Dark art: psychology, philosophy, and its place in underground culture.
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Oil on paper
65|50 2025
The psychology of dark aesthetics
The theory of fear and catharsis
According to the classical concept of Aristotle, art can cause catharsis - emotional purification through the experience of strong feelings. Dark aesthetics activates the mechanism of experiencing fear in a safe environment, allowing us to transform it into aesthetic pleasure.
The 𝕾𝖚𝖇𝖑𝖎𝖒𝖊 𝕱𝖆𝖎𝖗 effect
In the 18th century, Edmund Burke described a phenomenon he called “sublime” - a feeling of horror that is simultaneously fascinating. This effect explains why people love horror movies, occult symbols, and dark music. We're not just afraid - we enjoy controlling our fear.
Fact: Scientists from the University of Oslo have proven that fans of horror films and dark art have lower levels of cortisol (a stress hormone), which makes them more resilient to life's challenges.
Research in the field of neuroaesthetics shows that the same parts of the brain are activated when viewing surreal images as when solving complex problems.
Feel it
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Transform it
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Grow it
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Feel it • Transform it • Grow it •
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Spray paint on paper
30|40 2025
Dark art as a part of underground culture
Rebellion against mas culture
The underground has always sought to resist commercialization and “polished” culture. Dark art has become a part of this struggle because it often:
Uses taboo topics (death, mental disorders, loneliness);
Opposes the consumer society;
Criticizes the culture of superficial “lifestyle” and the cult of success.
Example: Banksy's street art, which has many dark elements, is a protest against modern social realities.
Gothic, post-punk and dark art
Musical trends such as gothic, post-punk, dark ambient are closely related to visual art. Dark aesthetics are used in the design of albums, music videos, and stage images. For example, in the works of Joy Division, The Cure or contemporary artists such as Chelsea Wolfe and Perturbator.
Fact: Black color in psychology symbolizes both death and strength. This is one of the reasons why it dominates underground subcultures.
