So it has been discussed that Dark Academia is quite Eurocentric and a bit (if not so much) elitistic. If you like it, it's alright, though.
If you, my Filipino mutuals, felt that Dark Academia is pretentious, maybe (just maybe) it's because we cannot really relate to it while its western practices cannot awake our connection to its roots. For us, it is just "aesthetics" and will never be a "way of life".
Personally, I like the dark hues of dark academia, but I'm a lover of Filipino culture eh.
I would like to gather your thoughts about the Dark or Light Academia aesthetics and lifestyle in Filipino cultural settings. I'm sure I can find many Filipinos here who have ventured more into reconnecting with the indigenous academic culture than I have.
Let's start! (lol haba ng intro ko, eto lang pala 'yon)
Share any media, books, movies, objects, study materials pertaining to the following categories: my examples, without pictures because I'm uncreative.
Book Reco: any myth book, tbh
Poets to read: Andres Bonifacio (for those who don't know, this boi made a poem about Sidapa)
Writing Instruments: Bamboo and ink
Classical Musical instruments: Talaandug (alam nyo yung bamboo flute ni Agilus sa Mulawin, yun 'yon)
Study Table snacks: Puto pao
Coffee and Tea Reco: Barako, tanglad tea, lavender tea, turnate tea, and Sampaguita tea, all of which are grown in south east asia and can be found in shopee/lazada.
Philosophy and ethics: I'm blank on this one. Sadly, I only know Nietzschean and Confucian.
Objects that should adorn your study table: sari manok, because I'm basic and edgy.
Objects that should adorn your wall: T'boli weaving, Fernando Amorsolo works, random wooden stick you found in the wild
Objects that should adorn your book shelf: clay pot, random wooden stick you found in the wild
Garments: red saya (I have 3! Who cares about heat death!)
All I can give are basics and general, I'm that surface level. Please share your knowledge to celebrate Filipino Academia aesthetics/life style.
((edit: ah, the problem of study aesthetics is the consumerism that comes with it. So a reminder, don't feel forced to buy anything. We're just vibing. And if you can buy things, go local as much as you can.))
