Please remember that this aesthetic is not about having a lot of clothing, it’s about thriftiness and sourcing responsibly. It is all about simplicity and neutrals.

As a Ph.D. student (with an English Literature degree whose favourite book is Frankenstein) studying 15th-century art and literature, living in York and with an office in the attic of a medieval building...I feel like I'm accidentally living a "dark academia" lifestyle without knowing about it...

It‘s not often that we see you wearing black but it flatters your fair skin and blue eyes so much, you look amazing❤️

She looks like a fusion of Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasley

The only problem I have with dark academia - the one I have with every "aesthetic" - I think, it often promotes consumption of things you don`t really need. Looks over everything else. For a lot of people, it`s just another trend. And they`ll certainly buy new clothes and vintage junk to look smart instead of being smart, they`ll buy stuff to feel they belong and to impress other people. Ruby will be "dark academia" even if she'll dress differently, 'cause, you know, she studies a lot. I think it's as simple as that. Looks are not that important.

Ruby is definitely not dark academia, but rather light academia. Let's not forget dark academia in literature is primarily also associated with murder, twistedness, drugs, the occult, etc. (The Secret History, The Magicians, The Ninth House, etc.)

I really like that you focused on activities and book/music/film recommendations instead of just the appearance of it. The aesthetic itself had always seemed too perfect and unattainable to me, but now I really feel like reading some of these books and getting more deeply into my studies. :)

when your ‘study space’ is the kitchen where you’re constantly interrupted

I love the fact that education and aquiring knowledge has become a mainstream phenomenon. It has its own aesthetics and there are no stigmas and cliques. So lovely

I would say your aesthetic is closer to light academia, since there’s a lot of cottagecore in your #brand also!!

I know this is weird but I'm inspired to finally clean my room, only for the sake of this aesthetic

I'm a person of color and I really appreciated that you took time out to acknowledged the stereotype of the aesthetic and make suggestion for people like me. Thanks alot... Much love

Recommending RC Waldun, who’s a brilliant dark academia KZfaqr who speaks on writing and literature. Highly recommend!

I was a “dark academic” my whole life, but there was no name for it 😂 I was just an outsider.

The soundtrack of Queen’s Gambit is soo good!

I have a few movies in mind that I think could fit nicely into the dark/light academia aesthetic: finding Forrester, Mona Lisa smile, Jane Eyre, normal people (series), Macbeth (2015), this Beautiful Fantastic, kill your darlings, a series of unfortunate events (both the film and the series), black swan, Maurice, the riot club, good will hunting, bright star, heavenly creatures, the talented mr ripley, pride and prejudice, genius, a beautiful mind... that’s what comes to my mind now. They’re not all set in a school but they kinda have that vibe🌚✨

The 2005 soundtrack for Pride and Prejudice always makes me want to curl up, read a book, and drink some tea.

I SCREAMED WHEN I SAW THIS! Ruby has been the *QUEEN* of dark academia for YEARS and she finally made a video about, god bless us

It's like light, scholarly, Classic, Romantic with a dark twist, and art academia! I love all these sub genres, they all stem from classical academia

she is so gorgeous and i can't get over it

This was so poetic and beautifully articulated! This really shows off what a wonderful storyteller you are, you should look into creative writing if you don’t already!

Something about Achilles Come Down, it moves my SOUL. Even if the person reading this isnt into dark academia, i recommend a listen

I really love all of your descriptions and just your linguistic style. It's very soothing and also informative. I really love the way you just described everything in a flowy manner rather than doing a numbered list. It truly suits the academia aesthetic.

i'd recommend listening to hogwarts or library asmr videos on youtube! really gives you a wonderful atmospheric study experience during lockdown

I had been practicing dark academia even before knowing there was something like that. And it's just so ❤️ I can't explain it in words how much it resonates with my life and how much I love it 😭❤️

Why is nobody talking about Ruby’s fashion in this style!?? The editing and background just suits her to a T .

Ruby you really inspire me to work harder, to learn more, to dive into researching the big questions of life.

This is an excellent overview of Dark Academia and frankly one of your best videos I’ve seen. The script, filming and audio are spot on and the different aspects you touch upon are well curated and presented.

I think I love her aloooot...she just teaches us to enjoy small moments

Just finished an 8-hour study-day. I like the dark academia aesthetic and I really appreciate that you noticed issues with the community.

