The Gothic: 250 Years of Success. Your Guide to Gothic Literature and Culture

By A J Blakemont

“If you are looking for a clear and concise guide to all aspects of The Gothic, ranging from literature to architecture, history to visual arts, music to fashion, horror to fantasy, subculture to philosophy, and more besides, then this is for you.”

John Nicholls, University of Hull

What is the Gothic? A genre, a style, a movement, a subculture? The Gothic is all of this, and so much more; it is one of the most enduring and fertile artistic traditions in the history of modern civilization. Since the publication of The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole in December 1764, the Gothic has constantly rejuvenated and reinvented itself, taking on new forms while remaining true to its aesthetic principles.

From old castles to futuristic cities, from corrupt priests to urban predators, from medieval poetry to modern rock, the Gothic evolved over the centuries, transforming the popular culture in the process. Like Frankenstein's creature, the Gothic is alive and one can feel its beating heart in every art form and media.

This guide provides an overview covering all facets of the Gothic culture, from its philosophical basis to its practical applications in literature, comic books, cinema and television, music, games, digital art, and fashion.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dark Romantic Worlds
• Release date: Nov 13, 2014
• ISBN: 9780993115615

Book preview

Part 1: From Ancient Fears to Modern Aesthetics

Chapter 1.1: A Bit of History

The precise definition of the Gothic has always been elusive, and there are as many opinions as experts on this matter. Throughout history, the words Goth and Gothic were used to describe very different things. Originally, the Goths were one of the tribes that contributed to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. David Punter and Glennis Byron explain:

The Goths made their first incursion into Roman territory during the third century, and eventually, under Alaric, took Rome in AD 410, subsequently establishing kingdoms in France and Italy. The first extant history of the Goths is Jordanes’s Getica (551), and here an etymological confusion begins. [ . . .] ‘Gothic’ became a highly mobile term, remaining constant only in the way it functioned to establish a set of polarities revolving primarily around the concepts of the primitive and the civilized. (David Punter and Glennis Byron, The Gothic. Blackwell Publishing, 2004, page 3)

During the Renaissance, art historians were using the word Gothic as a synonym of medieval or barbaric. This term was initially associated with the idea of a society dominated by superstition and fear; however, its meaning started to change when the perception of medieval history grew more positive. The term Gothic art is now used to describe the style that prevailed in Western and Central Europe between the 12th and the 15th centuries. It is no coincidence that Horace Walpole set the story of The Castle of Otranto in that period.

Then, what is the Gothic culture? This question will not find a straightforward and consensual answer any time soon, and there is no authority able to rule on this matter. Should we apply this term to the Goths who defeated Rome, to all barbarians in general, or to the medieval period? In reality, the architectural style called Gothic had nothing to do with the ancient Gothic tribes; the builders who perfected this style were calling it French or ogival (from the Old French augive meaning diagonal rib of a vault or pointed arch).

The Gothic culture as we know it today is a modern, post-Renaissance phenomenon, even though its roots stretch back to antiquity. Ironically, Edmund Burke, whose theories provided the philosophical basis for the Gothic fiction, held little esteem for the ancient Goths, as we will see in Chapter 1.3. The origins of the modern Gothic are to be found in the Classical culture. The most influential works were those by Homer, Virgil and Ovid, as well as Greek tragedies. Mythological themes and motifs that appear in Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, Virgil’s Aeneid, and Ovid’s Metamorphoses have never lost their appeal; moreover, these works provided the prototypes of storytelling techniques still used today.

Medieval authors also left their mark on the Gothic culture. Traditionally, their main sources of inspiration were legends, Christian faith and chivalry. Chrétien de Troyes (late 12th century) created the legend of the Grail (in Perceval, the Story of the Grail) that inspired countless interpretations and adaptations throughout centuries, a trend that continues unabated today. In the early 14th century, Dante Alighieri wrote one of the most monumental works in history, namely the Divine Comedy, describing an imaginary voyage through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. In Inferno, we already find some elements that will later characterize the Gothic fiction: dark and sublime atmosphere, bestiary of monstrosities from various mythologies, grandiose and dramatic landscapes, stories of love, hate and sin.

The Crusades significantly affected the medieval society; nevertheless, the contact with the Muslim world brought not only war, but also the rediscovery of ancient philosophical and esoteric texts. This triggered a slow but profound change in the medieval culture. Universities were established, new theories emerged, and philosophy was no longer considered incompatible with faith. Aristotle became the new superstar among the cultural elite. Europe was ready for the