hearthfire fox

Missing Autumn

dark academia is like one of my favourite aesthetics however there are certain things/issues that bother me about this whole aesthetic

1. where is the diversity?

have you ever come across any dark academia posts that included any people of color. everywhere I go, all I see is elite white kids. I would die to see japanese/korean/indian /pakistani/ african/ middle eastern dark academia students often wearing their ethnic attires and embracing their cultures.

2. eat the rich

I know the whole theme about dark academia is ivy league/ rich elite students but imagine middle class dark academia srudents who are not necessarily clad in expensive attires rather wearing clothes bought from the thrift stores studying on scholarships, who own second hand books and antique/vintage items from some local flee markets or thrift stores.

3. fuck that Greek philosophy

not that I hate Greek philosophy but all dark academia posts do talk about is western art/architechture/ mythologies / history and philosophy etc. I would love to read and discuss persian poetry and history , south asian mythologies, japanese/Arabic/korean calligraphy, Muslim world's art and architecture.

4. what's up with that nerd shit.

For those who have never experienced having their race constantly left out, this might seem trivial. But it honestly feels awful to absolutely love an aesthetic, and never see yourself in any of the beautiful people displayed. It sends the message that people like you don’t get to experience those things, whether it be dark academia’s elegance or VSCO’s effortlessness. You feel like an afterthought, or worse. You feel like you’re not even a thought at all.

So please, remember POC in your creations, your aesthetics, and your works of art. Not for token diversity, brownie points, or to throw us a bone. Include us because we are real people, with emotions and feelings, who are smart enough to pick up on when we are not welcome. And it hurts. We deserve a chance to be the princesses, the scholars, the protagonists and the belle of the ball. The prince, the superhero, and the mastermind. The coming of age teenager who gets to just enjoy their life and their friends, not who spends the entirety of the movie in anguish bc their loved one was shot dead by police and they are overshadowed by prejudice wherever they go.

Autumn Vibes:

Quiet cafés | old libraries | misty mornings | walks down rain soaked roads | candles burning | cozy blankets | dark academia