The Gothic

Summary

The script explores Strawberry Hill, Horace Walpole's house, as the birthplace of Gothic revival architecture and fiction. It delves into the genre's fascination with strange, wild landscapes and the juxtaposition of modernity with the archaic, often manifesting as violent conflict. Gothic fiction is characterized by its focus on power dynamics, often featuring powerful, supernatural figures and vulnerable individuals. It explores human limits, societal positions, and perverse sexuality, often using the uncanny to unsettle readers. The script also touches on the sublime, the genre's rise during political and social crises, and its varying approaches to the supernatural.

Takeaways

• 🏰 Strawberry Hill, Horace Walpole's house, is the birthplace of both the Gothic Revival in architecture and Gothic fiction.
• 📖 Walpole's dream inspired him to write 'The Castle of Otranto', which started the Gothic fiction tradition in 1764.
• 🌲 Gothic fiction is characterized by its fascination with wild, remote landscapes and imprisoning spaces.
• 👻 The genre explores the relationship between the modern world and the past through sudden juxtaposition and violent conflict.
• 💀 A key motif in Gothic fiction is the ghost, symbolizing the past erupting into the present.
• 🤔 Gothic fiction often delves into themes of power, exploring the limits of human nature and vulnerability.
• 👩‍🦳 It provides a platform to examine the societal positions of women, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries, and their vulnerability to irrational desires.
• 🔞 The genre frequently explores perverse, dangerous, and violent sexual themes, often making explicit what is usually repressed.
• 👽 The term 'uncanny' from Sigmund Freud is useful for understanding Gothic writing, which often features figures that are not quite human.
• 🌪️ Gothic fiction is closely related to the concept of the 'sublime', which describes experiences that are terrifying and overwhelming.
• 🕰️ The genre often emerges during times of political and social crisis, such as the period following the French Revolution, as a way to understand and process change.
• 🤝 There are two types of Gothic fiction: one that incorporates supernatural elements as real and another that provides naturalistic explanations for them.

Q & A

Where is Horace Walpole's house located and what is its significance?

Horace Walpole's house, Strawberry Hill, is significant for being the birthplace of both the Gothic revival in architecture and Gothic fiction.

What inspired Horace Walpole to write 'The Castle of Otranto'?

Horace Walpole was inspired to write 'The Castle of Otranto' after dreaming of a gigantic armoured fist appearing on his staircase.

What are the two types of places Gothic fiction is fascinated by?

Gothic fiction is fascinated by wild, remote landscapes and very imprisoning places.

How does Gothic fiction typically portray the relationship between the modern world and the past?

Gothic fiction portrays the relationship between the modern world and the past as one of sudden juxtaposition and often violent conflict, where the past erupts within the present and deranges it.

What is a common motif in Gothic fiction, and what does it represent?

A common motif in Gothic fiction is the ghost, representing something thought to be dead but coming back vividly alive in the present.

What themes of power are explored in Gothic fiction?

Gothic fiction explores themes of power by focusing on supernaturally or obscenely powerful figures and the completely vulnerable individuals, examining the limits of human experience driven by internal desires or external forces.

How does Gothic fiction address issues related to women in historical contexts?

Gothic fiction addresses issues related to women by exploring their vulnerability to irrational desires or needs, often putting their lives at risk, reflecting their societal positions in 18th and 19th-century society.

What kinds of sexuality are often depicted in Gothic novels?

Gothic novels often depict perverse, weird, and dangerous kinds of sexuality, including incest, same-sex desire, violence, abduction, and rape.

What is the concept of the uncanny in Gothic fiction?

The uncanny in Gothic fiction refers to something new that takes us back to an archaic or psychological past, often presenting figures that are human-like but not entirely human, such as dolls or automata.

What term is used to describe the overwhelming experiences often depicted in Gothic fiction?

The term 'sublime' is used to describe the overwhelming, terrifying, and awesome experiences depicted in Gothic fiction, which move beyond the harmonious and beautiful.

During which historical periods does Gothic fiction tend to flourish, and why?

Gothic fiction tends to flourish during periods of political and social crisis, such as the 1790s and the end of the 19th century, as a way to understand and master these enormous changes.

What are the two different approaches to the supernatural in Gothic fiction?

