academia

  • focuses on academic studies, learning, and research

  • involves interest in literature, music, history, art and learning

dark academia

  • focuses on self-discovery and passion

  • revolves around classic literature

  • has dark motifs such as criminality, danger and mystery

  • romanticized the university/academic experience

  • visually focuses on Gothic, and Neoclassical fashion and architecture with slight modernization

light academia

  • lighter counterpart of Dark Academia

  • includes positive themes such as optimism, sensitivity, joy, frienships and gratitude.

  • resists the idea of European history as being the norm while focuses on non-European and English authors

  • visually lighter than dark academia color palette

  • involves incorporating cozy and domestic imagery