darkacademicx

[darkacademicx]

My new ‘To read’ list. Also, check out the most commonly challenged books in the US here (with reasons why).

The sign of high quality is the fact the book was banned by the government. Trash literature NEVER EVER had any troubles with the law.

[darkacademicx]

Hi could I have your thoughts on Marlowe ?

This is really long-winded, but I think I just about covered it.  If you have any specific questions, feel free to reach out!

I assume that you’re talking about Christopher Marlowe, the Elizabethan playwright.  Marlowe was a powerhouse playwright, and it’s such a shame that he’s not as well-known as William Shakespeare, even though quite a few of Shakespeare’s plays were inspired by Marlowe’s works (The Merchant of Venice bears a striking similarity to The Jew of Malta, Richard II explores similar themes to Edward II, Hamlet asks similar questions to Dr Faustus).  

Marlowe’s career is made of six plays: Dido, Queen of Carthage, Tamburlaine the Great, The Jew of Malta, Edward II, The Massacre at Paris, and Dr Faustus.  Marlowe’s earliest work, Dido, Queen of Carthage, shows talent in its long speeches and homages to deities, but fails to have a well-written and well-told story.  This is expected as he is pioneering a new form of drama, which evolves rapidly as other playwrights begin to develop their own works with their own tropes and find out what works and what doesn’t.  

In terms of character development, the main characters always stand out whereas his side characters are very static and flat.  This is different from Shakespeare's plays which sport a large cast of well-developed characters who all aid in the telling of the story.

In terms of language, Marlowe is primarily a poet.  His use of language is not to deliver the message in the shortest possible way, but rather, to give longer flowery speeches that reveal tone and convey very specific moods.

In terms of plot, Marlowe is lacking.  He hasn’t mastered the art of subtlety and often characters are reduced to whatever the main message of the play is by the final act.

With each successive work, Marlowe is able to develop more of a style and his plays become synonymous with controversy and the theatrical.  This culminates in Marlowe’s best-known work: Dr Faustus.  Again, this play places most of the focus on the main character rather than developing a cast of characters and contains some scenes which resemble earlier “morality plays”, but the language used is more appropriate for the theatre.

In terms of the big picture, Marlowe is not as famous as Shakespeare, and these are the factors which I find separate Shakespeare from Marlowe and allowed Shakespeare to reach more modern audiences than Marlowe:

1) Language - Marlowe’s plays are written more like poetry than plays which are generally analysed differently.  The plot of the play also has a tendency to get buried in the language.

2) Style - As Marlowe pioneered a new style of theatre, it took time to establish his writing style, and since there are only six plays, we don’t get to see a consistent style, each play is different from the others and has its own merits and faults.  Shakespeare wrote at least 37 plays which allowed him to better develop a style that was consistent.

3) Number of Plays - Shakespeare wrote more than six times the number of plays that Marlowe wrote, meaning that he had something for everyone.  Marlowe’s career was cut too short and so the plays he wrote are catered to a specific audience rather than a more general one.

4) Controversy/ Inability to Transcend Time - Marlowe’s plays contain plots that were extremely relevant to their own time and don’t have a timeless quality to them, making imitation difficult.  Marlowe’s plays were also really controversial at their time and while personally, I think that (sometimes) controversy is the spice of life, other people didn’t share my opinion. (Disclaimer: I do think The Jew of Malta is inexcusably offensive)

5) Imitation by Shakespeare - Marlowe’s works are comparable to a lot of Shakespeare’s works, but the difference is that Shakespeare succeeded in making stories at points where Marlowe failed. 

This was really long-winded, but ultimately, I think that there wouldn’t be a Shakespeare without Marlowe.  Marlowe’s plays are fun to read, but sometimes it feels like you’re watching a really bad classic movie.  (You can understand why it was popular at the time, but you don’t know why people still watch it now.)  If Marlowe’s career had moved beyond its infancy, he would have absolutely been a direct competitor to Shakespeare.  While I am critical of Marlowe and his plays, I still find value in reading his works.

