1. Dark Romantics Poe, Hawthorne, Melville, Irving and a few living people too

2. Characteristics 19 th century America (1800s) 19 th century America (1800s) Intense period of EMOTION Intense period of EMOTION Very pessimistic Very pessimistic Individuals prone to SIN and SELF-DESTRUCTION! Individuals prone to SIN and SELF-DESTRUCTION! Inherently evil Inherently evil

3. Frequent emotions/instances Death, sin, pain, the loss of a love one, divorce, heart-ache, hardship, mystery, obsession, obscurity, tragedy, madness, guilt, evil, darkness, decay, materialism, greed Death, sin, pain, the loss of a love one, divorce, heart-ache, hardship, mystery, obsession, obscurity, tragedy, madness, guilt, evil, darkness, decay, materialism, greed

4. Also includes “GOTHIC” characteristics Setting is in bleak or remote places Setting is in bleak or remote places Plot involves morbid or violent incidents Plot involves morbid or violent incidents Characters are in psychological and/or physical torment Characters are in psychological and/or physical torment A supernatural or otherworldly element is often present A supernatural or otherworldly element is often present

5. Nathaniel Hawthorne Believed evil was a dominant force in the world Believed evil was a dominant force in the world Wrote The Scarlet Letter and “The Minister’s Black Veil” Wrote The Scarlet Letter and “The Minister’s Black Veil”

6. Herman Melville Wrote Moby-Dick which is widely regarded as one of the finest novels in all of American Literature Wrote Moby-Dick which is widely regarded as one of the finest novels in all of American Literature Bartleby the Scrivener Bartleby the Scrivener The Lightning Rod Man The Lightning Rod Man The Confidence Man The Confidence Man Billy Budd Billy Budd Typee Typee

7. Edgar Allan Poe Wrote “The Raven” Wrote “The Raven” Widely accepted as the inventor of the detective story Widely accepted as the inventor of the detective story Known as an eccentric writer – his dark and dismal life probably had something to do with it Known as an eccentric writer – his dark and dismal life probably had something to do with it The Cask of Amontillado The Cask of Amontillado The Black Cat The Black Cat The Fall of the House of Usher The Fall of the House of Usher The Tell-Tale Heart The Tell-Tale Heart The Murders in the Rue Morgue The Murders in the Rue Morgue

8. Dark Romanticism Today? Can you think of any television shows, websites, movies, people that fall into the dark romanticism category? Can you think of any television shows, websites, movies, people that fall into the dark romanticism category?

9. The Dark Knight Bruce Wayne: both parents killed Bruce Wayne: both parents killed Believes that the world is inherently evil Believes that the world is inherently evil “Because he's the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So we'll hunt him because he can take it. Because he's not our hero. He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector. A dark knight.” “Because he's the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So we'll hunt him because he can take it. Because he's not our hero. He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector. A dark knight.”

10. Twilight Evil vs. good Evil vs. good Betrayal Betrayal Darkness Darkness Forbidden love Forbidden love Omg Omg

11. The News

12. Dark Tourism Visiting sites of extreme death or destruction Visiting sites of extreme death or destruction Examples Examples Ground Zero Prison camps New Orleans ruins Genocide sites War sites

13. Society in General Emphasis on wealth and materialism Emphasis on wealth and materialism Credit crisis Credit crisis National debt National debt Foreclosures Foreclosures Financial chaos Financial chaos