What is Gothic Fiction?

This is the first video of my gothic series. It is a summary of the conventions of the Gothic. I also talk about gothic horror, gothic romance, and the southern gothic.
Disclaimer: I realized that I spoke about the Gothic in heteronormative terms because, for obvious reasons, the first Gothic works only contained heterosexual characters. However, the Gothic has never been a heteronormative genre. Some 19th-century works, such as The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and The Murders in the Rue Morgue, already contained homoerotic elements. Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles is a modern example of Gothic fiction in which the characters' sexual orientation and gender are fluid. Gothic fiction is supposed to challenge social conventions, not adhere to them.

[@GnomeMadness25]

I appreciate how you explained the differences between horror and terror, something I’ve sensed, but not articulated. Also, I love the point that “minds are haunted, not castles.” Thank you for creating this!

[@evasliteraryparlour]

thank you for watching!!! 🥰

[@ThreadBomb]

There were also a lot of short stories in the Gothic style that helped establish the conventions. The best way to understand the Gothic movement is as a subgroup of the Romantic movement. The Romantic movement in art sought to throw off stifling formalism and social convention, in order to express emotions and spiritual feelings that had been thought unseemly. Gothic art was merely the dark side of this, expressing terror instead of rapture, dread instead of joy.

[@Aluenvey]

My own personal favorite variation: a book about whom would ordinarily being the villain, reflecting on their life with their lover, now deceased, as they long to be with whom they love. As a catalyst for hope and change.

[@evasliteraryparlour]

I would love to read this 👀

[@LieutenantRancid]

Whatever animal you have walking around kept scaring me because I thought I was hearing something walk around in my house, ha ha!

[@emmanuelskywalkers9272]

@evasliteraryparlour . I like this video, I like Gothic Fiction. I had been part of Toronto Goth scene late 1980s, that's when Toronto scene started. I like Horace Walpole, I like Castles, I like Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, many more Gothic Literatures. My fashion is #victoriangoth. Thank you share this with me.

[@mausvr7752]

Loved this video, especially the part highlighting the difference between terror and horror. It is why I am drawn to gothic fiction and female gothic horror stories.

[@evasliteraryparlour]

Thank you!!! Same here. I love the terror elements in gothic stories. I don't feel the same way about horror.

[@elemileTLDR]

That was just lovely. Subscribed and attentive.

[@justonefyx]

I just started reading Gothic literature a year ago and now it's the only ghing I read. This was a great video. I subscribed and look forward to watching more videos. Great channel.

[@colinellesmere]

Your a real scholar. Nicely rearched with loads of consise important information.

[@Wanderwilderreading]

This was so interesting! Great explanation bridging the gap between the time period and the genre itself.

[@evasliteraryparlour]

Thank you! I'm glad you like it.😊

[@DawnClephane]

This is a very informative and beautiful video! I am so glad I found this, keep up the good work!

[@ianinaharms]

It was very enjoyable to watch and listen. Thank you :)

[@evasliteraryparlour]

I'm glad you liked it. Thank you for watching!

[@richardstange5939]

This video is so informative and clear. Thank you for this video.

[@GrimScholarofDarkhollow]

I used to write gothic short stories for myself years ago, I'm thinking about starting up again. But, perhaps after writing a couple, I'll try and get published. Thank you for a great video.

[@GothicTopicPodcast]

Thanks for creating great content! Your channel inspires me to continue to work on mine.

[@nicholasjones3207]

The monk is amazing once it gets going

[@evasliteraryparlour]

I would like to read it this year 👀

[@chiquinquirarivero1308]

Eva Bella de mi corazón ❤️

[@jimcoyle4453]

I enjoyed hearing about Gothic Literature in this very informative video. I liked learning about the treatment of different themes in the novels. My favorite novel is Mary Shelley's epic work Frankenstein. I am now reading The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole. So far I am enjoying it. I am not taking a class in Gothic Literature, but instead I am educating myself on the genre by reading novels and watching videos like yours. Thanks for your hard work!

