Definitions Definitions Definitions
What did the word ‘Gothic’ encompass and what was the Gothic Society?
WHAT THE DICTIONARY SAID, From: ‘Some Brief Notes on Gothic Literature’
- Goth, Goth, n, one of an ancient Germanic nation, originally settled on the southern coasts of the Baltic, migrating to Dacia in the 3rd century, and later founding kingdoms in Italy, southern France and Spain: a rude or uncivilised person, a barbarian – adj, Gothic, of the Goths or their language: barbarous; romantic: denoting style of architecture with high-pointed arches, clustered columns, etc, (applied in reproach at the time of the Renaissance): black-letter (print): a square-cut type without serifs (US): orig. applied to I8th century tales, novels of mystery with gloomy sinister backgrounds, now denoting psychological horror-tales.
Chambers Twentieth Century Dictionary (circa 1995)
WHAT THE EARLY MAGAZINES SAID …
- The Gothic Society exists to amuse and entertain lovers of the Gothic and Grand Guignol traditions. In our magazine, The Goth, we specialise in writers as diverse as Mary ShelÂley, Montague Summers, and JK Huysmans; in brilliant eccentrics like William Beckford and Robert de Montesquiou; and in artists like Hogarth, Beardsley, and Odilon Redon.
- Generally speaking, we tend to concentrate on the eightÂeenth and nineteenth century, when the Gothic tradition in both literature and architecture was in full flower, but we also cover anything which is macabre, eccentric, extravagant, or grotesque, together with works in which black humour plays a predominant part.
Once the Society had gathered momentum, definitions were no longer needed as the accumulated publications spoke for themselves. However, there was a four-page leaflet (date yet to be ascertained but probably around 1993-4) called ‘Some Brief Notes on Gothic Literature’, which could be thrust at people asking awkward questions.
But it was always the magazine that said it best.
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