Thank you so much for including the fact that people of colour also love this aesthetic! ❤️

Thank you for this, I have been in such a slump this week and finding it really hard to be productive, which has drawn me back to DA as a way of romanticising studying. But since a lot of what I see online these days is sooooo look-based, it's been hard to reconnect to the emotions at the heart of it, the ones that make me strive to push forward. Hearing you talk in the first half of this video especially really hit home ❤

You have such a unique and fascinating eye for fashion. I love how you aren't afraid to try something out of the ordinary, just because it makes you happy. Very inspiring!

I've always wondered what the trend around dark academia is, thank you so much for this video! It clears a lot up :D

I am 55 years old, and my entire life has been themed to the dark academia aesthetic ... without ever coming across this concept until 2020. Since college, I have written with fountain pens or dip pens by candelight, journalled incessantly, listened to classical music, read the Brontes' novels (yes, every single one), plus works by Wilde, Dickens, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, etc. I love everything British. I live in San Diego, and have always lived in older homes (our most recent home was a century old). I love old bookshops and antique stores, and while raising my four kids, we all fell in love with everything Harry Potter. I write lettters, using wax seals of the Hogwarts crest and lately our family crest. I am learning copperplate handwriting, love the Lumineers and many of the soundtracks and films mentioned here, and my favorite movie has been Dead Poets Society since it was first released in 1989, the year after I graduated from college with a degree in Literature and minors in philosophy and history. I adore old churches, have become an Anglican and helped to edit a Book of Common Prayer for the Reformed Episcopal Church. Candles, bells, and incense are integral to worship for me. I have not been into the clothing aesthetic per se, except in jewelry. I wear my grandmother's watch (a wristwatch without a band) as a locket, inscribed with her birthdate in 1941. Candles in holders, old kerosene lamps, pitchers and ewers, quill pens, bottles of ink, antique typewriters from the 1920s, and tons of old books have been my "aesthetic" for the past 35-40 years. And definitely a whiff of the gothic via the paranormal. So yes, I have lived the Dark Academia Aesthetic since I was your age. I very much enjoy your channel, Ruby. Thank you for all that you do to make being an academic "cool." Oh, btw, I am a former English instructor at two colleges and currently teach online classes to home educating families in poetry, grammar, and Shakespeare and am seeking to return to teaching at the college level now that our youngest has graduated from our home school. Before teaching, I worked for ten years as a bookseller. So yes, I have definitely lived the Dark Academia life ... and it has been wonderfully intriguing.

i can't explain how much peace you bring me Ruby 🤎

I was never interested in that aesthetic bcs I thought it had to do with outfits only but I do adore the ideology behind all of this. I think it would help me a lot in terms of my productivity. After all, a positive mindset towards knowledge is linked to academic success.

just watched the first version but gonna watch it again bc this vid is so aesthetic and cuteee

Honestly I'm glad you made this video because I feel like you truly understand what it means!

ruby's positive mindset makes me feel happy :)

For music I'd also recommend the soundtrack for The Crown!

Never been this early!I was about to sleep,but came here after seeing your notification! Love from India❤️

Ruby, I've not even finished the video and I just have to tell you how lovely it is. The editing, the music, the ideas - it's clear you've put SO much work into this, and I really really appreciate it

I cannot stop watching this video. Please do more dark academia related videos. I just realised I am very into it and my style is like this according to the books, series, films and music I listen to.

This is a bit lighter academia than I would prefer as a dark academia devotee - definitely the themes of hedonism and bacchanalia are ever-present; almost the recklessness and blowing off steam from such a rigorous academic lifestyle, but of course, I definitely enjoyed this video a lot and seeing a lighter, healthier take on this aesthetic :)

Twilight is also an aesthetic GEM and I don't care what y'all have to say about it, I have loved the movies since I was 11 (I'm 20 now) and they will forever be some of my faves

Ruby you are the GODDESS of aesthetic videos. the layout and VoiceOver and the ugghgh this video was beautiful

The Children Act is such a good reccommendation, I loved it!! Thank you, Ruby! ✨❤️

yeah it's a beautiful experience...but isnt it lonely too? most of the activities are about being on your own... we also learn a lot from others. life isn't only about serious issues and that kind of learning. life shoud be also about having fun, making memories and start having experience from all the genres in life, not just reading about them and 'preparing' for them.

I love Turn: Washington’s Spies so much ! And the music is amazing too 🥰

I must say I truely enjoyed your video. I love the academia aesthetic but I feel most people care mostly about clothes and superficial interests. You are the true academia queen to me, as you're deeply passionate about seeking knowledge and fashion is just an addition. We need more academia aesthetic videos like that!

