Dark Academia is such an interesting concept to me- I’m a college professor and have been for 12 years. I personally have decorated my various offices in super bright aesthetics, like spring flowers, fairy lights, and watercolor paintings. I wear a lot of dark academia fashion, but there’s something I don’t like about actually working in a dimly lit, gothic-esque space. For me it’s a better abstraction than reality!
I’ve always loved Dark Academia as an aesthetic, but didn’t know what to call it. I remember when I was about 11, sitting on a climbing frame after having seen Brideshead Revisited telling my friend about how I wanted to wear preppy, spooky clothes. This was about 2006 ish, what a trendsetter! However, though I adore the look of the clothes, the sumptuous intellectualism of the interiors and the thoughtfulness of the themes, it’s not who I really am. It’s mournful, which I can be, but I love pink and pastels and loungewear, this feel more authentic to me.
As is such a theme in the books that define it, there is a lot of pretence in Dark Academia, feverish passion for the inane and esoteric out of a desire, not for wisdom, but for elitist clout and the ability to look down on those who are “small-minded” or “ignorant”, when these are terms easily applied to followers of this lifestyle when they claim to be enlightened. They might recite poetry or some unknown quote to appear worldly or well-read, without having read where it is from or any inkling of its nuanced meaning, or interest to put it to use for good. Of course not everyone is like that but it’s the vibe I often get, and it’s very much a theme in the books that inspire it: unfathomable shallowness veiled as profound depth. Basically I prefer to be up front, I have a vague interest in classical literature and poetry, but I don’t like them that much. I like pop music and glitter and doing good.
I think that’s a fair criticism of DA! Those who are attracted to it are diverse and some of them are definitely pretentious and judgemental. I personally love the subset that are just unapologetic nerds who get super excited about going to the library because that’s me 😂
@@PlantBasedBride Oh yeah me too! I also went into a bit of a pretentious academic state then, I don’t often throw “esoteric” out in conversation 😂 I do think I’m also slightly jaded because I’ve struggled quite a bit with identity and I’d love to just BE DA, but when it comes to the genuine interest in academia and all that (which I respect because of its authenticity) I’m not voracious! I have a degree in history and I studied in a centuries old city, but literature and the analysis of it just bores me really.. and I HATE saying that because I for so long wished that was the person I was! I like what I like and according to society it’s uncultured and things I should be guilty about, I don’t have to be DA yo be thoughtful and curious and melancholy if I want
That French street with the jazz on the background reminded me of one of my childhood favourite movies, "the Artstocats", the art is similar and the vintage vibe undeniably exquisite! Lovely!
As an anglophile, I have always been drawn to Dark Academia. To me it's being at University, with the dark, gloomy English weather, clothed in plaid and tweeds while drinking a steaming cuppa.
🕯✒ what a great spread! I might try to create something similar. Dark Academia to me is Philip Pullman's Northern Lights books, essentially. So a bit of steampunk, Romanticism, magic and parallel universes. I loved your street painting and could imagine the people who mill about on this grungy street, on their secret business.
I love the dark acedemia aesthetic, it's very me as a nerdy goth. But there is something you touched on that I want to raise. You mentioned how a lot of the "setting" that inspires the aesthetic is 19thC European cities. There's a risk with any aesthetic with these influences that we end up looking at the past through rose tinted glasses and that it's very white and eurocentric. It often ends up ignoring the influence of black and Asian people on Academia, literature and art during those historic periods and just whitewashing the academic and literary history of Europe. I love the aesthetic and I love your interpretation of it in your bullet journal. I guess I am just encouraging people who like this aesthetic and particularly those who are inspired to look into some of the cultural inspiration like art and literature to make sure you are branching out from white icons to look at the work of people of colour from these periods, whose work has been overshadowed and brushed aside.
Knowledge, books, clothing attire, the colors of browns, blacks, and more cozy neutrals, prestigious schools, and secret societies are what draw me to Dark Academia
I'm sure I've already commented this somewhere on your videos over the past years but your work is out of this world. I love this design and all the detail and work that went into it. The dutch door layout is really cool and you get to enjoy the beatiful art all month this way 😊
Never heard of dark academia until this video but I like what you did for these pages! I especially like the brown tones. Those windows and street scene are very nice! TFS
I'm blown away by your ability to create so many different art styles and designs! I just love your bottom sketch of the city, I'm going to try to draw somethibg like that, thanks for the inspiration as usual 😀
I've been absolutely loving the scrapbook-y type style in my bullet journal lately. This is so leveled up... wow! I love the Parisian street scene painting. My spreads are a lot more simple, but I love watching your content for inspo!!
