

@@samsunggalaxya1323 Awe, thank you!

[@CharlottesReads]

ahh dark academia is one of my favorite aesthetics! i love cottagecore too! also clown core!! tbh i love all aesthetics

[@bespectacled]

Oooh, clown core, I've never heard of that one! Ahhh, cottage core is so cute. The little toadstools are everything!

[@10NozomiRai10]

One dark academia book I recommend is "La sombra del viento" (the shadow of the wind) by Spanish writer Carlos Ruiz Zafon

[@bespectacled]

Adding it to my list right now! Thank you, Daniela

[@tryingtolovemyself6933]

i’m just starting to try to get into dark/light academia aesthetic, and i found your video; when i heard sufjan stevens i knew i’m in a good place now

[@bespectacled]

Yay for Sufjan Stevens! What's your favorite song? Best of luck with your academia aesthetic!

[@ndmx1334]

Your voice is soooo nice 😭 listening to it is like a gently flowing river

[@bespectacled]

Awe, thank you :D

[@dafilmingpotato1643]

bit taken aback that someone with such effort in the research of dark academia does not have more subscribers! you're so cute and i love the touch on how shopping sustainably takes time and priveledge. You fit the aesthetic of intelligence so well love✨

[@bespectacled]

Awe, thank you so much! Have a great day 😊

[@rociomiranda5684]

Costa Rica is too warm to wear tweeds, but school uniforms in some prestigious public and private institutions of my country have followed this aesthetic since forever: plaid skirts, blazers, ties. It started due to European influence in the 19th century, but now it's completely a Costa Rican thing, just like the Victorian architecture of several buildings in our capital city San Jose.

[@bespectacled]

That reclamation is so cool - thank you for sharing! I hope to visit Costa Rica one day :)

[@alexb9622]

today i got up at 8, took a shower, got dressed (neither of which i usually do) , got to online school, did all of my homework, started a bullet journal, and wrote a letter to my friend, all thanks to dark academia.

[@bespectacled]

That's so wonderful, Alex! Happy New Year :)

[@mochigrl5269]

i just love that you used mystery of love as your song in the background

[@bespectacled]

Thank you! Such a lovely tune 💕

[@Gagging4Lit]

that caramel latte candle sounds amazing. About to read The Secret History in October. This was such a fun video. I guess I am quite a bit of a dark academic but I don't dress in blazers and stuff like that...I make up my own aesthetic I think haha. Awesome video

[@bespectacled]

Yay for making your own aesthetic! I think that's the best way to go about it. Oh my goodness, I hope you enjoy The Secret History; I can't believe I haven't read it yet! Thank you so much for your comment

[@Gagging4Lit]

@@bespectacled i've never read it before either lol don't worry 😅

[@ilovevloging100]

Serbian books that might fit the aesthetic would be Danilo Kiš “The encyclopedia of the dead”, Dragoslav Mihailović “When pumpkins blossomed”, Ivo Andrić “The bridge on Drina” this one got a nobel prize, these are the ones that I could think of that aren’t too depressing lol

[@bespectacled]

Thank you for the recommendations! Happy New Year!

[@klantifashakur9894]

I'm sorry you have to consider eurocentricity in your choice of hobbies. Dark academia sounds pretty cool and I'm a Native American/Latino. Just be yourself people are going to judge and virtue signal no matter what you do. Is there a Dark Academia Steampunk niche?

[@bespectacled]

That's okay! It's important for me to recognize the ways things I enjoy play into social structures, and work to make them more inclusive :D Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm not sure if there is a Dark Academia Steampunk niche, but that sounds so cool!

[@candacen7779]

@@bespectacled Great response! There's no harm in being mindful of why things are the way they are. As the vintage fashion community says, "Vintage style, not vintage values."

[@zestyzammy6643]

bespectacled I have been looking into Dark Academia blogs, Tik toks, and subcultures and just like in a lot of other subcultures we are trying to diversify the community and emphasize other stories.

[@espressogoblin]

Thank you for the book recommendations!!!

[@bespectacled]

Any time, Ashley!

