Betrayal. Translation means doing violence upon the original, means warping and distorting it for foreign, unintended eyes. So then where does that leave us? – R.F. Kuang

Cloudy Autumn days, candlelit late night sessions, and smoke from a cigarette. These are all things that come to mind when I think of the aesthetic known as Dark Academia. This aesthetic has long since evolved from its original form of people simply admiring the mysterious ways of academia. As it has pushed its way into other forms of media we see artists pushing into a more critical space. Authors in particular have begun to explore the exclusionary and violent consequences associated with these academic spaces.

The Secret History

The queen of Dark Academia and the mother of the literary subgenre is Donna Tartt. While she herself was attending a private college, she began to write the Secret History and published it in 1992. This book followed a group of isolated Classics students, all with their own quirks and secrets, as they try to escape the consequences of their own actions. While many enjoy this book for the thriller aspect and the dark rich aesthetic, most of its fans seem to agree that its excellence lies in its social commentary. Our main character himself becomes enthralled with the main group before he joins them. He wants to dress like them, act like them, live like them. So he lies, claims he is just like them, rich, privately educated, well mannered, discovers that they are lying too.

He begins to see beyond the veil of these rich young academics. He sees how out of touch with the real world they are, how they believe that their comfort and reputation is worth more than a human life. The scariest part of the Secret History is that it was entirely avoidable. If they had just had the insight of the real life consequences, no one would’ve had to die. This story is a Greek tragedy, a warning of hubris and conformity. Donna Tartt looked at the institution around her and felt compelled to write a story like this, full of love and contempt for the world of academics and the mindset it can create.

Blood Over Brighthaven 

Skipping forward more than 30 years since that initial release, M.L. Wang writes Blood Over Bright Haven. This book was honestly haunting to me and I find it difficult to summarize without giving too much away. It pulls no punches as it explores academia’s role in the perpetuation of sexism, racism, and violence. It is not a tale that seeks to make you feel comfortable. Do not expect a ragtag team as they work together to solve the world’s problems with love and friendship. It is a story about not being content just speaking evil aloud. About the actions that history has shown us is needed to upend the systems that oppress us.

We follow the first ever female mage permitted to join the mage council, the top academics in the land. She fought viciously for this opportunity, but once she is there she begins to realize that the studies she has dedicated her life to is built on the backs of people who those studies are made to oppress. The most important part of this book in my opinion is how it portrays the characters actions as she has to come to terms with information that completely goes against all of her previously held beliefs. She is frustrating and cruel as she attempts to hold tight to the worldview that has kept her comfortable for so long. She makes progress and falls right back when things get difficult to handle. It is the most realistic interpretation of having to reconstruct your view of the world that I have ever read, and it makes you confront that part of yourself in the process. M.L. Wang understands the art of storytelling and you will not regret picking up this book, or any of her books.

Babel 

R.F. Kuang is a true master in exploring the real world through a fantasy lens, and Babel is no exception. In Babel we follow a group of translation students as they try to survive at the most prestigious institution in England, Oxford. Our main character, whose English name is Robin, was taken from his home in Canton and whisked away to the glittering silver country of England by the mysterious Professor Lovell. From there he is pushed into the rigorous study of language, the power behind the silver bars that make the city run. Though as he and the rest of his friends get deeper into their studies, they begin to realize that the true price of their ascension through academics is the continued oppression and erasure of their people and culture.

This book takes this angle of academic critique in a very interesting way, focusing on one niche, the art of translation, and explores how it can be used as a weapon both for and against an oppressive institution. R.F. Kuang really took the time to make the reader understand how translation is done, taking us on this academic journey alongside our main character. It made the exploration of how translation plays into colonialism and violence all the more impactful. The story is heartfelt, heartbreaking, and world ending. If I had to pick a book that will be taught in schools in 30 years, it would be this one. This book is one that simply has to be experienced, so get ready to feel uncomfortable and embrace what these characters have to say.

Conclusion

Dark academia is a wonderful aesthetic that has proven it can go beyond Pinterest boards. Critique utilizing its dark and dreary vibes proves to be effective and immersive. As we move into this new era, I hope that authors and consumers alike can see the worth in this evolution instead of seeing it as a negative addition into its space. These authors have a love for academia that shows in their critique of it. If we all can participate in that critique with them, we can impact the space that we love in a positive way.

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