For some reason I watch the video over and over again. I love it! Thank you so much for introducing The Dark Academia 🖤

So excited you reposted Ruby! Also, bought the Master ToDo List for my birthday, can't wait to get it💕💕🥰🌻✨

Her:"anything by Tchaikovsky really or anything by the classical artists" Me, a german: Tchaikovsky is from the romantic epoche, just like Liszt, Chopin, Wagner, Schubert, Berlioz and Beethoven.

This is one of the best videos on dark academia i’ve seen, i’m in love ugh

I'm actually just researching this aesthetic for a video essay about two photographers who I believe are influenced by this aesthetic, but now watching this I'm hooked by your passion and fascination for dark academia - so much that you're kind of convincing me to try this out myself hahah :,D

It becomes a little difficult to enjoy studying when you have to memorise a lot of things

I’ve been into “dark academia” (before it was a thing) since the 00s when I was a teenager. I love the aesthetic as far a books, film, music and activities go (reading, writing, drinking tea in cozy candlelight etc). I’ve always been bookish and into the classics while all my peers were trying to be “trendy”. So it makes me so happy to see this finally becoming a thing of its own. The only thing, out of the whole aesthetic, which I’ve never much liked is the fashion, as I find that style a bit boring - apart from the plaid skirts maybe, which are cute.

This video fuels me in ways I cannot describe, absolute perfection.

This aesthetic is so raw and beautiful and it suits you perfectly Ruby! I loved 🥰 this video sending lots of love xxx

Oh my...that song! "Achiles come down" by Gang of youths is a wonderful masterpiece. Since I discovered it, about a month ago, I'm obsessed with it.

it’s so good to hear that you pointed out that it is very white dominated as an aesthetic! feels included as a black woman;)

Hi Ruby, I loved this video! I've seen lots of dark academia content floating around so it was lovely to have a comprehensive "beginner's guide". Came here to say that if you like period dramas at all, I would HIGHLY recommend Poldark - the music is set against gorgeous shots of the Cornish landscape, the stories are bingeworthy (especially the romances) and the costumes are divine! I'd say Demelza's story arc in the first series fits in with the "pursuit of knowledge" theme quite well too.

I looove how you're so excited about this❤️🥺

the way you described the concept of dark academia with such sweet words, you mentioned all the important aspects like reading and studying late into the night, just this obsession with broadening your knowledge and enjoying Shakespeare, Dickens or Virgil more than anything really makes me speechless thank you

To be honest I love this aesthetic, but the way it is set up is entirely too classist. Fancy tea and tea pots and cups, good paper and ink, nice notebooks, good books that don't look damaged, desks, etc. I wish there was more academic aesthetics that could comply with people with dollar store notebooks, water, and a simple computer.

Oh, I loved this, Ruby! 🤍 I adore this aesthetic

Lovely video! I love everything about Dark Academia, I quite live by that and the power of knowledge that this aesthetic represents keep me motivated!

a good girl's guide to murder is one of my favorite books, and I definitely recommend it to those just getting into the aesthetic!

the cinematography of this video is such high quality! I noticed you have been refining your editing style in your recent videos, which is not going unnoticed :) so thank you Ruby, it's a beautiful video and your passion really inspires

Ruby, you're the cutest and you make dark academia look so good! I'm afraid I am the opposite (with the exception of candlelight) and I adore a new book. Brand new! Each to their own. I love your videos!

Out of all the dark academia tutorial videos that I've watched, this is the most helpful one.

I’d recommend the soundtracks of the imitation game the book thief and to kill a mockingbird

I love you stated the trigger warnings about Dark Academia!!! you're the best! I love your video

This video is absolutely stunning! Thank you for making this video! You are so pretty and your voice is just so calming!! Keep on filming!

Oh my gosh, so excited about this video 😍😍 I love it Ruby !!

