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Gothic Cinema
Arguing for the need to understand Gothic cinema as an aesthetic mode, this book explores its long history, from its transitional origins in phantasmagoria shows and the first 'trick' films to its postmodern fragmentation in the Gothic pastiches of Tim Burton.
But what is Gothic cinema and when did it begin? Is the iconography of the Gothic film the same, or equivalent to, that of the horror genre? Are the literary origins of the Gothic what solidified its aesthetics? And exactly what cultural roles does the Gothic continue to perform for us today? Gothic Cinema covers topics such as the chiaroscuro experiments of early German cinema, the monster cinema of the 1930s, the rise of the supernatural explained in the old dark house mystery films of the 1920s and the Female Gothics of the 1940s, the introduction of colour photography in the period Gothics of the late 1950s, the European exploitation booms of the 1960s and 1970s, and the animated films and Gothic superheroes that dominate present times. Throughout, Aldana Reyes makes a strong case for a tighter and more intuitive approach to the Gothic on screen that acknowledges its position within wider film industries with their own sets of financial pressures and priorities.
This ground-breaking book is the first thorough chronological, transhistorical and transnational study of Gothic cinema, ideal for both new and seasoned scholars, as well as those with a wider interest in the Gothic.
But what is Gothic cinema and when did it begin? Is the iconography of the Gothic film the same, or equivalent to, that of the horror genre? Are the literary origins of the Gothic what solidified its aesthetics? And exactly what cultural roles does the Gothic continue to perform for us today? Gothic Cinema covers topics such as the chiaroscuro experiments of early German cinema, the monster cinema of the 1930s, the rise of the supernatural explained in the old dark house mystery films of the 1920s and the Female Gothics of the 1940s, the introduction of colour photography in the period Gothics of the late 1950s, the European exploitation booms of the 1960s and 1970s, and the animated films and Gothic superheroes that dominate present times. Throughout, Aldana Reyes makes a strong case for a tighter and more intuitive approach to the Gothic on screen that acknowledges its position within wider film industries with their own sets of financial pressures and priorities.
This ground-breaking book is the first thorough chronological, transhistorical and transnational study of Gothic cinema, ideal for both new and seasoned scholars, as well as those with a wider interest in the Gothic.
- GenresFilmNonfiction
256 pages, Paperback
Published January 12, 2020
About the author
Xavier Aldana Reyes
13 books40 followersXavier is Reader in English Literature and Film at Manchester Metropolitan University. He is co-president of the International Gothic Association (2022-2026) and a founding member of the Manchester Centre for Gothic Studies.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 12, 2023
Un texto esencial en el campo del Gótico que no se limita a hacer una lista de películas sino que reflexiona sobre las circunstancias socioculturales de cada expresión del cine gótico y se adentra en la compleja pregunta de qué define a este género.
November 6, 2021
Encontré este libro muy interesante y útil en una investigación que he estado haciendo sobre lo gótico en el arte y la cultura. Aldana Reyes, un auténtico experto en el campo del horror y lo gótico, traza la historia de este subgénero desde sus orígenes en el cine silente hasta los primeros años del siglo XXI. Algunas de estas etapas las conocía yo bastante bien, en especial los ciclos de Universal y Hammer, pero en otras era completamente ignorante. Aldana Reyes no se limita a hacer una cronología enlistando títulos, sino que relaciona los deesarrollos en el cine con tendencias culturales más amplias, y en algunas obras fundamentales se detiene para hacer análisis completos. Lo recomiendo mucho para fans del cine y del horror.
April 1, 2025
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3/5 stars
Gothic Cinema by Xavier Aldana Reyes is a decent introductory read on the genre, but it left me a bit disappointed. While the first two chapters were useful for my research, the rest felt more like a guide for newcomers rather than a deep analysis. At just 230 pages, many concepts felt oversimplified, and at times, the book seemed like a long list of gothic horror films to watch rather than a critical discussion. The most frustrating part was the misleading cover featuring Crimson Peak, a film that is barely mentioned in the text. Though it provides a solid overview of gothic cinema, I wish it had offered more depth and substance.
3/5 stars
Gothic Cinema by Xavier Aldana Reyes is a decent introductory read on the genre, but it left me a bit disappointed. While the first two chapters were useful for my research, the rest felt more like a guide for newcomers rather than a deep analysis. At just 230 pages, many concepts felt oversimplified, and at times, the book seemed like a long list of gothic horror films to watch rather than a critical discussion. The most frustrating part was the misleading cover featuring Crimson Peak, a film that is barely mentioned in the text. Though it provides a solid overview of gothic cinema, I wish it had offered more depth and substance.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews