Since hobbies are deeply personal, I tried to find a variety of options here. That way you can choose which ones you’re interested in! I also suggest you try a few different ones out to see what fits.

What Are Intellectual Hobbies?

Intellectual hobbies help you become more intelligent. Not only that, they make you seem more knowledgeable, educated, and interesting. Intellectual hobbies lead to intellectual conversations, and they’ll help you engage with like minded people.

If you’re interested in hanging out with academic-minded people it’s important to spend your time on academic pursuits. Hobbies get you into that world without needing a career in academia.

Can You Tell Someone Is Intellectual Curious if They Pursue a Hobby?

Usually, but it depends on the hobby. Some hobbies are just ways of spending your free time. You could even say they’re a waste of time, depending on how you feel about it.

Regardless, there is definitely a difference between hobbies that intellectually curious people pursue and ones that are mindless. These examples of intellectual hobbies are a start, but they’re definitely not all the intellectually  curious hobbies.

How Can I Tell if I’m Pursuing Intellectual Hobbies?

OK so if this list isn’t exhaustive, how can I tell if I’m pursuing intellectual hobbies? First of all, this kind of thing is highly subjective. Things that I consider to be brain-building might be scoffed as drivel by the next person.

But there are a few things that generally apply when you’re deciding the intellectual value of a hobby.

1. Do you personally consider people who pursue that hobby as intelligent?
2. Are you learning something from it?
3. Will it give you something to talk to other people about that makes for good conversation?
4. Are there professional fields related to the hobby, especially ones that are revered?
5. Is there some kind of cultural value to the hobby?

Hobbies don’t have to be work. You’re allowed to find them relaxing. And you’re also allowed to choose hobbies that you enjoy or come easy to you!

Intellectual Hobby Ideas to Try

These hobbies are in no way intended to shame anyone who enjoys non-academic pursuits in their free time. But if you want to pick up some intellectual hobbies, try these ideas.

Reading

Not all reading is equal when it comes to the knowledge you actually take away from the source, but it is all great for your brain. Reading anything helps you stay sharp. It’s a great habit to get into when you’re younger!

What you read will depend on your goals and interests. Non-fiction is great if you want to learn a lot. Fiction can be helpful as an intellectually stimulating way to wind down.

If books aren’t your thing consider reading magazines. National Geographic, the Economist, and the New Yorker are all great choices. But don’t knock the non-academic ones; you’d be surprised how much you can learn from an art or home magazine too.

Writing

Writing is the other side of the reading coin and it’s also great for intelligence. What you write will depend, again, on your interests. I personally find it stimulating to write a variety of styles including articles, fiction books, and poetry.

This can be a hobby that turns into something productive, but it doesn’t have to be. You’re allowed to just write for yourself or a small circle, or try exercises that help hone your craft.

Journaling

While similar to writing, I think journalling is a hobby and a craft on all on its own. It’s almost always personal, and can be helpful for your mental health and motivation.

Personally, I like to use a nice leather-bound journal and use it to record things that I find interesting. You can also journal in diary form, talking about the day, use one as a planner, habit track, or whatever else you’d like. This website has some great journaling ideas if you’re not sure where to start.

Playing Music, Especially Classical Music & Theory

All music learning is great for your intelligence and brain. Studies have even shown a link between musical ability and IQ. There is almost no downside to learning to play an instrument, regardless of what type or style you enjoy.

That being said, if your goal is to seem like an intellectual to others there are some instruments and styles which give off that air better than others. Piano and Violin, typically, are your best bet. Other “fancy” instruments like the harp or cello, also fit the bill.

Classical music will generally make you seem more intellectual. Being familiar with composers, and even better, able to play their most famous work will make you seem intelligent and studied. There’s a lot of pretentiousness in the classically trained music community, but this will be advantageous to someone who wants to be seen in that light.

Another thing to study alongside learning an instrument is music theory. Having a strong understanding of notation, composition, and all the vocabulary of established music theory is not just practical for your learning, but impressive too.

Language Learning

We’re so fortunate to live in a time where you can learn almost any language with just a computer or smartphone. As someone who can speak more than one language, I know firsthand how useful it can be! Especially if you like to travel; then a second language, or even enough conversation skills to get by, can radically transform the quality of your trip.

