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Wonderland: Gothic

Season 1
‘Gothic’ is an enduring artistic and cultural phenomenon. But what exactly is it and where did it come from? This intriguing new documentary looks at the Gothic in all its forms, taking in works as diverse as Dracula, Wuthering Heights and The Night of the Living Dead. It explores the fascinating origins of this counterculture staple, often connected to the marginalized or powerless.
20234 episodesTV-MA
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Episodes

  1. S1 E1 - Gothic Origins
    November 6, 2023
    48min
    TV-MA
    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.
    Free trial of BBC Select
  2. S1 E2 - Gothic Forms
    November 13, 2023
    48min
    TV-MA
    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.
    Free trial of BBC Select
  3. S1 E3 - Global Gothic
    November 20, 2023
    48min
    18+
    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.
    Free trial of BBC Select
  4. S1 E4 - Contemporary Gothic
    November 27, 2023
    48min
    TV-MA
    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.
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Subtitles
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Studio
Odyssey Television
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