Something about the way bibliopunk/punk academia is treated on here Bugs Me and I think it can be best summed up as this:
You can’t just throw the “punk” descriptor onto whatever you like and call it an aesthetic
Punk is not an aesthetic
Punk is a mindset, it’s a philosophy– it’s a rebellion against societal systems
When I say bibliopunk, I don’t mean sweater vests and old library photos and quotes from classics.
Bibliopunk, to me, a punk librarian, is about freedom of information. It’s about making sure everyone and anyone can have the resources they need to learn, whatever that means for them. It’s no late fees and fighting against censorship. It’s defunding the police and funding community resource centers that specialize in making sure there’s a place where people can go to ask for help, to read books on any subject they can think of, to connect with events and organizations that exist to help THEM. It’s about making zines and learning how to bookbind, because fuck the idea that traditional publishing and Amazon are the only people that can make something a book.
Punk academia, which is used colloquially here, is related to this– it’s saying fuck the academic systems that keep out the poor, the people of color, and the disabled. Fuck your Ivy Leagues, education is whatever the hell you make it. College should be free, classes should be accessible WITHOUT being forced to give up all of your personal financial and health information, curriculums need to include as many varying perspectives as they can because fuck the idea that a cishet abled white man is the authority on any given topic.
Bibliopunk, punk academia, and any other Tumblr “aesthetic” with the punk descriptor is not just a moodboard of photos you stole from Pinterest.