If you prefer the old school dark academia vibe you can use books, but don’t be afraid to embrace modern tech and get a free app to start your language learning hobby.

Puzzles

I do a crossword puzzle almost every day. Seriously! The Washington Post has a great interface where you can invite a friend so my partner and I usually co-op them. At the very least, we love doing the Sunday crossword over coffee on the weekend.

You don’t have to do crossword puzzles, or even word puzzles. Try Sudoku, logic puzzles, or even just a plain old jigsaw.

Chess

Chess is one of those classic intellectual hobbies that you can just imagine scholarly types in Victorian times playing either with friends or alone. Take up the old hobby yourself; especially if you don’t already know how to play.

You can usually find chess boards for free or inexpensive, but if you’re able to it’s definitely worth splurging on a high end one for the aesthetic. You might as well enjoy the look of your hobby in the space as much as you like doing it.

Art or Art Critique

If you’re an artist (or aspiring one) art is a great intellectual hobby. There’s so much more to it than just painting or drawing; geometry, colour theory, understanding of perspective, lighting, and so on.

For those who aren’t so artistic (like myself), art critique and appreciation are also wonderful skills to develop. Educate yourself enough to actually appreciate the art you see, especially the classics. As a bonus, visiting art galleries can be fun extension of this hobby that gets you out of the house too.

Wine or Whiskey Tasting

You’ll have to be legal drinking age for this one, but if you want to hang out in intellectual circles wine and whiskey tasting are great hobbies. While drinking doesn’t seem like a smart hobby, in my experience most folks that partake in tastings and vineyard tours tend to be intellectual and educated. Sometimes you don’t even drink the alcohol; you just taste and spit!

To fully appreciate the craft, both wine and whiskey tasting involve learning about a huge variety of very technical processes and information. Apart from that, you also will need to develop a sophisticated sense of taste to be able to properly participate in this hobby.

Cigars also fall into this category but are less popular.

Exotic Collections

I’m saving the best for last here! There’s few dark academia inspired intellectual hobbies that top curating your very own exotic collection. You can either collect things from the natural world like dried exotic flowers or strange bugs, or build a collection of unique antiquities that catch your eye.

The thrill is in the hunt, but the intellectual side lies in the research, understanding, cataloging, and organizing of your collections.

The post 10 Unique Intellectual Hobbies to Try appeared first on Words by Candlelight.

If you fall in love with something it’s sad to think that it could fall out of fashion. Of course, you don’t need to change just because society does! But it’s nice to be part of a community that’s thriving and growing rather than an outcast.

So that begs the question:

Is The Dark Academia Aesthetic Still Popular?

I’m happy to report that YES, dark academia is absolutely still popular. While it might seem that the trend has died down, those who are interested in dark academia are here to stay. We could even see it continue to grow!

Now, I’m a huge data nerd (which is probably why I’m drawn to a style that values intellect!) so I thought I should probably back up this claim with real facts.

Check out the chart below to see Google search trends on dark academia.

As you can see, there was a big spike in searches when things started kicking off and then it’s died down a bit. But it’s much higher than when it started!

Of course, this is only one type of data. It’s important to consider that when dark academia first went viral a lot of people were searching it. It wasn’t just because they were interested, they literally had no idea what it was and why people were talking about it. 

Other Dark Academia Stats to Show Popularity

Youtube – If you look at the trends for YouTube searches the numbers have fallen even less. That means people are continuing to look for this stuff – it’s just that there’s less mainstream people trying to learn about the aesthetic.

Reddit – R/DarkAcademia has 50k members and there are current posts as of the day I’m writing this.

Tiktok – The #darkacademia tag has 2.1B views and the “top” video at the time of writing this has over 2 million views (video was posted May 8th so it’s 12 days old)

Don’t Let Trends Affect Your Life

Even if dark academia isn’t as trendy or popular as it was, that doesn’t mean you can’t still be a part of this aesthetic. Besides, I think it’s pretty dark academia of you not to worry about what’s popular!

After all, the great scholars and intellectuals of the past were often going against the grain. They arrested Galileo for saying the earth revolved around the sun, after all.

So don’t be afraid to try dark academia activities to make it a part of your life.  Do it as much or little as you feel fits.

