A Most Peculiar Mademoiselle - People Who Know More About Gothic/Horror Films And Literature Than I Do...

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legoline

19 May 2008 @ 04:10 pm

People Who Know More About Gothic/Horror Films And Literature Than I Do...

...I might be desperately needing your help.

I've decided to write my master's thesis on "Elements Of The Gothic In Modern Pop Culture", mostly because I attended a module on Gothic Novels and wrote a paper on Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey and thought it would be terribly interesting to see how certain mechanisms still are put to use in modern literature and film (and possibly, song), how certain themes still apply, what elements never really got out of fashion. Especially since recently there seems to be a new wave of horror/fantasy themed books and films coming out.

My problem is: I know more about classic Gothic literature than I do about modern one. In fact, I may have avoided horror films and literature so far in my life, simply because I have very weak nerves ;-) But oh, I really want to write my thesis about that topic. And here's where I need help.

I have no clue which modern films and books I should pick to analyse. Well, I do have a list of possible candidates but as of now, it's kind of short:

Books
Salem's Lot and The Shining (both Stephen King)
I did think about Anne Rice but it's, you know, Anne Rice

Films
Sleepy Hollow (the problem being that it's based on a classic Gothic story even though most of the plot was changed for the film)
Batman (I think this could be really interesting as it's not typically "horror" but certainly has elements. The problem--it's actually a comic)
Casper (Well. Least likely candidate, admittedly)
The Others (I've only heard about this film, not actually seen it)
And maybe, The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
I'm unsure about other classics like "The Excorcist" or "Poltergeist" because honestly, I think they might be too "old"?)

Short, I know.

My question: what candidates am I missing? What books and films should I check out? What would qualify? Especially books, because I'd like to have another author besides Stephen King. Ideas? Thoughts? If you could pick a horror film or book to be compared to classic Gothic, what would it be?

Every help is muchly appreciated!

Thank you in advance!

Tags: master's thesis, university

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legoline.livejournal.com on May 19th, 2008 05:18 pm (UTC)

Is The Haunting Of Hill House the one where they spend a night at the abandoned asylum or am I thinking of something else?

Anyways, thanks for all the cool suggestions!

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kahvi-elf.livejournal.com on May 19th, 2008 09:10 pm (UTC)

Confusing topic. Both novels "Hell House" and "Hill House" don't take place in an abandoned asylum but in an old mansion. There are films that copy from both books like The house on haunted hill. The only film with an anbandoned asylum I can think about know is Madhouse (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363276/) but I don't think you mean that one, right? There are many horror films that use the "haunted house" concept.

Another film recommondation: "Blood and chocolate". I found it a bit cheesy but it could qualify as gothic.

I also remember some series that are not gothic themselves but have an episode that uses the concept. Like the vampire episode of Quantum Leap, the storm night episode of Magnum PI or Shisms from ST-TNG.

Falls du noch ein weiteres Medium hinzunehmen willst. Es gibt eine Edgar Allan Poe Hörspielserie von Lübbe Audio. In der Gruselkabinett Serie von Titania Medien werden sehr viele klassische Gruselgeschichten umgesetzt. Die Serien "Schattenreich" und "Die Schwarze Sonne" bedienen sich auch aus Elementen des Gothic horrors.

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legoline.livejournal.com on May 20th, 2008 08:15 am (UTC)

Ah right, The House On Haunted Hill, that's the one I was referring to.

I actually saw the Gothic episode of Quantum Leap a couple of weeks back (though I can't recall a vampire--do you mean the one with the Gothic writer whose husband drowned?) and it made me think of my possible topic :-)

Hmm, aber Poe ist ja nun schon was älter...*überleg*

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