Wonderland: Gothic

When Gothic expression first emerged in the eighteenth century, it was established as a backlash against conformity often from wealthy gay or bisexual young men. They were drawn to the Gothic architecture of the past as well as an interest in dark themes and fears of the future. Out of this era emerged such classics as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Wuthering Heights and Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca.

Vampires, werewolves, zombies and witches were central to Gothic works of art. Novels such as Dracula and the sensational penny-dreadful books reflected concerns about the boundaries between the animal and the human. Tales about witches expressed a worry regarding the growing emancipation of women while Zombies and mummies illustrated anxiety about the boundaries between the living and the dead.

Certain parts of the world seemed to have adopted the gothic more readily. In American culture, there’s Edgar Allan Poe, HP Lovecraft and The Addams Family. The Gothic is also important in Irish literature, with its traditions of banshees, ghosts and fairies. Scandinavian culture and folklore is full of references to the Gothic supernatural, while the Hindu tradition has Kali, the Dark Mother.

Why is the Gothic such a persistent cultural trend? This fascinating documentary explores the resurgence of the Gothic in contemporary culture. Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book was immensely popular with teenagers and young people, as was Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series, where the Gothic fuses with romantic fiction. The phenomenon of ‘Gothic’ feels as modern now as it was 250 years ago.