And, if you find dark academia isn’t for you, you can always try out other aesthetics to see if they’re more your vibe!

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Something really cool about Victorian academia as a wh0le is that a bunch of the jobs still exist to this day. At least in some capacity, anyway.

Now, I wouldn’t advocate doing a job just for the aesthetic. But there’s nothing wrong with taking your passion and turning it into a career!

What are Dark Academia Inspired Jobs?

These are jobs that generally have some kind of academic aspect to them. That means things that involve study, or need a lot of discipline to do. I also went for some options that were a bit more dark because I think they’re extra cool!

I intentionally left our jobs that seemed more light academia. That’s for another post! Of course, there’s a lot of overlap between the two, I just wanted these careers to have a darker feel.

Mortician or Funeral Director

I know someone who owns funeral homes and she said that some people aren’t comfortable even going in the back with the crematorium, let alone performing all the other services associated with funerals and the dead.

This is a career for someone who doesn’t get bothered by dead bodies. You’ll need compassion to work with families, though, so if that’s not something you’re great at, consider the “back end” of things. Embalmers, for example, are often in demand due to the gruesome nature of the job.

How to get in: Depends on the type of job you want. Most of the time courses are required, but it’s definitely an accessible career if you’re interested. Talk to your local funeral homes to find out more info.

Dark academia vibes: There’s nothing that says “dark academia” than working with dead bodies, imo.

Infectious Disease Researcher

This would be a cool job for someone who’s interested in medicine, but doesn’t necessarily want to be a doctor or nurse. In recent years, more and more infections and diseases have been showing up in our society. At the same time, we’re also creating superbugs and other diseases in our ultra-sanitized society.

An infectious disease researcher works with a lot of dark themes. You might find yourself looking at the doom and gloom of past disease, including gruesome imagery. Plus if you’re high enough in your field lives could be on the line with your work.

How to get in: The types of jobs in this field can vary. On a low level, a lab assistant or tech only has a college degree and supports the doctors. To become a specialist, you’ll need a doctorate. If field work is more your thing, check out what “field epidemiologists” do.

Dark academia vibes: Death, mortality, disease, and other gruesome parts of life plus studying history.

Entomologist, or Even Better, Forensic Entomologist

Do you like bugs? Then entomology might be the right career for you. On their own, creepy crawlies have their place in dark academia. Especially if you like to collect and preserve your specimens.

If that’s not creepy enough for you, consider a career in forensic entomology. What do they do, exactly? Study bugs for the purpose of crime scene investigations. Which usually means going into corpses and checking out the critters that are inside to find out information about the person’s death.

Either way, bugs are a pretty cool dark academia career idea.

How to get in: Entomologists usually have higher level degrees including graduates or doctorates, so definitely start with a bachelor of science. To get into the forensic side, you’ll need some specialized training.

Dark academia vibes: Bugs can easily be a part of dark academia aesthetic, especially collection, study, and display.

Museum Curator

This is kind of the dream, really. Anyone who loves to learn would be thrilled to find themselves working inside a museum. Especially in a scholarly or leadership capacity.

Of course, this is something that varies a lot. You’ll want a certain level of speciality in the museum’s facilities, but they usually hire people from a variety of backgrounds. Just as long as you can do the job.

How to get in: Consider education in museum studies or libraries/archiving, since the skills will be relevant. Otherwise anthropology, history, and even business/management skills can apply here too. You’ll probably want a Master’s Degree or higher.

Dark academia vibes: Museums are great places for academics to work, especially history or art museums.

Lawyer

If you’re highly analytical, love to study, great at memorizing, and don’t mind an argument, this is probably your perfect career. It’s a lot of work but highly rewarding, especially since you can really tailor it to your interests.

One of the more fun types of lawyer would be to work in criminal cases. It takes a certain type of person to defend wrongdoers, but they need lawyers too.

If you’re more into doing good, there’s plenty of ways lawyers can help further academia, protect history, and work on causes. Especially if you’re willing to take lower pays for these types of jobs.

How to get in: Law school is pretty much the only option. If you want an entry-level option, consider becoming a legal aid.

Dark academia vibes: Lawyer was the go to career of academics throughout history, and most of the famous thinkers were in this field.