[@hades_head_empty]

me: exclusively listens to daughter to study i guess alt can be dark academia

[@hades_head_empty]

also percy jackson is 100% dark academia

[@bespectacled]

Yes, yes, yes! My best friend loves Daughter and I'm so excited to listen to more of their music :)

[@bespectacled]

Percy Jackson is the best. Which cabin are you?

[@hades_head_empty]

@@bespectacled hades! i used to think artemis, but that depends on if she's sapphic or not lmao

[@aurora1280]

bruh i started crying when mystery of love played in the background-

[@bespectacled]

Such a beautiful song 😢

[@orionamag3384]

Oh my god, brazilian literature is out in the world now hahah I'm brazilian, so whenever I see someone talking about our literature, I get excited. So if you wanna know more classic brazilian literature read these: O Alienista, Memórias Póstumas de Braz Cubas, Dom Casmurro, Capitães da Areia, O Guarani. All these books has a dark academia aura, mainly Machado de Assis' books. Also, read anything from Clarice Lispector, even she's not brazilian born, but she's amazing. And if I can recommend another one, read Quarto de Despejo. Anyway, I loved your video.

[@bespectacled]

Oh my goodness, thank you so, so much for all of your recommendations! I'm going to screenshot this to look at next time I go to the library. Thank you again, and have a wonderful rest of your day ❤️

[@orionamag3384]

@@bespectacled I don't believe you answered me aaaaaaaa I'm so happy you will search for these books. Have a lovely day you too

[@jnlyn]

i didn't expect to hear filipino novels, i'll try to read them!

[@bespectacled]

👍👍👍

[@JasReads]

The music in this video just adds to the vibe and I’m here for it! Great video!!

[@bespectacled]

Yay! Thank you!

[@allthingscosy6815]

Dark Academia is something that already lives inside of you.. long before it found a name🍂

[@bespectacled]

That is such a lovely sentiment! ❤️

[@frwgiile]

It looks like your style might be light academia? Which is basically the same as dark academia (lifestyle wise) just with lighter colours e.g. cream, white, beige and brown rather than black, red, bronze and dark brown. Just wanted to mention this in case you research light academia and love it

[@bespectacled]

Ooh, thank you, Annabelle! I hadn't heard of light academia - I'll definitely look into it. Thank you so much

[@frwgiile]

bespectacled there’s some really interesting ones too like cottage academia and witchy academia, I love it because there’s literally an academia aesthetic for everyone! I’m glad I could introduce you to it ☺️

[@laceylee6797]

is there like a medium academia? where its a mix of the lighter colors and darker colors and the habits of each?

[@bespectacled]

@@laceylee6797 Oh I'm sure there is! I'd imagine you can mix and match however you choose :D

[@katarinavojtekova2067]

@@laceylee6797 Yeah there is and it's called Grey academia. It focuses on minimalism, fighting for diversity, little things that make us happy when we notice them, activism and celebration of learning and getting to know yourself. Grey academia style is basically a warm fusion of Light and Dark academia. People with Grey academia aesthetic are always happy to take in members of two previous academias without them having to leave their root aesthetics behind.

[@cosmofeyrie]

this used to be me abt three years ago, but i sort of fell out with literature... i’m trying to get back because it was a much happer time for for, thank you for the book reccomendations!

[@bespectacled]

You can do it! I hope you enjoy the books

[@daniel.mojimaki]

This is such a fun explanation, thank you!!!

[@christinalynn1206]

Literally 23 seconds into the video and I know I’m going to truly enjoy this channel.

[@bespectacled]

awe, thank you, Chrissie! That means so much to me

[@luccacidade]

I absolutely LOVE your video. It looks and sounds so professional. From the moment I started it I checked how many subscribers you had because I couldn't imagine you not being recognized, When I saw your mark I swear I thought it was 649k subscribers. You deserve the world.

[@bespectacled]

Thank you so much, Lucca! You're wonderful :)

[@sugarpoisson1]

you are so sweet and bright! so happy to found you here! love from Greece

[@bespectacled]

Thank you so much!! ❤️

[@MyYAFictionAddiction]

this is exactly what I needed on my rainy thursday morning!! it's a total vibe

[@bespectacled]

❤️❤️❤️

[@RobertoGarcia-ip7hj]

Your voice is the sweetest 🥺🥺 I love those vibes too! I gonna mix the Dark academia mood with the classic horror, like Poe and lovecraft 💖✨

[@bespectacled]

Awe, thank you! Yay for classic horror - I definitely need to read more of that :)

[@bellaweesner9946]

1.) Love the video, I just recently got into the dark academia aesthetic and absolutely love it. I have been struggling on finding what really suits me personally and feel as though this aesthetic is perfect. 2.) I was reading Call Me By Your Name and had your video playing at the same time and when I heard Mystery of Love playing I chuckled a bit.

[@bespectacled]

Thank you so much, Bella! I'm so glad you're getting into the aesthetic! Oh my goodness, that's perfect 😂 I really need to read the book

[@SYAFTON]

Ah thank you now I found my aesthetic! I've been struggling too much to find my aesthetic, first I thought my aesthetic was goth and vintage but now yes I found a perfect one.

[@bespectacled]

You got this! I'm glad it helped

[@AmritabytheBook]

well, buzzfeed knows what its talking about because this is clearly you!

[@bespectacled]

The Internet knows me too well! :D

[@jennychan99]

the background music has me feeling some type of way 🥺✨

[@bespectacled]

Can never go wrong with Sufjan Stevens 😊

[@thecaffinatedthrifter5499]

Your voice is so pleasing! I'd love to see aesthetics series like this :)

[@bespectacled]

Thank you so much! More coming soon :D

[@veenayanimation165]

Hi babe.... I don't know the topic u shares but it's feel like an asmr vedio.. I felt cute 😂✨.. Keep up

[@flklrvrmr]

“Noite na Taverna” is so good and kinda creepy tho haha

[@bespectacled]

Adding it to my list as we speak! Thank you, Mariana

[@cosybex8711]

i love dark academia too! this video was really well thought out and i really want to read the god of small things!

[@bespectacled]

Can't wait to hear your thoughts! I just checked it out from the library, and I can't wait

[@lilyreadsstuffs9408]

Ah dark academia 🥰✨💗

[@bespectacled]

It's so much fun!

[@nayell7679]

love this i’m obsesses with spencer reid and i want this now

[@bespectacled]

Ahhh, I have to watch Criminal Minds!

[@mochigrl5269]

oh my goodness girl we are the same

[@_rafa_ela._5906]

I loved it, I’m really working one being a dark academic so that helped a lot! 🙃

[@bespectacled]

[@kruh6344]

Thank you so much for educating me!

[@bespectacled]

❤️

[@fionawesthoff969]

The best dark academia video I've seen yet. I love you passion and actually feel the same way!

[@bespectacled]

Thank you so much, Fiona! You just made my whole day. I'm so glad you like Dark Academia, too!

[@fancywhale1881]

I found this video earlier today and honestly you seem so lovely and passionate!! Im def subscribing :D

[@bespectacled]

Awe, thank you so much! This comment made me smile :) I hope you're having a nice day!

[@veenayanimation165]

Very positive vibe comes from u

[@lilydelacour]

Great video! :D And I really love the aesthetics of Dark Academia. Nevertheless, I always have to smile when people include individuality as a characteristic- not because I don‘t get it but because the outfits, etc. are also kind of a „uniform“ indicating to what kind fo people you (want to) belong. Don‘t mean this in a negative way. Not at all. I really like the clothes and general aesthetics, I just thought....

[@bespectacled]

Thank you so much! Have a lovely day 😊

[@SXYR4]

so surprised you dont have more subs, love this video,

[@bespectacled]

Thank you so much, Zvi! ❤️

[@agentmacnamara45]

Ugh if it’s not completely inappropriate to say so, this video rlly made me fall in love with youuuu.... take this all as a joke ofc, but seriously, you are everything I’ve ever needed in a friend, just very far away😂😂

[@bespectacled]

Haha, thanks! I'm glad you liked the video :)

[@abcdef-su8te]

i just found you and i love you omg ur personality is adorable man

[@bespectacled]

Awe, thank you!

[@samantha-zs7bs]

oml my parents own all of these books wtf ihbhiqhfbg

[@bespectacled]

Your parents sound so cool!

