Gothic =/= Goth.
Gothic =/= Emo.
Gothic =/= Fat chick dressed in black defecating in a church.

In recent times, the word "Gothic" has been associated with the negative: depression, shadows, the colour black; it should come thus as no surprise that the term "Gothic literature" brings about thoughts of the horror genre. In truth, the Gothic romance refers to a set of genres of fiction written in the late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth centuries. The Gothic literature of the 18th century sought to evoke emotional response from the reader. Often, this would be achieved through the use of a struggle between light and dark, the good protagonist and the evil villain. Now, we aren't necessarily talking concrete villainy, here. The Gothicism that I apply to photography is the Southern Gothic style - that of the contrast between old and new, modern and ancient, civil and rural - in essence, beauty and the grotesque.

But, we must look into these terms. Beauty, in the most Gothic sense of the word, means ORIGINALITY, CREATION. Grotesque is not physical hideousness, but rather, as Novak writes, “the combination of conventionalized organizational structures, ideas and characters..." - in other words, the conformist society.

<Geh I did not want this to sound so anarchisty, but, hey, why not?>

So, let me showcase a few thumbs, and point out their Gothic-ness :\

by yerz truly, =IBinsanity
Grotesque - It is a bridge, an ugly bridge, that the people of Montreal see every day and think nothing of - an intrusion of modernity on a landscape of beautiful, albeit artificial, green islands and glass buildings.
Beauty - The grain. The ancient look. The juxtaposition of modernity with the antique feel of the photo. Also, the way this wonder of modern construction is made to look so darkly evil.
Gothic Check : yesplz


by the PR lady herself, %fangedfem
Grotesque - It has an American flag, and it's being worn by a white chick. An attractive white chick. 'Nuff said.
Beauty - The message being conveyed, that of loss of faith and confidence in those meant to protect you. Also, the overall beauty and sereneness of this shot, being juxtaposed with the raw torturous emotion it conveys.
Gothic Check : yesplzhxc


by my hero *girltripped
Grotesque - Oh, what a cheery lovely day to take my family for a walk in the park! La-dee-dah!
Beauty - The originality of the models. The fact that the child, so young, so innocent, already bears the markings of rebellion to a society that will most likely reject him for it.
Gothic Check : yesplz


by the GD with the mostest, ^opioid
Grotesque - It's Allison sitting in front of a computer. When does she not do that?
Beautiful - She's wearing devwear. And a corset. And yes, I am grasping for straws here.
Gothic Check : minimalplz


by loverlady =volcomchick
Grotesque - A man, wearing a shirt and tie. And he looks attractive-ish. Holy everyday businessman, batman!
Beauty - The emotion being conveyed, again showing a man restrained by society.
Gothic Check : yesplzwitmoarsexplz


by ~barns
Grotesque - A headshot. Wooo. And it's of a person looking ready for some more everyday life.
Beauty - VERY attractive model. Very sultry facial expression. The eyes. Definately arouses some emotion in the viewer.
Gothic Check : lovingitplz


by my good friend *jennipenny
Grotesque - The sentiment of needing the perfect shape in order to be loved.
Beauty - The corset, the facial expression, and the empty space combine to make the viewer feel the same emotion as the model.
Gothic Check : marrymeplz and yesplzhxc


NOT Gothic :

MYSTEAKSPLZ :



GRATITUDE TIME : much thanks to Richard and Fiona for putting up with me, and for `sodalicious for singing "no, no, no".