Writer

This could be absolutely anything related to writing. Becoming an author is a dream for a lot of dark-academia focused people. But, if you want a career in writing, don’t limit yourself to just one thing.

Writing is also a great thing you can start as a hobby or side hustle that can transform into a full time job later.

If writing isn’t your thing, there’s also career options in editing and publishing.

How to get in: Anyone can be a writer, but an English degree or one in journalism can help. Starting as a journalist can give you some experience and money, even if you plan to write a book or poems in your free time.

Dark academia vibes: Most dark academia icons were writers. It’s one of the best ways to share your knowledge.

Psychologist, Especially Abnormal Psych

I feel like this is one that most people have already considered when it comes to dark academia careers, but I wanted to include it anyway. If you’re considering psychology, why not do abnormal psych?

That can cover everything from understanding and treating psychology disorders to profiling criminals. If you want to take it up a notch, forensic psychology with the police is a pretty cool career idea too.

How to get in: Depending on where you live you’ll either need a Master’s Degree or a Doctorate in Psychology.

Dark academia vibes: Psychology is a classic academic field from the Victorian era so it fits really well.

Artist

This isn’t an easy career to get into, but it’s completely possible to make money from your art if you’re skilled and passionate. One downside is that you’ll probably have to break into the digital art sphere to gain followers and actually sell something, but it’s a great way to turn this hobby into a paying career.

Artists work in a variety of fields, so don’t limit yourself to just trying to sell pieces you create. Take on commissions or work for companies while you build your portfolio.

You can also get into the art field in other capacities like being an art expert.

How to get in: Art school or classes can make a huge difference in your skills. Otherwise, just get yourself out there!

Dark academia vibes: Art is a deep form of self expression that generally is appreciated by intelligent folks.

Detective or Private Investigator

If you’re great at solving puzzles this might be one of the best dark academia inspired jobs for you. Generally, detectives work for the police to help solve crimes.

Scotland Yard wishes they could have Sherlock Holmes for themselves, but alas, he’s a private detective. If you’re more interested in flying solo and working on the cases you find interesting, this is the job for you.

How to get in: Depends if you’re going with the cops or flying solo. You’ll have to check with your local police force for training options, but to go solo it usually just requires a permit or license. The tricky part is building up your clients and reputation.

Dark academia vibes: There’s nothing like the satisfaction of solving a difficult puzzle, especially when you’re the one called in to do it.

Actual Academia

Not everyone wants to be a professor, but it’s certainly a dark academic career if I’ve ever seen one! It can be tough to get into, but academia gets you into a position where you can continue lifelong study while also earning an income.

To up your chances, become an expert in your field. You can also work in academia doing research. Being an assistant doesn’t pay great but might be a way to get into the field too.

How to get in: Usually you’ll need to be an expert, have a high degree like a Master’s or Doctorate and some kind of teaching credentials, but not always.

Dark academia vibes: Academia is a great place for people who love to learn, especially if you choose history as your field.

Final Thoughts on Choosing Dark Inspired Academia Jobs

There are so many cool ways to incorporate dark academia into your career! This isn’t a complete list, just a few jobs that I thought would be cool. Some other ideas are: historian, archeology, criminologist, classical music, and dance.

The post 10 Interesting Dark Academia Inspired Jobs appeared first on Words by Candlelight.

This led to the oppression of free thought and sparked an underground assembly of academics. Even amongst groups of people who would be considered the “intellectual elite” of society, such as doctors, there was much resistance to new information and discovery.

For example, Ignaz Semmelweis, the Hungarian doctor who discovered the power of handwashing in 1847, wasn’t taken seriously during his lifetime. He would eventually commit suicide while committed to an insane asylum, and the practice wouldn’t become widespread until 1870.

This History of Victorian Principals and the Academic Movement

To understand how Victorian principals affected the underground academic movement you first must understand what life was like in the Victorian age. Specifically, what kind of living was expected of the people who lived during that time.

It’s a time that seems very far removed from our modern society, and yet so close in many ways too.

The Victorian era, primarily, had a focus on morality. This intertwined with Evangelicalism, and purity revered. People were expected to stay morally sound, work hard, and strive always to improve themselves.