There are two approaches to the supernatural in Gothic fiction: one that uses and expects belief in the supernatural, and another that explains supernatural events in a naturalistic way.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 Gothic Revival and Fiction Origins

The script introduces Strawberry Hill, Horace Walpole's house, as the birthplace of Gothic Revival architecture and Gothic fiction. It describes the house as a theatrical miniature version of a Gothic or medieval castle. Walpole's dream of a gigantic armored fist inspired his literary work 'The Castle of Otranto,' published in 1764, which initiated a significant tradition in literature, television, and film. The Gothic genre is characterized by its fascination with strange, wild, and remote landscapes, as well as imprisoning spaces, exemplified by 'Frankenstein' and 'Dracula.' The genre explores the juxtaposition and conflict between the modern world and the past, often through supernatural elements like ghosts. It delves into themes of power, vulnerability, and human nature, often examining the societal positions of women and exploring perverse and dangerous forms of sexuality. The script also touches on the broader themes of Gothic fiction, including the supernatural and the uncanny, as described by Sigmund Freud.

05:03

👻 The Uncanny and the Sublime in Gothic Writing

This paragraph delves into the concept of the uncanny in Gothic writing, a term originating from Sigmund Freud, which refers to something new yet reminiscent of the archaic or our psychological past. Gothic fiction often leads to uncanny moments where familiar figures appear unfamiliar. The genre frequently features characters that are almost human, like dolls or automata, which are key to the uncanny experience. The script discusses how critics and writers in the mid-18th century became intrigued by experiences that did not fit traditional aesthetic categories, leading to the concept of the sublime, which is characterized by overwhelming and terrifying experiences. Gothic fiction is central to this shift towards the sublime. The paragraph also notes that Gothic literature often emerges during times of political and social crisis, such as the 1790s following the French Revolution, as a means to understand and cope with change. It mentions the religious aspect of Gothic, with the despoiling of the Catholic Church contributing to the genre's skepticism towards the supernatural. The script contrasts two types of Gothic: one that incorporates supernatural elements as believable occurrences, and another, like Ann Radcliffe's work, that provides natural explanations for seemingly supernatural phenomena.

Keywords

💡Gothic Revival

Gothic Revival refers to an architectural and cultural movement that began in the late 18th century, characterized by a fascination with medieval Gothic architecture. In the video, Strawberry Hill, Horace Walpole's house, is highlighted as the birthplace of this revival. The house is described as a theatrical and miniature version of a Gothic or medieval castle, emphasizing its significance in both architecture and the broader cultural movement.

💡Gothic fiction

Gothic fiction is a literary genre that originated with Walpole's 'The Castle of Otranto' and has since evolved into a rich tradition encompassing literature, television, and film. The genre is known for its exploration of strange, often supernatural settings and themes. In the script, Gothic fiction is described as being fascinated by both wild, remote landscapes and imprisoning places, illustrating its focus on the juxtaposition of the modern world with the archaic and the supernatural.

💡Uncanny

The uncanny is a psychological phenomenon where something that is unfamiliar or strange is simultaneously recognized as something familiar, often from one's past. Coined by Sigmund Freud, the term is used in the video to describe a key aspect of Gothic fiction, where characters and settings are not quite human, yet eerily familiar. Examples from the script include figures that look human but are not entirely so, like dolls, wax works, and automata.

💡Sublime

The sublime is an aesthetic concept that describes experiences that are overwhelming, terrifying, and awe-inspiring, often related to nature's grandeur or power. In the context of the video, the sublime is linked to Gothic fiction, which frequently explores themes and settings that evoke a sense of the sublime, such as storms at sea or shipwrecks. This connection underscores Gothic fiction's interest in the powerful and the overwhelming.

💡Power dynamics

Power dynamics in the video refer to the relationships between characters with varying degrees of power, often highlighting the vulnerability of certain characters in the face of supernatural or overwhelming forces. Gothic fiction, as discussed, often features powerful, supernatural figures juxtaposed with vulnerable individuals, exploring the limits of human experience and societal roles, particularly with respect to women in historical contexts.