I love everything about this but also the Parisian street painting is giving me Les Mis vibes which makes me love it even more. I could totally see Les Amis de l'ABC being part of Dark Academia culture 🇫🇷
The amount of work you put into your spreads is so impressive. I love how you explore different forms of art and new techniques each month but you still stay true to an aesthetic that feels very Elizabeth. You are truly a creative genius and I adore your set ups! 🗝🤍
I actually just finished the secret history yesterday. On moved on to if we were villains today. So this is just right up my alley and I absolutely love it.
@@PlantBasedBride I feel the same way about the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I felt the same before reading people we meet on vacation ( which was so disappointing imo… I put it aside after 40% and am not sure if I’m going to finish it at all) and now I’m afraid
Hi Elizabeth, your bullet journal setups always inspire me and I really admire your work and talent, including your amazing art skills. I also think your background music choice is excellent. :)
i didnt realize that Dark Academia was a thing I just thought it was a feel of turn of the century. kinda gothic. love the spread and the convo you have started on such topic I shall look more into it. I love this type of vibe. 🖋
You’re such a good artist!!! I always love watching you draw, and then the watercolors just really bring life to it! I hope you enjoy a secret history whenever you get around to reading it because I absolutely hated it 😅
This set up is absolutely stunning! Thanks for your content, I'm actually going through your latest videos now while I study, it's like you're keeping me company, and the music and the aesthetics help me to create a sort of relaxing atmosphere, which helps me fight the chaos that's in my head and on my desk rn :) thanks a lot!
Hi Elizabeth - Long time watcher, first time commenter and I had to come out of the shadows (haha) and let you know how AMAZING this set up is! What an achievement! I am a sucker for bujo spreads that have interactive elements and you took this to the next level. The window turned out amazing and all your artwork is very inspiring. Very creative and amazing! I hope you took a moment to admired your own work when you were done and gave yourself a much deserved pat on the back! 🕯📚☔️
I’m a dark academic purist lol, I always interpret it as meaning TSH-like: pretentious students who care an exorbitant amount over aesthetics, poetry, classics, art, with the dark mystery vibes you mentioned as well
Dark academia for me was/is an expression of the mood of books I love, and a marriage between both and office appropriate clothes. It makes me feel like me. It took a long time but I found it.
I know its only your february set-up but i already know that this is going to be my favorite of the year. I love architecture sketches, but my favorite par is the window detail, its amazing. I mean the shutters, the style the frame!!!!!! I'm officially in love 😍😍😍
Elizabeth WOW!!! You knocked dark academia out of the park. Especially that painting of the alley way was STUNNING 😍 I think dark academia appeals to me because there’s a layer of magic and nostalgia involved with it 🐈⬛📚🗝
For me, Marcus Sedgewick's The Book of Dead Days is a great dark academia book. It's not strictly about academia, but it has such a great dark academia vibe.
Very beautiful as always ! Currently living in Paris, I feel like I'm in a dark academia movie sometimes during a gloomy pooring day in certain areas such as Montmartre or le Panthéon !
I love Dark Academia because it gives me vintage/antique vibes with modern flair. The clothing aesthetic of baggy sweaters, tweed coats, with combat boots 💖 Essential is the "scholar" vibe but touches of "goth". Lydia Deets in her school uniform lol
I rarely comment on UA-cam vids but my goodness Elizabeth! This theme is so good! You're super talented! I don't really know what this type of aesthetic is called but now I know! BTW, one little suggestion, you might want to try rounding the corners of the pages you cut so that it'll look like the journal's designed that way! Here's my dark academia emoji: 🔍⌛️✒️📜
Dark Academia is such an interesting concept to me- I’m a college professor and have been for 12 years. I personally have decorated my various offices in super bright aesthetics, like spring flowers, fairy lights, and watercolor paintings. I wear a lot of dark academia fashion, but there’s something I don’t like about actually working in a dimly lit, gothic-esque space. For me it’s a better abstraction than reality!
I’ve always loved Dark Academia as an aesthetic, but didn’t know what to call it. I remember when I was about 11, sitting on a climbing frame after having seen Brideshead Revisited telling my friend about how I wanted to wear preppy, spooky clothes. This was about 2006 ish, what a trendsetter! However, though I adore the look of the clothes, the sumptuous intellectualism of the interiors and the thoughtfulness of the themes, it’s not who I really am. It’s mournful, which I can be, but I love pink and pastels and loungewear, this feel more authentic to me.
