The haunting of classics in the Dark Academia aesthetic.

This article examines the internet aesthetic known as Dark Academia through the lens of Classical reception, highlighting its emergence during the COVID-19 pandemic as a subculture centered on bookishness, Gothic themes, university culture, and Classical antiquity. It argues that Dark Academia's engagement with Classics functions as a form of "haunting," characterized by fragmented and superficial references to antiquity and the academic discipline of Classics itself, echoing Gothic literature's reception of the ancient world. While Dark Academia has the potential to attract new audiences to Classical studies, it also perpetuates problematic aspects of the discipline, including Eurocentrism, whitewashing, and the romanticization of unhealthy academic behaviors. The article calls for critical reflection within Classics to address these legacies and suggests that scholars collaborate with online curators and students to foster more inclusive and contextualized engagements with antiquity in digital spaces.