[@inxs6618]

your voice is so calming and i lovee this video :)

[@bespectacled]

Thank you so much 😊

[@loralei8028]

I just love...LOVEEE dark academia aesthetic but I don’t wanna study lol

[@bespectacled]

With final exams coming up... yeah. I completely feel this lol

[@ivannaramirez4069]

Was mystery of love playing in the background or am I just hallucinating? 😳

[@bespectacled]

Yes indeed!

[@ivannaramirez4069]

I love that song, it’s just beautiful ❤️

[@timmycorbitt5870]

Physics is just so eurocentric...and calculus too

[@nyangorogoro]

Thank you for making this video! I wanted to start but idk what to do :0

[@bespectacled]

You can do it! ❤️

[@justinward3218]

Nothing wrong with being Eurocentric, but take the good stuff from other cultures too! Currently read Sun Tzu's "The Art of War.'

[@justinward3218]

Oh! You mentioned it! Right on, Khalil Gibran is good stuff too!

[@bespectacled]

I'm really hoping to read The Prophet soon! :)

[@justinward3218]

bespectacled I’ve read “The Earth Gods” and his biography. Very interesting fellow!

[@nurulainamirrudin8118]

Fashion of dark academia mostly based on autumn clothes. Is that correct? I was born on August, it autumn, right? I live in Malaysia, we dont have any season here. Only hot and rainy all years along. It is tropical

[@bespectacled]

Hello! Yes, I think the wardrobe is mostly based on autumn, but any season (or no seasons) are wonderful too! August is the end of summer and the beginning of autumn where I live. It sounds beautiful in Malaysia - I hope to go one day! I hope you are doing well ❤️

[@softpinkbunny26]

Rewatched this more than 5 times😭

[@bespectacled]

Oh, Akanksha, thank you!

[@crypticfairy7930]

It’s actually not so white because I have lots of friends who are not white and it’s more diverse

[@forireadandfly4873]

Agreed with whatever you said

[@bespectacled]

High five!

[@annika.merret4411]

No one me wants to move to New York and be Delilah also me wants to be a dark academia girl

[@bespectacled]

🗽 :D

[@novadunne7917]

For a more edgy/modern type of music that still has da vibes, try checking out Hozier

[@bespectacled]

Ah yes! I love Hozier :D

[@marzouk6270]

Probs because the aesthetic is based off of 19th century Britain/ Ireland

[@allyfuentes6282]

I really like this aesthetic but I have very bad grades so idk what to do !? I mean like is ok I’m still trying my best to get better grades 😖🤚🏼

[@bespectacled]

That's totally okay! You don't need to have good grades to like Dark Academia - in fact, I don't think grades are a good measure of intelligence, or really, anything at all. All that matters is trying your best, and it sounds like you're doing that! Best of luck, Ally

[@lilipad2586]

I have found my new favorite yt video

[@bespectacled]

You have no idea how much this means to me. Thank you so, so much!

[@frogz4432]

i really don't think you have to be "white" to love this aesthetic...

[@bespectacled]

You absolutely don't; DA just has a history of extreme eurocentrism. Luckily, there are a lot of amazing people out there working to make it more diverse and inclusive!

[@Sarah.lux.]

I think dark academia and cottage core inspired Taylor Swift on the creation of Folklore and Evermore.

[@bespectacled]

Yesss!

[@veenayanimation165]

Ohhh the hair on ur left ear u lift.. Damn so stunning.. Lovely❤

[@loganbrayton4342]

YOU CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD W THE CMBYN MUSIC. now im gonna go cry lol!

[@bespectacled]

Haha! Such great songs :)

[@ceciliar.l.1246]

There’s just one problem: I love dark academia fashion but I live in the tropics where 70 degrees is sweater weather. Edit: 70 degress fahernheit (is that how you write that word?).

[@bespectacled]

haha, yes! maybe sweater vests are the way to go?

[@ceciliar.l.1246]

@@bespectacled I looked a bit up for inspiration, and yeah maybe something like that.