#dark academia #dark academia aesthetic #dark academic #dark academic aesthetic #marlowe #christopher marlowe #shakespeare #theatre #elizabethan era #queen elizabeth the first #Thoughts #ask #ask away #ask answered #dr faustus #plays #england #english #literature #british literature #poems

[darkacademicx]

I just started a dark academic vibes blog because I really just want to express myself, maybe share some original poems and meet people with the same interests because, hello loneliness. Therefore my question is, how can I grow my account?

Tags are probably the most important step in growing your account.  When you tag your post, think of any possible content it relates to and tag it as such.  Also, if there are related tags that get high traffic (like “inspiration” or “architecture”) make sure to tag it there.  I’m not very good at this, but using the queue is helpful and always making sure that your queue is full is important so that your blog stays constantly active.

A great way to meet other people is to join a group chat.  There are TONS of group chats out there and they all have different topics and purposes and it’s an excellent way to meet people around a shared interest.

I hope this helped!

[darkacademicx]

How is it to double major?? (As an already decided primarily Interior Design Major) Ive been deciding between a double major in Interior Design/Art History with either a painting or sculpture minor, Or an Interior Design/Religious Studies major(s) with an Art History minor.... if you have any tips I’d love to hear them!! I know with arts majors it can be overwhelming, but all double majors usually are anyway

Double majoring can be a little busy, but I’m really passionate about both of the things that I am studying which helps a lot.  The fact that they are so different from one another also means that if I need a break from one, I can focus on the other because it requires a different type of focus.  

For me, it’s advantageous to double major in both Classics and Biology not only because I am really interested in both of them, but also because my university requires us to take classes in both sciences and humanities and by double majoring in Classics and Biology, all of the requirements are covered.  I’d definitely recommend looking at classes required for your major and classes required by your university (if there are any) to help you decide so that you aren’t taking classes you don’t like just to fill requirements.

In terms of scheduling, I would recommend taking classes in your major that fulfill university-wide requirements first so if you decide to change your major or drop a major you still fulfilled requirements.  Another thing that works really well for me is planning things weekly.  On Sundays I like to look at the week ahead and plan out when I’m going to work, hang out with friends, go to class, and complete assignments.  I also put it into google calendar on my phone so that I know what’s happening at all times.

I hope this helped, but feel free to reach out if you have any more questions!

#ask #ask answered #double major #biology #classics #college #university #advice #schedule #study #studyblr

[darkacademicx]

Favorite TSH character and why?

SPOILERS AHEAD

I haven’t quite finished The Secret History by Donna Tartt, but so far it’s definitely Henry. The man just wants to read his books, learn his languages, and hold his bacchanals and honestly? I respect that. I’ll update this once I finish it though.

[darkacademicx]

Apollo: What is your favourite way to express yourself?

I like to express myself through the books I read and the music I listen to. I find it’s the best way to meet people with the same interests as you. Whenever I go to a casual mixer event, I like to wear a band shirt and it’s really amazing how it can be such a conversation piece and a great way to meet people.

I also like to paint and write short poems. I might post some eventually...

[darkacademicx]

Greek Gods Asks

Aphrodite: What is your favourite fashion item?

Apollo: What is your favourite way to express yourself?

Ares: What makes you angry?

Artemis: If you could only spend your life in the company of three strong, independent women, who would they be and why?

Athena: What do you wish you knew more about?

Demeter: What is your favourite food?

Dionysus: What is your favourite play?

Hephaestus: What is something you can make without even thinking?

Hera: What is the best present you have ever received?

Hermes: What is your favourite mode of travel?

Poseidon: What is your favourite body of water?

Zeus: What is your favourite type of weather?

#ask meme #ask me something #ask me things #ask me literally anything #greek mythology

[darkacademicx]

Even the worst book can give us something to think about.

Wisława Szymborska

#quote #szymborska #books #food for thought #thinking #thoughts #da #dark academia #dark academia aesthetic #dark academic aesthetic #quotes #experiences #inspiration #reading #writer #writing

[darkacademicx]

Do you find yourself only interested in classics or do you like a bit of everything?

I am actually a Classics/Biology double major, so I’m definitely equally interested in both!  Personally, I just enjoy learning things and there is nothing that I wouldn’t love to know more about.  Biology and Classics are where I spend the majority of my time, but given infinite time and infinite resources, I would love to learn more about computer science, linguistics, classical literature,  world religions, and anthropology (and everything else in the world).

