Gothic and Racism

A postcolonial study of racism in Gothic narratives. Gothic is a culture of alterity: it explores the Other and it posits itself as an Other. It found its roots in the concerted efforts of eighteenth-century authors who longed for the simple and exciting plotlines of medieval romances. At the same time, they were careful to populate other countries and/or other eras with ghosts, vampires, and monstrous villains. More recently, Gothic studies have flourished alongside a plethora of Gothic fiction, movies, and TV shows. These new works employ the genre's conventional themes and cast of characters while adding new features for new audiences. The perception of the Other has changed while a predilection for othering has endured. This collection of essays analyzes the various manifestations of racism in Gothic narratives: literature, film, TV, and architecture. Essays range from traditional topics and interpretations of Gothic as a vehicle for racism to Gothic as a subversion and resistance to white, heteronormative privilege.