Dark academia is a social media aesthetic and subculture in higher education, writing/poetry, the arts, and classic Greek and Gothic architecture

Saw referenced somewhere "Dark Academia" as an aesthetic style.  Never heard of it.  From Wikipedia:

 

Dark academia is a social media aesthetic and subculture in higher education, writing/poetry, the arts, and classic Greek and Gothic architecture. The subculture is associated with ancient art and classic literature.

The fashion of the 1930s and 1940s features prominently in the dark academia aesthetic, especially clothing items worn by students at Oxbridge, Ivy League schools, and prep schools of that period. Some of the articles of clothing most associated with the aesthetic are cardigans, blazers, dress shirts, plaid skirts, Oxford shoes, and clothing made of houndstooth and tweed, its color palette consisting mainly of black, white, beige, browns, dark green, and occasionally navy blue.

The subculture also draws on idealised aesthetics of higher education and academia, often with books and libraries featuring prominently. Activities such as calligraphy, visits to museums, libraries, and coffee shops, as well as all-night studying sessions are common among proponents.

Seasonal imagery of autumn is also common. Imagery of Gothic architecture and Collegiate Gothic architecture, candlelight, dark wooden furniture, and dense, cluttered rooms often occurs. The sub-culture has been described as maximalist and nostalgic.[8][9] Universities that are often featured in dark academia imageboards include Oxbridge, Durham University, the University of Edinburgh, and Harvard University.

Sounds kind of pleasant.   Plus it seems to be disliked for exactly the wrong reasons by exactly the usual suspects; dyspeptic killjoy barren fanatics.

Dark academia has been criticized for a variety of reasons, including the aesthetic's Eurocentrism, lack of diversity and encouragement of unhealthy lifestyle choices.  Many of the literary works that feature prominently in the aesthetic were created by white men, and feature little to no ethnic minorities among the lead characters.  The Western canon of literary classics that the subculture of dark academia draws from has been historically incorporated into university teachings to support scientific racism. In response to the aesthetic's lack of diversity, efforts have been made to incorporate literary works from Black authors such as Langston Hughes into dark academia.

Others have argued that the aesthetic places too much emphasis on the aesthetic of art and higher education instead of proper studying of those works and the accompanying understanding.  It has also faced criticism for potentially glamourising unhealthy behaviours, such as sleep deprivation, overworking, and obsession.  The potential promotion of high usage of alcohol and caffeine has also been a source of criticism.