LIT2081 - Spring 2025 - Wahl

Since its origins in the eighteenth century, the Gothic has undergone many dramatic shifts. So, by examining the Contemporary Gothic in novels and short fiction, this class interrogates how we and why we are still so fascinated by the Gothic -- what cultural and societal forces prompted the evolution of this genre? What aspects of the genre have been maintained and why? Why, after centuries of evolution, is the heart of the story often the same? The course's readings will focus on global texts from the 1950s to the present with selected excerpts from nineteenth-century Gothic texts. Additionally, a significant portion of this course centers on adaptation and how familiar Gothic tales are adapted to fit a contemporary setting and perspective. This opportunity to analyze texts alongside their source material will allow students an opportunity to investigate why our culture still values these narratives and how we continue to see them referenced in our current time. By the end of the course, students will have gained a deeper understanding of how the Gothic has developed in contemporary culture and will be able to analyze and interpret modern adaptations of these stories. Additionally, we will be able to speculate how we might see the Gothic evolving even further in our current cultural landscape and how classic Gothic stories are just as relevant as ever.