[@evasliteraryparlour]

Thank you! I love Frankenstein too, but I did not like The Castle of Otranto. It is a bit chaotic 😅. It's hard to find a Gothic Lit course. Good for you for learning on your own!👏

[@williamerickson520]

This is a very well researched video. Good job!

[@evasliteraryparlour]

Thank you! I’m glad you like it.

[@KellyannMitchell]

I absolutely love this video. Great job. 🙌

[@evasliteraryparlour]

Thank you!!!

[@emanuel_soundtrack]

Great!

[@phenomdarealest]

I hope you make more videos, this was really good

[@evasliteraryparlour]

Thank you so much! I will☺

[@bibliosteph_]

Amazing video, thank you so much ! 💗

[@rottingpages]

I found this very helpful, thanks!

[@MemeMan1984]

You were a great contestant on fish tank. Looking forward to season 2.

[@sandrashepherd6005]

I like it.

[@CurtRowlett]

Outstanding discussion on Gothic fiction here. Thank you for posting this.

[@evasliteraryparlour]

Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@CurtRowlett]

@@evasliteraryparlour I knew I was in the right place when you held up an actual bottle of Amontillado at the start of the lecture. 😁

[@evasliteraryparlour]

@@CurtRowlett wow!!! I’m so glad to hear someone understood the reference 🤣

[@mintarmada4049]

Just subscribed for this upcoming gothic series :)

[@evasliteraryparlour]

Enjoy!

[@Morunic777]

I got drunk on amontillado and found myself walled up.

[@JoJosephson-pw7yz]

This was great!

[@evasliteraryparlour]

Thanks!!!

[@jcraytonsmith]

Wonderful video!

[@evasliteraryparlour]

Thank you!!

[@CliffsDarkGems]

Great video! Wonderfully informative!

[@evasliteraryparlour]

Thank you!

[@CliffsDarkGems]

@@evasliteraryparlour Do you read other types of horror fiction?

[@evasliteraryparlour]

@@CliffsDarkGems not really, not because I don't like it thou. I don't have much time with uni to explore other genres. Riley Sager and Stephen King have been on my reading list for the longest time. Do you have any good recommendations for horror newbies? I like really creepy things but I hate gore😅

[@CliffsDarkGems]

@@evasliteraryparlour Stephen King writes some great supernatural horror, without too much gore. The Shining is a great novel and you may enjoy Peter Straub: Ghost Story as well.

[@evasliteraryparlour]

@@CliffsDarkGems thank you!! I love The Shining movie. I know the movie is quite different from the novel and that King didn't like it. Still, I think I would like reading it. I will check Peter Straub as well.

[@moniquetheuwissen56]

geweldig gedaan!

[@AJShiningThreads]

❤❤❤

[@honeymoonavenue97]

You’re a Kylo Ren fan too omgggg

[@evasliteraryparlour]

100%! Love antiheroes 🥰

[@honeymoonavenue97]

I love the way your mind works omg

[@NikhileshSurve]

5:13 Is this a scene from some movie?

[@evasliteraryparlour]

Crimson Peak. It's amazing... one of my favourite movies!☺

[@NikhileshSurve]

@@evasliteraryparlour Thanks for the reply. I'm definitely checking that movie 😊👍

[@furtivedolus2504]

I have to take small issue with the statement around 11:50 minutes in. Works by women for women may have been considered 'lesser' by some men (I'd argue uninteresting is a better way to put it), but men didn't suppress these stories or these authors. We just didn't talk about them because the stories they were writing, in large part, were not 'for' us. That being said, why were the male authors remembered and the women forgotten to a larger degree? I'd argue, if fault is to be found, it isn't to be found with the men who were not reading the books. It makes sense that they'd not talk much about authors writing books that were not even made for them in mind.

[@xaviercrain7336]

The secrets are a colonial power…

[@richardstange5939]

This video is so informative and clear. Thank you for this video.