Exploring the intersection of Gothic literature and film with historical fashion discourse, this groundbreaking work examines how body constructions evolve from the 1790s to the 1990s. By highlighting the connections between cultural representations and fashion trends, it offers a fresh perspective on the portrayal of bodies in Gothic narratives, revealing deeper insights into societal norms and aesthetic values throughout history.
Gothic images pervade contemporary culture, from popular interior decorating programmes to news stories of vampire-obsessed killers. This book seeks to analyse this trend. Why is Gothic perennially undergoing revival? What is its role in modern consumer culture? And is its popularity or its usefulness drawing to an end?
Surveying the widespread appropriations of the Gothic in contemporary literature and culture, 'Post-Millennial Gothic' shows contemporary Gothic is often romantic, funny and celebratory. Reading a wide range of popular texts, from Stephenie Meyer's 'Twilight' series through Tim Burton's Gothic film adaptations of 'Sweeney Todd', 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'Dark Shadows', to the appearance of Gothic in fashion, advertising and television, Catherine Spooner argues that conventional academic and media accounts of Gothic culture have overlooked this celebratory strain of 'Happy Gothic'