[darkacademicx]

Spanish Flu Adverts, 1920s

All images and captions are from The Guardian.  It’s interesting to see how society has evolved to respond to global pandemics over the last 100 years.  Fun facts about Spanish Flu: 

 - It is not known where the Spanish Flu originated

 - The Spanish Flu became associated with Spain because Spain was not subject to the same media blackouts and was hit hard by the flu.

 - The Spanish believed that the flu originated in France and called it the “French Flu”

 - The First known case of Spanish flu was March, 11 1918 at Camp Funston in Ft. Riley, Kansas, USA.

 - Quarantines and mask wearing were required in areas.  

 - Aspirin was used to combat the Spanish flu, and the recommended dose was up to 30 mg/ day, which is toxic.

 - Many deaths from Spanish flu were caused or sped up by aspirin poisoning

 - The Spanish Flu is often called the “Forgotten Pandemic” as it occurred in a time of media blackouts and did not have extensive reporting.

“Clean, clear and soft skin was how soap was sold before the flu took hold. (Manchester Guardian, January 1918)“

“The antiseptic cleanliness of Lifebuoy tackled the “influenza scourge” and left the whole family in “smiling health,” claimed its makers Lever Brothers. (Manchester Guardian, March 1919)”

“As more people died of flu, the tone of adverts changed. Boots placed an advertorial that encouraged washing with soap, and quoted the Ministry of Health: “Our country’s greatest asset is its people.” (Manchester Guardian, April 1919)”

“An increase in demand for soap led manufacturers to ship more raw materials from abroad. (Manchester Guardian, February 1920)”

“Jeyes disinfectant – either in liquid or soap form – was promoted as being invaluable when tackling germs in the home, school and office. (Manchester Guardian, May 1919)“

“A versatile soap, Ivy, could be used for many cleaning tasks, including washing delicate materials like lace. (Manchester Guardian, April 1922)“

“Pinkobolic soap claimed to be both effective and economical. (Manchester Guardian, June 1920)”

“The makers of Sunlight soap commissioned a series of adverts that introduced readers to different people living on “Sunlight Street”. This advert featured a mother and her children who, thanks to Sunlight soap, benefited from clean and healthy surroundings. (Manchester Guardian, May 1922)“

“Despite unforeseen dangers of infection and contagion “Your life must go on; you must meet, touch and talk to people...,” said this advert. (Manchester Guardian, June 1924)“

“Everything from influenza to burns were said to benefit from the antiseptic product Yadil. It was sold as a soap, ointment and liquid. (Manchester Guardian, November 1928)“

#covid2019 #covid19 #quanrantine #coronavirus #corona #the guardian #spanish flu #da #history #dark academia #dark academia aesthetic #dark academic #ads #newspaper #archive #digital archives

[darkacademicx]

Update!

I have finished Things Fall Apart

I give this a 10/10.  It was not what I expected.  I definetly feel like there is an overwhelming amount of American and European literature out there, but I haven’t seen much African literature (whether it be because of language barrier, or I am just looking in the wrong place).  I found that the way the book was written (focusing on Umuofia as a whole rather than any one specific character) allowed the reader to understand the narrative from multiple perspectives.  If anyone has any book recommendations which provide an African view rather than a European or American one I would love to hear them! I am looking to expand my literary horizons.

What’s on My Bookshelf: Read and Unread

10/10 does not mean I found no fault within the book, it just means I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Map: Collected and Last Poems of Wisława Szymborska: 10/10 The Cynicism found in poems and break from other poetic conventions is refreshing and enjoyable

Persuasion by Jane Austen: 7/10 Might be your cup of tea if you prefer real books, I found it pedestrian, and much prefer the stories of the Brontë sisters

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemmingway: Unread

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner: 10/10 Meant to be found ironic in the way that it is an inversion of the classic Hero’s Journey of Greek Mythology (specifically that of The Odyssey)

Oedipus Rex by Sophocles: 5/10 While the symbolism in it is apparent and lends itself to deeper interpretations, there is no other subtlety present in the play, largely as a result of the genre

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka: 10/10 Kafkaesque is timeless and unbeatable in its exposition of problems with the modern way of living and in the very thought process we behold

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe: Unread

Short Stories by Flannery O’Connor: 10/10 Liberal use of symbolism and metaphors lends itself to a far richer interpretation, the cynicism expressed in the short stories is refreshing

#da #dark academia #dark academia aesthetic #things fall apart #okonkwo #chinua achebe #achebe #umuofia #book #books #bookshelf #reading recommendations #respond

[darkacademicx]

That is part of the beauty of all literature. You discover that your longings are universal longings, that you're not lonely and isolated from anyone. You belong.

