Hallowe’en Gothic: What is ‘Gothic’, Anyway?

Illuminated manuscripts were a major type of art during the Medieval (Gothic) period.

It turns out that “Gothic” is quite a loaded word – and its definition depends wholly on the context of the conversation in which you find yourself. A quick trip to Wikipaedia gives a great overview of how the modifier “Gothic” has changed over the centuries.

Goths – The original Goths were a Germanic tribe that began its migrations in the late 2nd Century. They settled into 2 tribes near the Black Sea, engaging the Roman Empire during the 3rd and 4th Centuries. Remember the “Gothic Wars” from History class? Some were subsumed into other groups, and others were converted into Christianity. By the 5th and 6th Centuries, the Goths became divided into the Visigoths and the Ostrogoths – states within the Holy Roman Empire. (Is this ringing any spooky old cobweb-ridden bells?)  These Goths all but disappeared by the 8th Century, when conquered by Muslims.

Yeah, but this doesn’t sound like the Goths we think of today!

You’re right. We’ll continue our light-speed, somewhat out-of-context dance through time…

Gothic Art & Architecture – In the late medieval period (12th Century) was the beginning of  the “Gothic” style we recognize today. Originating in France, and moving into Germany and Italy, the major art forms were sculpture, panel painting, stained glass, fresco and illuminated manuscript.  Architecture was characterized by its scale - with church spires that were at least twice as tall as the main structure.

The term “Gothic” was used in the Renaissance by Giorgio Vasari to describe  the “monstrous and barbarous” “disorder” of the art.

The besotted taste of Gothic monuments,
These odious monsters of ignorant centuries,
Which the torrents of barbary spewed forth.—Molière

Harsh! Like saying “It’s so easy a caveman could do it”!

Gothic Revival (NeoGothic; Victorian Gothic) – There was a swing back to Gothic political, artistic and religious ideals that began in the mid-18th Century and grew rapidly in the 19th Century. Beginning in England, this revival spread to Europe, North America, and Australia. In the Gothic Revival, people sought to eschew the Classical liberal and rational ideals and re-embrace the spiritual and traditional.

So What?

All this week – using this information to prepare a kick-ass Hallowe’en Party!

References:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_fiction
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_Revival_architecture