Hi! This is a very good question. 'Dark Academia' is a tricky term to define since it's characterised for being defined after the fact. We're interpreting 'dark academia' in a loose enough sense to lend space and opportunity for creativity, but we will be following some basic principles of the genre to outline our definition. Get ready, because this is a bit of a lengthy read! <3

Academia: The genre typically focuses on liberal arts, a.k.a. humanities. This means history, philosophy, arts, among others. Though there's usually a focus on higher education especially (just because there's usually more freedom by the time you reach college/university), it's not limited to it. Fundamentally, the key aspect (more so than the context) is the passionate pursuit of knowledge. This means that while traditionally sciences (biology, physics, chemistry, etc) aren't conceived as part of the genre, for this event it'll be less about the subject itself and more about the devotion to academia.

Time period: The genre itself, while timeless, is very reminiscent of a bygone era. This is evidenced moreso in the details (clothing, upkeeping of tradition, usage of pen & paper where we'd usually use the notes app, etc) rather than explicitly mentioned in works. I'd say the focus in this area is less a definite time period and more the portrayal of nostalgia for the past in general. Ultimately — and especially considering BNHA is itself set in the future — we don't want to limit creators to a specified period reference and will guide works more towards being wistful independently of the time period they take place in.

The 'dark' of dark academia: The term 'dark' here is very versatile. It refers not only to the literal dim-lit cinematography, but also a general solemness of the works that characterise it, as well as a penchant towards battling repressive institutions and authorities. This last element takes many forms... wanting to break free from societal conventions, solving a covert crime that's being swept under the rug, standing up against parental expectations, etc. In essence, the 'dark' in 'dark academia' refers to the fact it's never a perfect world, but it could be, if someone were passionate enough about fixing it. It's worth noting, then, that the hope for a better/different world characterises the dark academia genre just as much as the longing for it.

Aesthetic: The rhetoric surrounding dark academia encapsulates 1) the adoration and romanticisation of academia as the means to fix a flawed world, and 2) devotion and the passionate pursuit of understanding (of a topic, of oneself, from others, etc). Visually, dark academia sways towards modest clothing, muted colours, dim lighting, 'oldschool' technology (the definition of which changes according to the period a work is set in — such that it could range from candelabrums and torches to tape recorders and old tube tvs). This event will have a moodboard for contributors, to help both guide and inspire works, but we encourage contributors to make use of their own interpretations of 'dark academia' as well and will be flexible when judging what fits the motif or not.

On tropes & deciding what falls within the scope of this event: There are many recurring elements in popular 'dark academia' works... They're typically set somewhere cold, in a not-urban enough setting that there may be forests, lakes, gardens, etc. Architecture tends to be large and imposing, often gothic or victorian. The 'subject' the work revolves around is typically niche and understudied, dangerous or taboo, or either highly artistic or decidedly cerebral. Protagonists tend to be exceptional individuals, distinctive in one particular trait that's central to the story, broody, complex, and eccentric. Oftentimes there'll be a vice or hamartia — smoking, drinking, excessive ego... While common and definitely in line with the theme, none of these will be required or serve as a proxy for judgement on the 'suitability' for this event. While the general sombre tones are expected, ultimately, the reigning factor for this event will be the sentimentality — the yearning, the devotion, the pining and ambition and resilience — in the context of academia.

Hope this helps! Apologies for the late reply, it was a complex question and required a bit more time than was available over the weekend to reply <3