Origins and Genres of Gothic Horror

Origins and Genres of Gothic Horror

What reminds me of Gothic Horror?

• The Supernatural and the real
• Horror/Terror/Wonder/Fear
• Medieval Times
• Medieval Styled Architecture
• Sinister
• Monsters
• Strange places
• Crisis
• Sexual Power
• Clashing time periods
• The Sublime
• Wild landscape/Imprisonment
• Power and Constraints
• The Uncanny
• Religion

The main founders of Gothic Horror was Horace Walpole 'The Castle of Otranto' (1765) and Ann Radcliff 'The mysteries of Udolpho' these were classed as 'popular trashy novels' [Fred Botting, GOTHIC,2nd Edition,2014 p20]. Gothic horror has risen when such things as The French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution took place as the heart of the novels are triggered by political, social and economical goings on in the century, so basically when there was change in the world.

The cathedrals, castles, medieval architecture and ruins, where of popular choice of scenery and as Gothic Horror progressed through the centuries wild landscapes and nature became the popular choice. Also the novels range from the supernatural, to religion and then to Science and technology, this is where the French Revolution (1789-1799) comes in with the Gothic horror novels based on religion e.g 'The Monk- Matthew Lewis (1796)' to the Industrial Revolution(1760-1820/1840) which starts the creative writing of the science and technology in the novels e.g 'Frankenstein-Mary Shelley (1818)'.

Now knowing that it was changes in the world that sprung the popularity of Gothic horror over the century's it gives me the feeling that it was people's fear and illusion of the terrible things that was happening that created the novels idea's, as the mind creates the biggest terror in people. The heart of Gothic Horror books give of the feeling of imprisonment, unable to escape, buried alive feelings when you are reading, it gives you the fear of being locked up by our own selves.

References
Fred Botting, 2014. GOTHIC. 2nd Edition. Place of publication:NEW CRITICAL IDIOM

Kat Vogart, 2016. Gothic Horror:Origins and Genres. Lecture delivered to [Make-up and Hair Design, level 4], 02/02/16