As is such a theme in the books that define it, there is a lot of pretence in Dark Academia, feverish passion for the inane and esoteric out of a desire, not for wisdom, but for elitist clout and the ability to look down on those who are “small-minded” or “ignorant”, when these are terms easily applied to followers of this lifestyle when they claim to be enlightened. They might recite poetry or some unknown quote to appear worldly or well-read, without having read where it is from or any inkling of its nuanced meaning, or interest to put it to use for good. Of course not everyone is like that but it’s the vibe I often get, and it’s very much a theme in the books that inspire it: unfathomable shallowness veiled as profound depth. Basically I prefer to be up front, I have a vague interest in classical literature and poetry, but I don’t like them that much. I like pop music and glitter and doing good.
I think that’s a fair criticism of DA! Those who are attracted to it are diverse and some of them are definitely pretentious and judgemental. I personally love the subset that are just unapologetic nerds who get super excited about going to the library because that’s me 😂
@@PlantBasedBride Oh yeah me too! I also went into a bit of a pretentious academic state then, I don’t often throw “esoteric” out in conversation 😂 I do think I’m also slightly jaded because I’ve struggled quite a bit with identity and I’d love to just BE DA, but when it comes to the genuine interest in academia and all that (which I respect because of its authenticity) I’m not voracious! I have a degree in history and I studied in a centuries old city, but literature and the analysis of it just bores me really.. and I HATE saying that because I for so long wished that was the person I was! I like what I like and according to society it’s uncultured and things I should be guilty about, I don’t have to be DA yo be thoughtful and curious and melancholy if I want
I followed ya on IG.
she just took bujo to the next level with that INSANE drawing. kudos to you, elizabeth!
Wow,this is not bujo ,this is pure art...bravoooo
Collagey type themes of bujo is slowly becoming my favourite style for sure!🪶🕯
They’re so much fun to make!
Elizabeth, this is above and beyond STUNNING!
🕰🎞🕯
Aw thank you so much! 🥰❤️
That French street with the jazz on the background reminded me of one of my childhood favourite movies, "the Artstocats", the art is similar and the vintage vibe undeniably exquisite! Lovely!
Aw I loved that movie as a kid! I love that ❤
Your bullet journal is truly a work of art. You are constantly out doing yourself!
Your spreads get better every month!
Aw thank you ❤️ Thus one was a serious challenge!
I will never not rave about your art in your BUJO 🤩😍👏🏻👏🏻 this is yet again another gorgeous theme!
I am impressed with all the creative bujoers that make such beautiful themes.
Hands down my absolute favorite setup everrrrr! 🤎🖤🤎🖤🕯🗝
As an anglophile, I have always been drawn to Dark Academia. To me it's being at University, with the dark, gloomy English weather, clothed in plaid and tweeds while drinking a steaming cuppa.
🕯✒ what a great spread! I might try to create something similar.
Dark Academia to me is Philip Pullman's Northern Lights books, essentially. So a bit of steampunk, Romanticism, magic and parallel universes. I loved your street painting and could imagine the people who mill about on this grungy street, on their secret business.
Oo I haven’t read those! I clearly need to, though! ❤️
@@PlantBasedBride they're very good!
You amaze me each month. You put do yourself each month. Your creativity and talent is awesome. You are also very beautiful.
Omg this is everything 🤎✨
I love the dark acedemia aesthetic, it's very me as a nerdy goth. But there is something you touched on that I want to raise. You mentioned how a lot of the "setting" that inspires the aesthetic is 19thC European cities. There's a risk with any aesthetic with these influences that we end up looking at the past through rose tinted glasses and that it's very white and eurocentric. It often ends up ignoring the influence of black and Asian people on Academia, literature and art during those historic periods and just whitewashing the academic and literary history of Europe. I love the aesthetic and I love your interpretation of it in your bullet journal. I guess I am just encouraging people who like this aesthetic and particularly those who are inspired to look into some of the cultural inspiration like art and literature to make sure you are branching out from white icons to look at the work of people of colour from these periods, whose work has been overshadowed and brushed aside.
I absolutely LOVE that street view page ❤️
Knowledge, books, clothing attire, the colors of browns, blacks, and more cozy neutrals, prestigious schools, and secret societies are what draw me to Dark Academia
This is absolutely gorgeous, Elizabeth 😲📜🪶
I always adore dark brownish themes in general and obviously i really love this theme!! ☺️ it goes with your aesthetics perfectly as well!!