Societal hierarchy went farther than just being upper or lower class, although that was a large part of civilization at the time. Men and women were also separated as being different spheres entirely – with men having more strength to go out and work, but also being morally weaker, while women tended to homes and were expected to show more purity.

Of course, the working classes were often too poor to live under such conditions with both men and women often earning incomes just to survive.

Other Influences

It’s not all bad though – it was during this era that many cruelties were abolished or regulated including slavery, animal abuse, and child labour. Greed and exploitation was considered evil (think: Scrooge from Dicken’s ‘A Christmas Carol’) by society at large.

As a whole, society started to draw itself inward with more people having separate home lives and privacy. This is due to the industrialization of the time, which brought a larger middle class that could afford the “luxury” of a private home.

Indoctrination started early and most stories for children featured moral storylines and overtones. Classic literature, such as the works of William Shakespeare, were considered too morally impure for children.

A Queen Ruled, But Men Were Kings

Despite being ruled over by Queen Victoria (hence the namesake), Victorian principals dictated a society that was highly patriarchal. This is in part because of how religion played into society, since most religions elevate men.

As mentioned above, men and women inhabited separate spheres. This meant that women were expected to stay away from men’s spaces which included work, politics, commerce, and public speaking. The domain of women, on the other hand, caring for the family, the husband, and leading the family in a moral capacity.

Thus the nuclear family was born and idealized.

While some rebellious women challenged this notion, overall it was far more difficult for women to engage in all parts of society they wished to.

The Birth of Freethinkers

For every push there is a pull in society, and as religion dominated the country in both values and battle, agnostics emerged. Some discussed theology and how belief in a God was not necessary to maintain morality – something that was very controversial at the time.

As Charles Darwin released the Origin of the Species and the study of anthropology moved from curiosities to actual study, more people were interested in pursing science over religion.

By the late 1800s the literacy rate rose, further encouraging intellectualism as a whole, mainly due to the popularization of public schools. The publishing industry also grew during this time and encouraged more reading.

This period of time in the US was considered to be the “Golden Age of Freethought”, partially in thanks to so many scientific discoveries occurring from the 1850s onward.

Some men of science or academics would even go so far as to gather in groups with other freethinkers, usually at one of their homes, to discuss politics, international policy, theology, and ways they could use their influence.

Communism had some influence, but not a lot in England compared to other parts of Europe. Some thinkers did embrace the principals in small ways, but there was no overall shift in how the working class felt even with the ideas of Karl Marx available to them – perhaps due to Britain already being a democratic society.

Freethought shook things up and essentially disproved the literal words of the bible used in Victorian Principals – which in turn changed how society felt towards religion as a whole.

In Modern Society

While classic Victorian principles aren’t widely accepted anymore, many aspects including the nuclear family, oppressions of women, and attempts to stifle scientific advancement using “morality” remain.

Like the freethinkers of the past, continuing to challenge these “family values” puts pressure on religious and oppressive groups and promotes the advancement of society, both women and men, as a whole.

We owe many parts of our culture to Victorian Era morals though, including the elimination of slavery (at least for the British), child labour laws, and even regulated work days/weeks in terms of hours worked.

While we give a lot of credit to the great Freethinkers of this era, it’s also important to recognize that many were not without criticism. In some cases, their work went unchecked and unregulated. For example, it was common in anthropology to impress your own values and create a narrative of the people living there, some that would go on to be incorrectly accepted as fact for years to come.

Others, due to their position in society, were able to commit crimes and scandals without having to suffer great punishment for them.

Finally, one must also recognize the lack of women in history, especially during this time, due to their oppressions. It can only be imagined what other great discoveries might have been mad at the time should they have been allowed to participate in the male spheres of society. The effects of this still remain in society today where women must fight much harder than men for equal positions.

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In Dark Academia Aesthetic, people generally follow a theme of being bookish, with a priority for knowledge and literature. Usually those books are classic books, especially leather or cloth bound ones. It combines modern elements with Victorian era style and thoughts.

Dark Academia also has a lot of negative, or dark, words associated with it. These include death, brooding, escapism, and oppressions. Literary tragedies are popular inspirations.

What is Dark Academia and Where did it Come From?