[@ayushifernando5376]

i am a simple woman, i see dark academia, i click

[@bespectacled]

😊❤️

[@moonshorses]

Omw to buy a dirt scented candle

[@bespectacled]

😂

[@xiomaracian9149]

I just heard mystery of love on the background love the song and movie call me by your name Can you tell me the differences between vintage and dark academia aesthetic?? I used to love 40s 50s outfits,vintage, nostalgic, pastel ,art , philosophical stuffs so I used to call my self vintage but I just realized now there is dark academia aesthetic too 🙄😁🖤🍁

[@bespectacled]

Call Me By Your Name is wonderful! Personally, I don't think there has to be much of a difference between Dark Academia and vintage, apart from maybe the color scheme. Almost of all of my clothes are thrifted, or from my mom, grandma, or great grandma. I think mixing vintage and dark academia can be a blast! ❤️

[@xiomaracian9149]

@@bespectacled sure thank you for replying. I loved your video. Stay safe and keeping uploading such contents.🖤

[@anayaali5817]

bye your so funny i love the video!

[@bespectacled]

Haha, thank you, Anaya!

[@mtra5812]

What is wrong with european people embracing european culture?

[@darkvavava1783]

8:30 Books

[@bespectacled]

[@Sea__]

Anyone have classical music recommendations? Specifically more of piano- 👀

[@bespectacled]

I'm no connoisseur, but here's a link to what are apparently the 50 greatest pieces of classical music :) oclassica.com/releases/the-50-greatest-pieces-of-classical-piano-music/

[@siennaroybal8106]

I just got to say your gorgeous

[@bespectacled]

Awe, thank you! ❤️

[@justinward3218]

No need to think of it as "sophisticated" music. We could call it "developed," and that's not at all a knock on more minimalistic music, folk is great!

[@Larucaa]

I wanna be your friend my heart ugh🥺

[@bespectacled]

❤️❤️❤️

[@aliaguerin1266]

Dark academia is white because it has white culture as origine But everybody can join in its not exclusive.

[@ladylark10884]

What was the book from Pakistan called?

[@bespectacled]

Here are some I found in my notes for this video: "Moth Smoue" "Ghulam Bagh" "Masterpieces of Urdu Nazm" Hope that helps!

[@banthony8545]

try some Edith Wharton-and don't buy into her rep as not being pro-woman. And she was American. And please yes she did see the plight of the poor woman and did in her books acknowledged the limited choices of the poor woman.

[@bespectacled]

Thanks for the recommendation! I'll definitely check her work out :)

[@banthony8545]

@@bespectacled Oh dear, in recent reading (today) I just can across some very derogartory racial terms in Edith's "Twilight Sleep" and clearly in "House of Mirth" her heroine does not like Jews. Thought I should warn you. I'm very surpirsed that both novels do not have warnings in the front pages- my editions are rather new after all. If you do decide to read her, don't start with Ethan Frome, total downer. Thank goodness the world is changing but it is still so slow.

[@Fiorellandia]

Cool, but you might want to work less on the easthetic and more on the literature? I mean, Paulo Cohelo? Really?? I don’t mean to be mean, you’re probably a teenager, but you seem smart, try to choose better books

[@bespectacled]

Thank you for your feedback, Fiorella; Paulo Coelho was an author I had to read for my freshman year of high school. Not my favorite writer, but I can still appreciate his work. If you're interested in other books I've read recently, feel free to check out my Goodreads; 101 books and counting for 2020! Have a nice day :)

[@ghaliabenessalah5599]

Lmao im here because of buzzfeed-

[@bespectacled]

😂😂😂

[@bcmagician]

wtf why was this suggested to me?

[@bespectacled]

The algorithm works in mysterious ways :)

[@bcmagician]

@@bespectacled thats a bit creepy lol

[@bespectacled]

Lol

[@justinward3218]

By the way, don't forget to visit graveyards to pray for the dead.

[@stoogie375]

catcher in teh rye... ew

[@bespectacled]

fair enough 😂

[@HufflepuffDaddy]

It was outstanding though I felt Holden was too young to have an existential crisis and he needed more experiences to arrive at that point in his life. Oh well, maybe that was the moral of the story after all -- he was growing up too fast, lol. Maybe. His kid sister watching over him was both adorable and memorable.

[@Lockdown-xl2cm]

Are you Jewish?