Gothic lyricism

Abstract

Considerable academic debate exists regarding the primacy of opposed tensions, which are commonly represented within Gothic literature (Hogle 2002, pp. 12-14). These paradoxical tensions support conservative values, and also work as a counterforce of representation driving towards revolutionary notions (Hogle 2002, p. 13). I have long been fascinated by Gothic literature's capacity, via lyrical prose and verse, to relate terrible happenings with beautiful language, imagery, and/or structural innovation. This is a practice-led research thesis with a two-part structure, employing a work of prose/poetry novella along with an exegetical dissertation. Via dissertational inquiry, focus is given to a history of The Gothic-its politico-cultural roots and effects in literature and architecture. Much attention is given to a single binary of the Gothic genre, via the novella component. This dichotomy is the often-beautiful musicality of Gothic writing as it expresses ideas of debasement and death. Variations of this binary and its disjunctions between lyrical exquisiteness and expressions of horror are in high fidelity to life as it sometimes terrorises personhood. The 'beauty/horror' binaries of Gothicism echo somewhat the dislocation between the existential encounter of barbarism or death and the cognitive acceptance of these 'Gothic happenings' as relative truths. Each of the project's rhetorical components espouse against some academic concession that Gothic binaries, via representational imbalances of power sustain patriarchal establishments. In contrast, this thesis finds Gothicism and its historical representations, textual and architectural, largely egalitarian or potently in favour of equalitarian revolution.

Date of Award	2019
Original language	English