I'd really recommend If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio and Maurice by E.M. Forster (as well as the film) 💛

Some thoughts I wanted to share with those complaining that the aesthetic is eurocentric : That is literally the whole point of the aesthetic ,judging by the fact that the cultural aspect is a huge element in it. Its about mimicing a pretentious english/german/ french aspiring academic , a young person that goes to college in a prestigious school with gothic architecture and has elististic conversations about the subjectivity in art or morality with his close circle of friends that are equally passionate and resite poetry in their free time in yards or something. Truth is it has nothing to do ,and you cant connect it even if you want with others cultures. It would ruin its originallity and whole theme. No one stops anyone from creating an aesthetic that revolves around their culture. And I would be happy to jump along and join these communities if and when that happens , but forcing irrelevant things together just for the shake of diversity ruins the aesthetic thats not supposed to have variety in the first place . Aesthetics are not forced upon you, you create them and they represent you when you and your enviriment share their elements. If you feel like you cant relate to them, just make or find one you can relate to. And Im saying all of these as a Greek person that also doesnt feel culturally represented in this aesthetic even if Im from europe. It doesnt matter that dark academia revolves around ancient greek literarure too either ,because the way a foreigner approaches these works is 100% different with the way Greeks do. The english dark academia representative is for example Oscar Wild and romantic poets etc . Whats coming to mind when you think about them ? 19th century , Classical music, foggy evenings, candles , huge libraries with dusty books, intellectuals sipping their wine in their rich outfits throwing snarky comments on top of vintage furniture. When in the meantime, our representative national poets and writers in the modern age wrote poems about mythology, the sea, olive trees, the struggles of the people in the working class and villages . And in the sunny evening they would go to the old taverna store in Athens wearing blue cascets to talk about politics with extroverted free spirited people that would never shut up. ( btw modern greek literature is criminally underrated and I recommend) There's nothing remotely ''dark academia'' about this image.Even if we go back to the 19th century all the nottable Greek academics where scattered in all the big cities and universtities of western Europe while the rest of Greeks were fighting a revolution in long white skirts in the mountains. Most of them didnt even get a chance to have basic education along with many other countries in the balkans . So I hope you can all see where Im coming from. You may not be familiar with its cultural aspect but Dark Academia is a beautiful aesthetic nonetheless , and we should all accept it for what it is : one dimentional and flawed.

Love the amount of effort and research put into this video!

Ruby this video is amazing ! Thank you so much for your dedication and all the time you put in it ! ☺️❤️

idk why but candles are literally so mesmerizing to me 😌 - honeypot films

She looks so elegant from the beginning of the video 🤩

Your aesthetic is perfect Ruby ! ☺️

I really needed a video on this. Thankyou ruby!!

I love harry potter too

I am in looooooove with Poldark series !🤍✨ the cast, the atmosphere, the music - just wow ! You should watch it :))

I find this so fascinating... how I've adored many of the things you've classified as "dark academia". How many of us are attracted to these things collectively without realising . I've always wondered why am I so fascinated with the past, why do I find it so intriguing, so inspiring.

I was waiting for this!! So happy thank you Ruby!!

“A light *jumper*”. Love it

I absolutely love this aesthetic. It encompasses literally everything I love! I'm so glad that this aesthetic became a thing on the Internet because it's so very hard to find people with the same interests 'in real life'... I was thinking that it might be fun to make a group chat on Instagram where we can meet people like-minded who share this aesthetic. Would anyone be interested in joining such a chat?

I LOVE YOUR WRITING STILL LIKE WHAT ITS SO GOOD

Thank you so much Ruby! I started wondering what dark academia was all about a few weeks ago, so your video came just right for me :D Also, it is just so beautifully made, your videos always make me wanting to close KZfaq and go back studying :D 🥰

so, is basically the dark and gloomy U.K aesthetic

:smiles: So it seems my university days were well ahead of the aesthetic curve - I was fashionable for once ... just forty years early!

This video is so beautifully edited! Wow!

Golden Lanni is an awesome dark academia KZfaqr! Also it's a pretty standard book but since you didn't mention it, I love If We Were Villains. This aesthetic is the only one I've ever found that fits what I've been my whole life: always absorbed in a book, learning about something, writing with fountain pens at school and dip pens at home, deep love of classical art, loving learning above all else. I got a degree in molecular biology and a degree in music performance and finally found out that my life's calling is to bring scientific rigor to musicology, which is the academic study of music (including music history, theory, etc.). I'm just overjoyed to finally get to leave the laboratory and dive back into dusty old books of music history and spend days in the library with a coffee and a pile of research books, just like I always loved doing.

10:30 why did i start crying as soon as i recognized achilles, come down

For music, some of 'Folklore' by Taylor Swift, anything by Sigur Ros, Max Richter and also Daniel Herskedal... just some names that spring to mind there.

For a long time I never knew I was combining cottagecore and dark academia in my own personal preferences in style. Thank you for this video in bringing more awareness to the dark academia aesthetic! 🙂

Oh my love her content and she is the best for motivation +happiness 😊 .Good luck always.