Connor Coyne

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Last week, I suggested that the popular television show Lost was an essentially Gothic story in the spirit of Beckford’s Vathek, Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, and other “oriental” Romances.  I claimed that the popularity of show would be a powerful argument for the continuing effectiveness of the Gothic mode.  But let’s go beyond that and take a closer look at the actual gothicism of Lost, and how it responds to and acts upon a 21st century viewership. Read the rest of this entry »

When we hear the word “Gothic” our minds fall immediately into a realm of cloudy skies, naked trees, ruinous cathedrals, and demoniac pacts. With a little bit of extension, however, we can easily transfer these motifs while retaining the mood of age and decay. A cloudy sky becomes a clear sky, hostile in its emptiness. The naked trees became palms swaying in a pestilential breeze and the cathedrals are transferred to a whole shadowy region, defined by deserts and oases. And as for demoniac pacts… well, a pact is a pact.

Am I talking about Lost here? Read the rest of this entry »

For my novel Hungry Rats.

There’s a free CD with all music written for the novel for anyone who can tell me the name of the neighborhood featured at 1:16/1:18/2:48.  (Hint: there are clues scattered throughout the rest of the video, too.)

If you do this, send me a private message so that others can play, too.

It’s officially day #2 in the life of the Gothic Blog!

First, my posts will range all over the map, but I’d like to be sure to post about the subjects you are most interested in.  Will you take a moment to complete the short survey below?

Second, I posted some of the choicest and Gothic-relevant posts of my earlier blog.  Take a read, and comment if you’re so inclined!

Post on William Beckford’s groundbreaking novel Vathek.

Post on Trans-Postmodernism and the Gothic Funk Movement.

Post on Pirates of the Caribbean II: Dead Man’s Chest.

Post on the Christmas carol Walking in a Winter Wonderland.