As I said before, it’s an aesthetic. But more than that, it’s kind of a thing primarily because of websites like Tumblr and apps like Tiktok. Dark academia has kind of been this viral sensation, but only if you’re in certain communities.

That’s the thing about algorithms and following people: you only see what is shown to you. You can easily go on Tiktok and never see dark academia content, or go there and see it everywhere.

Here’s a fun compilation video of some dark academia Tiktoks:

Dark Academia Style

Dark Academia style is heavily inspired from the upper-class culture of Europe in the late 19th century. This was the time of great literary thinkers like HG Wells and Charles Dickens, and many classic books like Dracula and The Picture of Dorian Grey came out during this era.

This was a also a time where academics were something to be pursued by those with passion, not an obligation. You could explore and discover so much because there was still so many things to be discovered; but without the pressure that we have today.

For this reason vintage books and other academia-related accessories (globes, skulls, other areas of study) also fit well into the aesthetic.

Furniture

Furniture is typically made of wood, and generally more ornate than what we have in modern times. Bookshelves are free of technology, rooms prioritize fires over televisions, and there isn’t a pressure to keep up with modern trends.

Sculptures are white marble when incorporated into the décor and artwork is usually what’s associated with European civilization, but not necessarily that specific time: Baroque, Renaissance, and Neoclassical, for example.

Clothing

Clothing is generally preppy, this of course being reflective of how those in that era dressed during those times. For men, that means sweaters, jackets, ties, and slacks. Women, on the other hand, tend to dress in modern, mainly twists due to the restrictive nature of 19th century women’s clothing.

Other Themes in Dark Academia

Although it’s often used as an aesthetic, like other types of styles, Dark Academia has a very real subculture too. While it may very well get the namesake from the fact that generally speaking, the aesthetic involves low light, dark coloured clothing, and natural materials like leather and wood that are typically dark, there is also a darker side to Dark Academia.

Academics of the time (again, we’re talking about mid to late 19th century here) were often considered rebels simply because of their desire to learn and research. Books were also powerful, and your written work easily could stir controversy and protest even more then than it can today.

Furthermore, secret societies and underground organizations were aplenty during the Victorian era. To a modern person these can seem appealing, especially the idea of meeting in secret to share ideas.

Finally, although many people who enjoy the aesthetic do not partake in anything illegal, there is something alluring about the criminality that Dark Academia seems to include. At the time, drugs were very commonly used to help promote “thinking”. Murderous conspiracies were also common (think Jack the Ripper), which fit the aesthetic from both the mad murderous professor and brilliant detective points of view.

Who is Dark Academia For?

While it’s generally pretty niche, Dark Academia has been a growing trend lately especially thanks to Tumblr and TikTok. It lends its growing resurgence mainly to gen z and millennials who are drawn to it’s unique qualities and community.

Dark Academia is for anyone who enjoys the aesthetic. It is most commonly used by book lovers, writers, scholars, students, and those who prioritize learning, free thought, and self discovery.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to be a certain MBTI personality type or even an introvert to be a Dark Academic. In fact, many of these people romanticized with the aesthetic enjoyed the company of others – even if it was like-minded people.

Men and women can both partake in this aesthetic, although most of the real-world inspiration comes from males due to their elevated status at the time.

It’s Romantic

A lot of people are drawn to Dark Academia because of how easy it is to romanticize. The time period was simpler, especially if you were someone of a higher social class. There’s less burden of obligations or technology, and more focus on manual hobbies like letter writing or playing chess.

Many people who are drawn to Dark Academia find the idea of getting away from modern society appealing. There is also something alluring in belonging to a secret, or underground, group of like-minded individuals.

Some Things to Consider With Dark Academia

While embracing an aesthetic can be fun and calming, it’s important to keep things in perspective. There are many aspects of Victorian life that we now know aren’t healthy, like the use of drugs, poor sleep schedules, or overworking. Like any hobby or lifestyle, it should be met with balance.

It’s also important to keep in mind when pursuing Dark Academia lifestyles or aesthetic that you keep in mind it’s very broad. This is partially due to the style being perpetuated by relatively young folks and a whole collective of people who are engaging with it.

The era, for example, can range from the 1850s all the way to the 1940s, although most of the architecture used in the aesthetic are older Gothic style buildings.

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