💡Supernatural

The supernatural encompasses phenomena that cannot be explained by the laws of nature or science and often includes elements like ghosts, demons, or magic. In the script, the supernatural is a central theme in Gothic fiction, with works like 'The Monk' featuring overt supernatural elements. However, there is also a strain of Gothic that offers naturalistic explanations for seemingly supernatural occurrences, as seen in Ann Radcliffe's novels.

💡Political and social crisis

The video suggests that Gothic fiction often emerges during times of political and social upheaval, serving as a cultural response to such crises. The increase in Gothic novels during the 1790s and the end of the 19th century is linked to significant political changes, such as the French Revolution. This connection highlights how Gothic fiction can reflect and process societal anxieties and transformations.

💡Archaic

Archaic refers to something that is very old or outdated, often associated with ancient or medieval times. The script describes Gothic fiction's fascination with archaic worlds and settings, which provide a stark contrast to the modern world. This juxtaposition allows for the exploration of themes like the conflict between tradition and modernity, as seen in the imprisonment of Jonathan Harker in 'Dracula'.

💡Sexual themes

The video discusses the presence of perverse, weird, and dangerous kinds of sexuality in Gothic fiction, often exploring taboo subjects like incest, same-sex desire, violence, abduction, and rape. These themes serve to challenge and expose societal norms and repressed desires, offering a platform to examine power dynamics and vulnerability within the genre.

💡Horace Walpole

Horace Walpole was an 18th-century English writer, art historian, and man of letters, who is credited with initiating the Gothic novel with his work 'The Castle of Otranto.' In the video, Walpole's house, Strawberry Hill, is identified as the birthplace of both the Gothic Revival in architecture and Gothic fiction, emphasizing his pivotal role in the development of these cultural movements.

💡Naturalistic explanation

A naturalistic explanation in Gothic fiction refers to the rationalization of seemingly supernatural events within a story's narrative. The video contrasts this approach with works that embrace the supernatural, highlighting the genre's diversity. Authors like Ann Radcliffe are noted for using naturalistic explanations to resolve the mysterious occurrences in their novels, thus challenging the reader's expectations.

Highlights

Horace Walpole's house, Strawberry Hill, is the birthplace of Gothic revival in architecture and Gothic fiction.

Strawberry Hill is a theatrical, miniature version of a Gothic or medieval castle.

Walpole's dream of a gigantic armoured fist inspired 'The Castle of Otranto', initiating the Gothic fiction tradition.

Gothic fiction explores the relationship between the modern world and the past through sudden juxtaposition and conflict.

Gothic fiction is characterized by the presence of powerful, supernatural figures and vulnerable individuals.

Gothic fiction often delves into themes of perverse, dangerous sexuality, including incest and same-sex desire.

The uncanny, a term from Sigmund Freud, is central to Gothic writing, involving the recognition of the unfamiliarly familiar.

Gothic fiction frequently features figures that are not quite human, such as dolls, wax works, and automata.

The concept of the sublime, characterized by terrifying and awesome experiences, is closely related to Gothic.

Gothic novels often emerge during times of political and social crisis, such as the 1790s and post-French Revolution.

The Gothic genre explores themes of religious crisis, such as the despoiling of the Catholic Church and doubt about the supernatural.

Gothic fiction can be divided into two types: one that embraces the supernatural and another that provides natural explanations.

Gothic fiction serves as a means to understand and master enormous societal changes, particularly following political upheavals.

Ann Radcliffe's Gothic novels, unlike Matthew Lewis's, often provide naturalistic explanations for seemingly supernatural events.

Gothic fiction explores the limits of human experience, driven by internal desires or external forces.

Gothic fiction often focuses on the plight of women in 18th and 19th-century society, confronting irrational desires and vulnerabilities.

Transcripts

Here we are in Horace Walpole's house, Strawberry Hill. This is the place where both the Gothic

revival in architecture and Gothic fiction began. The whole thing is a fake or theatrical

version in miniature of what a Gothic or medieval castle might be. But it's not just architecturally

that this house is important, because it's also very important in literary terms.

One night when he's asleep in his bedroom upstairs and dreams of a gigantic armoured

fist appearing on the staircase behind me - and that inspires him to write The Castle

of Otranto. This is published in 1764 and begins this enormously powerful tradition

that continues to the present day in hundreds of books, television programmes and films.

