Bucks County Free Library: DA101: Intro To Dark Academia

Press release from the Bucks County Free Library:

October 29, 2021

Welcome, students. Please take your seats. No talking. Keep your hands visible at all times.

Syllabus

Dark Academia is a genre of literature that is having a moment right now. It typically features an elite group of students selected out as special in some way. Something wicked, nefarious or unfortunate tends to happen. Perhaps it’s a murder, perhaps a kidnapping or blackmail. A scandal may be afoot. A foot may be severed. It’s multiple choice.

The aesthetics that go along with this trend are moody blues, brown studies, muted colors. The characters wear tweed jackets or cardigans and have wind-swept hair. There is a general proclivity for the classics and mahogany chifforobes.

For the duration of this course, we will look at a sampler of books and have lengthy, heated discussions about their place in the genre. Class participation is mandatory.

Required Reading

Final Exam

Write a 1,000 word essay on themes within Dark Academia. Develop a thesis as to the relationship between brilliance and darkness. Please cite your sources. Those who do not fulfill all the requirements will be dragged off.

Extra Credit

Listen to this Spotify Playlist while studying, reading, or planning your next murder.

Brian W.

This press release was produced by the Bucks County Free Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.