Beautiful! 🤎🖤🪶📕🕰️
Thank you! 🥰
Dark Academia- just lovely
Absolutely stunning. This neutral pallet is beautiful.
Oh my goodness! I’m so impressed you used so many materials but it really looked like it fit the page!
I'm sure I've already commented this somewhere on your videos over the past years but your work is out of this world. I love this design and all the detail and work that went into it. The dutch door layout is really cool and you get to enjoy the beatiful art all month this way 😊
this turned out so lovely ☕️🕰🖋
Never heard of dark academia until this video but I like what you did for these pages! I especially like the brown tones. Those windows and street scene are very nice! TFS
🥰 wooow this set up deserves millions like and view...
I'm blown away by your ability to create so many different art styles and designs! I just love your bottom sketch of the city, I'm going to try to draw somethibg like that, thanks for the inspiration as usual 😀
I've been absolutely loving the scrapbook-y type style in my bullet journal lately. This is so leveled up... wow! I love the Parisian street scene painting. My spreads are a lot more simple, but I love watching your content for inspo!!
This is maybe my favourite of all your spreads. I hadn't heard the term dark academia, but you've captured it well.
I love everything about this but also the Parisian street painting is giving me Les Mis vibes which makes me love it even more. I could totally see Les Amis de l'ABC being part of Dark Academia culture 🇫🇷
This spread is so freaking artistic and I live it!!
That window is so creative and pretty 😊🥰
i love the film noir-esque music on this one!
Loved the background music choice for this one. Great vibes for this theme.
Thank you! ❤️
I love the dark academia fashion. Beautiful spreads!
The amount of work you put into your spreads is so impressive. I love how you explore different forms of art and new techniques each month but you still stay true to an aesthetic that feels very Elizabeth. You are truly a creative genius and I adore your set ups! 🗝🤍
Oh wow, thank you so much, Mandy! That’s so kind of you to say 🥰❤️
The texture detail is so beautifully made!!!! This spread is so STUNNING! What an artwork
I hope you feel better soon! A great addition to your visuals would be a black cat... to me that just screams dark academia!
Haha I almost painted one! Luckily one of my real life black cats, Yoda, made a cameo appearance 😂
What a beautiful layout! 😍
For some reason '👤' gives me dark academia vibes🥰
Love how your spreads are always soooo extra! You push the boundaries of creativity! Looking forward to more of your creations!
Thank you so much ❤
I actually just finished the secret history yesterday. On moved on to if we were villains today. So this is just right up my alley and I absolutely love it.
💼✨🎻🕰⏳🎞📜🕯
Oh nice! I feel like I’m afraid to read it in case it doesn’t live up to the hype 😅
@@PlantBasedBride I feel the same way about the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I felt the same before reading people we meet on vacation ( which was so disappointing imo… I put it aside after 40% and am not sure if I’m going to finish it at all) and now I’m afraid
🦉I love this set up!, Especially the window at the start
Thank you! ❤
This cutting machine is the best thing I've ever seen! It's so much work without it. Also, I love your painting and this aesthetic 🖤🎨📚
Your are so incredibly talented! What a theme 📖🏛
Thank you so much!
WOW!! Just WOW!! Amazing talent.
Incredible! Really love the creativity and vibe 😃
It's truly a masterpiece!! Congratulations!
Aw thank you! 🥰
Love that window detail! Also love the dark academia vibe for February. The Poe quote is perfect 🕯🏛📚🖋
Aw thank you! It felt like the perfect time of year for it 🤗
Gorgeous!! Have been loving dark academia lately!
Same ❤️
Hi Elizabeth, your bullet journal setups always inspire me and I really admire your work and talent, including your amazing art skills. I also think your background music choice is excellent. :)
Love the window cut out!
Such amazing artwork. You're incredibly talented!
Wauw this is insanely insane! Love it! 🎲
Thank you so much!
This is so beautiful 😍😍 I mean... Just wow ♥️ love the dark academia theme.
Aw thank you! 🥰
this setup is so stunning 😍 I love it!
Gosh this collage looks so good! 👜👞✒💼
i didnt realize that Dark Academia was a thing I just thought it was a feel of turn of the century. kinda gothic. love the spread and the convo you have started on such topic I shall look more into it. I love this type of vibe. 🖋
You’re such a good artist!!! I always love watching you draw, and then the watercolors just really bring life to it! I hope you enjoy a secret history whenever you get around to reading it because I absolutely hated it 😅
This set up is absolutely stunning! Thanks for your content, I'm actually going through your latest videos now while I study, it's like you're keeping me company, and the music and the aesthetics help me to create a sort of relaxing atmosphere, which helps me fight the chaos that's in my head and on my desk rn :) thanks a lot!
