Gothic Western
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Gothic Western(sometimes referred to asWestern GothicandGothic prairie) is asubculture,artistically similar togothic Americana,but blendsgothandWesternlifestyles that are notably visible in fashion, music, film and literature.
History
[edit]
Thepost-warconsciousness between 1940 and 1950 left consumers wanting less monster-related horror in favor of dark storytelling connected with reality. In other words, the monster, subject torelativism,survives in the shadows of the idealizedAmerican Dream.[1]Westerns were at their peak of popularity, but with the increase of technology, modernization and social changes, not without artistic commentary. An amalgamation of the two genres befitting this reflection was imminent. In 1971,Johnny Cashintroduced the "Man in Black",[2]stating:
"I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down, livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town, I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime, but is there because he's a victim of the times."[3]
Larry Vincent, a horror host namedSinister Seymour,establishedKnott's Halloween Hauntin 1973, one of the first Halloween related events on a large scale, blending Gothic and Western aesthetics atCalico ghost town,and providing a first venue for the growing subculture.[4]
Literature
[edit]In literature,[5]the stereotype of the heroic cowboy gives way to a more complexantiherowho has experienced trauma or is overcoming personal tragedy, and often associated to the darker side ofWeird Westmonsters and villainy.[6]The novelThe Hawkline Monster: A Gothic WesternbyRichard Brautiganwas one of the first to incorporate the term in its title,[7]whileBlood MeridianbyCormac McCarthyandThe Dark TowerbyStephen Kingare also popular examples of the genre. The young adult series,The Goodbye FamilybyLorin Morgan-Richards,has been considered Gothic Western with an element of humor.[8]
Music
[edit]
The mixture ofgothandWestern musichas brooding and dark motifs interwoven into cowboy culture while incorporating themes of death, occult and superstition.[9]Crossover elements are seen ingothic country,but are unique to experiences of theAmerican frontier,includingNorthern Mexico.The music encompasses storytelling and the cultural diversity of instrumentation associated with the American frontier.[10]The spaghetti Western sound ofEnnio Morriconeis influential to the genre.[11]Tom Waits,Johnny Cash,Steve Earle,The Handsome FamilyandRichard Marxhave written Gothic Western songs.[12]
Film and television
[edit]FilmmakerJohn Carpenterspoke of the unique quality of the genre, noting it is not the same as a Western horror.[13]In television,Penny Dreadfulseason three is considered an example of gothic Western, withvampiresinvading the West.[14]And God Said to Cain,[15]True History of the Kelly Gang[16]andThe Power of the Dog[17]have also been referenced as being Gothic Westerns.
Gaming
[edit]Several games have been promoted as Gothic Western, includingDarkwatch,West of Dead,Hunt: Showdown,andEvil West.
Fashion
[edit]Gothic Western fashion is a mix ofWestern wearwith goth orVictorian eramourning attire, incorporating black and leather elements.[18]
References
[edit]- ^"1950s Horror Movies".
- ^"Flashback: See Johnny Cash's Style-Defining 'Man in Black'".Rolling Stone.16 February 2016.
- ^"Why Did Johnny Cash Always Wear Black? 25 Facts about America's Outlaw".
- ^"Disney's Haunted Mansion and the Invention of Halloween as You Know It".11 January 2022.
- ^Hoppenstand, Gary; Browne, Ray Broadus (July 31, 1987).The Gothic World of Stephen King: Landscape of Nightmares.Popular Press.ISBN9780879724115– via Google Books.
-Kollin, Susan (September 1, 2000)."Race, Labor, and the Gothic Western: Dispelling Frontier Myths in Dorothy Scarborough's The Wind".MFS Modern Fiction Studies.46(3): 675–694.doi:10.1353/mfs.2000.0053.S2CID162272027– via Project MUSE. - ^"The Cowboy and Vampire Collection".Cowboy and Vampire. 16 June 2016.RetrievedOctober 18,2020.
-"Western Gothic – The Gothic Network".Google.Archived fromthe originalon 2020-10-25.Retrieved2020-07-14.
-"10 Western Books Too Twisted To Be Made Into Films".ScreenRant.January 17, 2020.
-Sharf, Zack (May 19, 2020)."Yorgos Lanthimos Set for 'Favourite' Reunion with New Gothic Western Monster Movie".Indiewire. - ^"'The Hawkline Monster' Will Be a Gothic Western from 'The Favourite' Director Yorgos Lanthimos "./Film.December 17, 2019.
- ^"Author Interview with Lorin Morgan-Richards".June 19, 2020.
- ^"Welcome to the Gothic Western Collective Website".January 1, 2018.
- ^"10 essential gothic western albums".Gothic country.
- ^"Ennio Morricone obituary: 1928–2020".NME.July 6, 2020.
- ^Bassoff, Jon (June 20, 2023)."The Western Gothic In Film, Music, And Literature: A Primer".crimereads.com.Lithub.RetrievedJune 25,2024.
- ^Taylor, Drew (September 5, 2011)."John Carpenter Wants Amy Adams To Star In His" Gothic Western "(In His Dreams)".Indiewire.
- ^Sarner, Lauren (2 May 2016)."Penny Dreadful' Premiers Season 3 as a Gothic Western".Inverse.
- ^Todoruk, Jordan (March 1, 2024)."This Spaghetti Horror-Western Gave Us One of the Best Showdowns".collider.com.Valnet Publishing Group.RetrievedJune 25,2024.
- ^"Review: TRUE HISTORY OF THE KELLY GANG is a Play on the Mythicism of Legends".20 April 2020.
- ^"Review: 'The Power of the Dog' is a sublime gothic Western".Associated Press.17 November 2021.
- ^"Gothic Western Fashion Part I – Cowgirl Goth".Gothic Americana.August 10, 2019. Archived fromthe originalon July 15, 2020.RetrievedJuly 15,2020.