Gothic fiction is fascinated by strange places. On the one hand very wild and remote landscapes

and on the other, to very imprisoning places. So, if you think of the end of Frankenstein,

there on the wild, arctic wastes. Well the other one is somewhere like Dracula, where

you get imprisonment of poor Jonathan Harker, whose a nice, modern young man - goes off

to Central Europe and he's suddenly captured by Count Dracula and imprisoned in this violently,

archaic world. So, it's a sudden transformation, both in the space that he's living in and

the place that he goes to. It's also, of course, a change in the kind of time that Dracula's

living in. He moves from a modern world - this is a world of typewriters, of recording equipment,

of stenography, of modern trains - suddenly to a world that reaches back into most archaic

and distant sense of time. And that's very typical of all Gothic fiction. It wants to

see the relationship between the modern world and the past - not as one of evolution or

development - but of sudden juxtaposition and often violent conflict, in which the past

erupts within the present and deranges it and one of the most powerful motifs of that

is, of course, the ghost. The thing that you think is dead, but comes back vividly alive

in the present.

So, at the heart of Gothic fiction is the question of power. On the one hand it tends

to be drawn to very powerful, often supernaturally powerful, or obscenely powerful figures and

on the other, to people who are completely vulnerable. He seems to want to do this to

explore the limits of what it is to be human - to be driven by either internal desires

or forces outside yourself that make you or compel you to do things you don't want to do.

And that, of course, gives it an enormous scope to explore the positions, say of women,

in 19th-century society or 18th-century society - the way that women often are forced into

situations in which they are confronted by irrational kinds of desire or need to which

they are vulnerable and which may make their very life at risk.

Gothic novels are full of perverse, weird and dangerous kinds of sexuality. It's often

fascinated by incest, by same sex desire, by violence, by abduction, by rape.

So, Gothic is a kind of writing that can make explicit, what is often held back within more normal

kinds of writing. On the one hand, it's fascinated by total sexual power, by these obscene patriarchal

figures, who seem to be able to have no restraints whatsoever on their desire. It's also constantly

drawn to the figure of the vulnerable young woman and her possible triumph over these

apparently, unbeatable forces.

One really useful term for thinking about Gothic writing, is the uncanny. Now this is

a term that comes from Sigmund Freud - so something that's new, but that also takes

us back to something, either in our own psychological past, or something in the world that's archaic.

Often Gothic fictions drive onwards to these uncanny moments for the reader, in which you

suddenly recognise somebody who seems unfamiliar and strange - in fact, has an identity that

you already know. So, figures that are not quite human, that look human, but are not

entirely human, like dolls, wax works, automata - these are very characteristic marks - not

just of Gothic, but particularly of the uncanny.

In the mid 18th century, critics and writers became more and more fascinated by experiences

that don't seem to fit within their normal category of what's beautiful and what's pleasurable.

They get fascinated by - what's it mean to be in the middle of a storm at sea, or to

see a shipwreck, or to be on the top of a high mountain in a great wind. And the work

that they use more and more to describe this is - the sublime. The sublime isn't harmonious,

balanced and beautiful - which had traditionally been the concern of the aesthetic, but is

often terrifying and awesome and overwhelming and Gothic is absolutely at the centre of

that move to the sublime and sublimity in understanding the world.

Gothic particularly tends to appear at moments of political and social crisis, so there's

an enormous increase in the number of Gothic novels written in the 1790s. There's another

burst at the end of the 19th century, so at moments of great political change, particularly

following the French Revolution in 1789, the Gothic seems a way of trying to master and

understand these enormous changes. That's a religious crisis too. The Catholic Church

is despoiled, its abbeys and its monasteries are closed and that feeds into the Gothic

sense of doubt about the supernatural.

Gothic is fascinated by the supernatural. In Matthew Lewis's famous novel, The Monk,

Satan himself appears at the end of the book and the main character, Ambrosia, sells his

soul to the devil. But, there's also a very different kind of writing, like that of Ann

Radcliffe, whose the other great Gothic novelist of the 1790s, where there is no supernatural.

There do appear to be ghosts but, in fact, by the end of the novel all those ghosts have

been explained in a naturalistic way. So, there are two different kinds of Gothic - one

that uses the supernatural, as it were, and expects us to believe in it - and the other

that gives a natural or realistic explanation of it.