I love this! I hope you do well on whatever test you’re studying for ❤️
So beautiful 😍😍😍😍 love the window idea and the scrapbooking style…
Thank you so much!
As always, absolutely amazing!
Wow! This is incredible rendition of dark academia! I'm in. :)
Glad you like it!
Hi Elizabeth - Long time watcher, first time commenter and I had to come out of the shadows (haha) and let you know how AMAZING this set up is! What an achievement! I am a sucker for bujo spreads that have interactive elements and you took this to the next level. The window turned out amazing and all your artwork is very inspiring. Very creative and amazing! I hope you took a moment to admired your own work when you were done and gave yourself a much deserved pat on the back! 🕯📚☔️
Ohh wauwww this looks amazing, loving loving Doors you made
Oooh I love this idea! Would also work for fans of Carnival Row or Discovery of Witches!
EA. Poe is my favorite writer, I named my cat after him. Love the dark academia!
I’m a dark academic purist lol, I always interpret it as meaning TSH-like: pretentious students who care an exorbitant amount over aesthetics, poetry, classics, art, with the dark mystery vibes you mentioned as well
Dark academia for me was/is an expression of the mood of books I love, and a marriage between both and office appropriate clothes. It makes me feel like me. It took a long time but I found it.
Amazingly cool! So enjoy your videos!
Love the video and the setup is stunning!!! 🎞☕🤎
Thank you! 🥰
This is stunning Elizabeth!!
I know its only your february set-up but i already know that this is going to be my favorite of the year. I love architecture sketches, but my favorite par is the window detail, its amazing. I mean the shutters, the style the frame!!!!!! I'm officially in love 😍😍😍
I love the Paris drawing!! 🖤Maybe you should start urban sketching :)
Elizabeth WOW!!! You knocked dark academia out of the park. Especially that painting of the alley way was STUNNING 😍 I think dark academia appeals to me because there’s a layer of magic and nostalgia involved with it 🐈⬛📚🗝
Thank you so much! Oo yes, I feel the same way ❤️
So artistic! 🗝🕯
Loved the setup. Thanks for the video 🖤📚
Such a beautiful aesthetic! I used watercolor in my bullet journal this month too and I've been loving it!
For me, Marcus Sedgewick's The Book of Dead Days is a great dark academia book. It's not strictly about academia, but it has such a great dark academia vibe.
I’ll have to check that one out!
Very beautiful as always !
Currently living in Paris, I feel like I'm in a dark academia movie sometimes during a gloomy pooring day in certain areas such as Montmartre or le Panthéon !
Thank you! Oo lucky ❤️ I love Paris!
i already did feb but i am definitely saving this for a future theme
Love this spread!!
👩🎓🕰⏳♟👜🕯🖋
I love Dark Academia because it gives me vintage/antique vibes with modern flair. The clothing aesthetic of baggy sweaters, tweed coats, with combat boots 💖 Essential is the "scholar" vibe but touches of "goth". Lydia Deets in her school uniform lol
gosh wow you definitely outdid yourself with this one wow!
Wow! This is truly gorgeous! I love the setup and the easthetic. ❤
hi, i'm new to your channel and i am so in awe of the content you create! your spreads are so beautiful
Aw thank you! Welcome 🥰
I rarely comment on UA-cam vids but my goodness Elizabeth! This theme is so good! You're super talented! I don't really know what this type of aesthetic is called but now I know!
BTW, one little suggestion, you might want to try rounding the corners of the pages you cut so that it'll look like the journal's designed that way!
Here's my dark academia emoji: 🔍⌛️✒️📜
Wow I love this theme, Elizabeth! The details are so beautiful, your themes and spreads are always so inspiring 💛
Aw thank you! You are too kind 🤎
Looove this theme!!
Thank you!
this music is immaculate
I love this spread! It’s so beautiful and the vibe is amazing 😻
When I saw the preview for this video, I got very excited to see your take on the Dark Academia aesthetic! As always I love your work!
I’ve always loved all your layouts but I think this one might be the most impressive!
This turned out really well! So much thought went into the theme. Thanks for sharing your ideas. Happy February Elizabeth! 🕯
Thank you! ❤️
looks stunning! ill surely try to recreate it maybe at the end of the year time but i will!!
Amazing theme 😍
🕸 cobwebs always feels dark academia to me. Loved this set up