F. Scott Fitzgerald.  Special thanks to @damngoodgirl for the suggestion.

#dark academia #dark academia aesthetic #dark academic aesthetic #quote #f. scott fitzgerald #quotes #literature #belonging #inspiration #suggestion

[darkacademicx]

carpe diem, carpe noctem, carpe caelo, amica.

“carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero.” - Odes 1.11 ("Seize the day, put very little trust in tomorrow“)

Some fun facts about carpe diem:

The first recorded instance of carpe diem occurs in the Epic of Gilgamesh and is the advice Siduri gives to Gilgamesh.

Related sayings include:

Collige, virgo, rosas ("gather, girl, the roses")

“Gather ye rosebuds while ye may"

memento mori (remember that you are mortal) 

and finally:

#dead poets society #carpe #carpe diem #carpe noctem #history #fun facts #gilgamesh #anon #anon post #send me asks #ask and ye shall recieve #ask answered #ask away #odes #ausonius #virgil #robert herrick #horace #poem #anonymous

[darkacademicx]

Hi! Do you write in your books? If so, what do you write in them? I was brought up with the message that writing on books is basically heresy. I now want to write in them, but I always feel like what I have to write is not worthy of destroying the book, so I want to know what other people do.

Honestly, it depends on what type of book I am reading and what my objective with the reading is.  If it’s a casual book that’s really superficial, then usually not, but if it’s a classic or a book that’s deep with meaning, then I find it’s the best way to organize my thoughts.  However, I NEVER write in hardcover books, always paperback.

I will write in my books with whatever’s convenient, usually pencils because I like the scratching sound they make on the paper, but coloured pens and pencils are useful for organising annotations when the margins are small.

When you write in books, try not to think of it as destroying the book, but adding new thoughts and analysis to other’s work.  As a collaborative society, we would never have gotten as far as we have today without adding on to the works of others.  I like to remember this Latin metaphor: Nanos gigantum humeris incidents, dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants.  It means using the knowledge and discoveries of those before you to further society as a whole.  Think of that as you’re annotating.

Also, annotations can be beautiful:

I hope this answers your question, but please feel free to dm me if it doesn’t!

#dark academia #dark academia aesthetic #books #bookish #annotations #annotating books #ask #ask away #ask and ye shall recieve #ask answered

[darkacademicx]

Tagged by @lovelyplaton

Rules: spell out your url using song titles. Then, tag as many people as there are letters in your url.

Digging in the Dirt by Peter Gabriel

Abacab by Genesis

Red Rain by Peter Gabriel

Kiss that Frog by Peter Gabriel

Another Reccord by Genesis

Cul-de-sac by Genesis

All in a Mouse’s Night by Genesis

Domino by Genesis

Eleventh Earl of Mar by Genesis

Mercy Street by Peter Gabriel

In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel

Calling all Stations by Genesis

Xanadu by Rush

@artemissidereus @my-mind-was-lostintranslation @kazimiratlas @dionysianacademia @febrem-somno @arctiste @deadbutohsoalive @sadbabywltch @coffeeacademia @anasmorphosis @juristudy @justlinesofcode @chestmass

[darkacademicx]

Current mood:

Flipping through your test to look for an easier question and then winding up at the start with no questions answered.

#da #dark academia #dark academia aesthetic #moodquotes #mood #current mood #test #study #studyblr #school #university #college #education #student

[darkacademicx]

Every single day has a special meaning to someone, whether it be anniversary, birthday or other special occasion. What does today mean to you?

#da #dark academia #dark academia aesthetic #please reply #reply #reply post #feel free to reply #reblog #comment