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Southern Gothic

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951).

Southern Gothic is an artistic subgenre of fiction, music, film, theatre, and television that is heavily influenced by Gothic elements and set in the American South. Southern Gothic fiction highlights violence and cruelty as features of Southern culture, often through characters whose place in the social order exposes them to such treatment. Common motifs include racism, gender and sexual difference, poverty and disability. Where Gothic literature depicted the intrusion of the barbaric past into the Enlightenment, Southern Gothic depicts the persistence of social trauma in the reconstructed South. Some theories suggest the genre arose in reaction to romantic portrayals influenced by Lost Cause myths and the ideology of American exceptionalism.[1][page needed][2][page needed][3][page needed]

History

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Elements of a Gothic treatment of the South first appeared during the ante- and post-bellum 19th century in the grotesques of Henry Clay Lewis and in the sardonic representations of Mark Twain.[4] The genre was consolidated, however, in the 20th century, when dark romanticism, Southern humor, and the new literary naturalism merged in a new and powerful form of social critique.[4] The themes of the Southern Gothic genre serve to dismantle the romantic mythology surrounding the Antebellum South while commenting on the region's oft-suppressed dark history.[5][6] Like the original artistic term "Gothic", the term "Southern Gothic" was at first pejorative and dismissive. In 1935, Ellen Glasgow critiqued the writings of Erskine Caldwell, William Faulkner, and the "Southern Gothic School", stating that their work was filled with "aimless violence" and "fantastic nightmares". The connotation was at first so negative that Eudora Welty said: "They better not call me that!"[7]

The images of Great Depression photographer Walker Evans are seen to evoke the visual depiction of the Southern Gothic; Evans claimed: "I can understand why Southerners are haunted by their own landscape".[8] Another noted Southern Gothic photographer was surrealist Clarence John Laughlin, who photographed cemeteries, plantations, and other abandoned places throughout the American South (primarily Louisiana) for nearly 40 years.[9] A resurgence of Southern Gothic themes in contemporary fiction has been identified in the work of figures like Barry Hannah,[10] Joe R. Lansdale,[11] Helen Ellis, and Cherie Priest.[11]

Characteristics

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The Great Depression photography of Walker Evans has been described as Southern Gothic.[8]

The setting of these works is distinctly Southern. Southern Gothic media frequently explores themes of madness, decay and despair, continuing pressures of the past upon the present, particularly with the lost ideals of a dispossessed Southern aristocracy and continued racial hostilities.[7] Southern Gothic particularly focuses on the South's history of slavery, racism, fear of the outside world, violence, a "fixation with the grotesque, and a tension between realistic and supernatural elements".[7]

Southern Gothic often depicts fears of the past haunting the present through the lasting impacts of institutions such as slavery, racism, war, and widespread poverty in the region. It also often contains themes involving the deep religious roots of Southern culture as well as folk magic such as hoodoo and visual motifs involving old or abandoned places such as derelict houses, old cemeteries, and overgrown swamplands.[5]

Similar to the elements of the Gothic castle, Southern Gothic depicts the decay of the plantation in the post-Civil War South.[7] Villains who disguise themselves as innocents or victims are often found in Southern Gothic literature, especially stories by Flannery O'Connor, such as "Good Country People" and "The Life You Save May Be Your Own", giving the reader a blurred line between victim and villain.[7]

Southern Gothic media

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A number of films, television programs, and other works are also described as being part of the Southern Gothic genre. Some prominent examples are:

Films

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Television series

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Video games

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A screenshot of Kentucky Route Zero showcasing the Southern Gothic setting

Music

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Southern Gothic (also known as Gothic Americana, or Dark Country) is a genre of American music rooted in early jazz, gospel, Americana, gothic rock and post-punk.[92] Its lyrics often focus on dark subject matter. The genre shares thematic connections with the Southern Gothic genre of literature, and indeed the parameters of what makes something Gothic Americana appears to have more in common with literary genres than traditional musical ones. Songs often examine poverty, criminal behavior, religious imagery, death, ghosts, family, lost love, alcohol, murder, the devil, and betrayal.[93][94]

Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska (1982) was influenced by the writings of Flannery O'Connor.[95] Athens, Georgia–based alternative rock band R.E.M. displayed a Southern Gothic influence with their third album, Fables of the Reconstruction (1985).[96] J.D. Wilkes, frontman of the band Legendary Shack Shakers, described Southern Gothic music as "[taking] an angle that there's something grotesque and beautiful in the traditions of the South, the backdrop of Southern living."[97] Johnny Cash's American Recordings series, produced by Rick Rubin, a producer best known for working with hip-hop and heavy metal artists, was described as having a gothic country sound and image; amidst covers of songs by non-country artists such as Depeche Mode, Danzig and Nine Inch Nails, as well as traditional and World War II-era songs, Cash's album series lyrically derived from haunting, despaired themes such as death, and recurring religious themes in the form of dark gospel recordings.[98] Ethel Cain's music has been described as "Southern Gothic Pop."[99]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ Miller, Meredith (2015). "Southern Gothic". In Hughes, Williams; Punter, David; Smith, Andrew (eds.). The Encyclopedia of the Gothic.
  2. ↑ O'Gorman, Farrell (2013). "Rewriting American Borders". In Phillips, Jason (ed.). Storytelling, History, and the Postmodern South.
  3. ↑ Glasgow, Ellen (March 4, 1935). "Heroes and Monsters". The Saturday Review of Literature.
  4. 1 2 Flora, Joseph M.; Mackethan, Lucinda Hardwick, eds. (2002). The Companion to Southern Literature. LSU Press. pp. 313–16. ISBN 978-0807126929.
  5. 1 2 "An Introduction to Southern Gothic Literature". Paul Sawyier Public Library. Archived from the original on May 27, 2026. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  6. ↑ Walsh, Christopher (2013). ""Dark Legacy": Gothic Ruptures in Southern Literature". Critical Insights: Southern Gothic Literature. Salem Press. pp. 19–33. ISBN 978-1-4298-3823-8.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: periodical has ISBN (link)
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Marshall, Bridget (2013). Defining Southern Gothic. Critical Insights: Southern Gothic Literature: Salem Press. pp. 3–18. ISBN 978-1-4298-3823-8.
  8. 1 2 Merkel, Julia (2008). Writing against the Odds. p. 57.
  9. ↑ "Strange Light: The Photography of Clarence John Laughlin". High Museum of Art. Archived from the original on February 8, 2025. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  10. ↑ Merkel, Julia (2008). Writing against the Odds. p. 31.
  11. 1 2 Don D'Ammassa: The New Southern Gothic: Cherie Priest's Four and Twenty Blackbirds, Wings to the Kingdom, and Not Flesh Nor Feathers. In: Danel Olson (ed.): 21st-Century Gothic: Great Gothic Novels Since 2000. Scarecrow, 2010, ISBN 9780810877283, p. 171.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Wigley, Samuel (January 20, 2014). "10 great Southern Gothic films". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on December 10, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Cabellero, David (October 7, 2023). "10 Best Southern Gothic Movies, Ranked". Collider. Archived from the original on December 2, 2025. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Horsley, Karen. The American Southern Gothic on Screen. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781040784488. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  15. ↑ Moore, Roger (July 8, 2025). "Classic Film Review: Race in the Deep South of Faulkner and Clarence Brown — Intruder in the Dust (1949)". Movie Nation. Archived from the original on July 22, 2026. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  16. ↑ "The Long, Hot Summer". The Criterion Channel. The Criterion Collection. Archived from the original on July 30, 2026. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Pinkerton, Nick (May 8, 2019). "Southern Gothic". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on February 18, 2026. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
  18. ↑ Leach, Ashton (February 25, 2026). "The Fool Killer: Axes, Amnesia, and the End of Innocence". UWM Cinematheque. University of Wisconsin-Madison. Archived from the original on July 17, 2026. Retrieved July 16, 2026.
  19. 1 2 Oliver, James. "10 Southern Gothic films you need to watch". Reader's Digest. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Paterson, Jeremy. "15 Best Southern Gothic Movies: Examine The Culture & History of the American South". The Uncorked Librarian. Archived from the original on December 12, 2025. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  21. ↑ Scovell, Adam (July 27, 2022). "How masterly horror Deliverance set a controversial trend". BBC. Archived from the original on February 18, 2026. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  22. ↑ Axmaker, Sean (May 9, 2013). "The Gist (Lemora: A Child's Tale of the Supernatural)". Turner Classic Movies. Turner Classic Movies, Inc. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
  23. ↑ Atkinson, Michael. "Lolly-Madonna XXX". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Macon County Line - Review". CinemaOne. Archived from the original on July 13, 2026. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Slick, Ariel (May 23, 2023). "Top 10 Contemporary Southern Gothic Films". Deep South Magazine. Archived from the original on May 20, 2025. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  26. ↑ Gibron, Bill (May 19, 2010). "More than Just Gore The Macabre: Moral Compass of Lucio Fulci". PopMatters. Archived from the original on October 12, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  27. ↑ Gibron, Bill (October 15, 2007). "Lucio Fulci's The Beyond (1981)". PopMatters. Archived from the original on October 9, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  28. ↑ "20 Best Southern Gothic Movies". Taste of Cinema. December 17, 2014. Archived from the original on August 26, 2025. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  29. ↑ Ebert, Roger (December 12, 1986). "Crimes of the Heart". RogerEbert.com. Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  30. ↑ Gass, Zach (August 23, 2022). "10 horror movies set in the American South". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on June 5, 2025. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  31. ↑ Rainer, Peter (August 12, 1990). "MOVIE REVIEW : Another Walk on the Wild Side : David Lynch's 'Wild at Heart' is a startling conglomeration of road movie, musical, Southern Gothic, sitcom and sci-fi". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 3, 2026. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  32. ↑ Gleiberman, Owen (August 17, 1990). "Wild at Heart - Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 8, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  33. ↑ Lloyd, Christopher (March 20, 2023). "Reeling Backward: The Ballad of the Sad Café (1991)". Film Yap. Archived from the original on April 29, 2026. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  34. ↑ Rainer, Peter (August 28, 1992). "MOVIE REVIEW: Storyville: Southern-Fried Election Tale of Sex and Slime". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 21, 2025. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  35. ↑ Nuttycombe, Dave (October 24, 1997). "The Truth Is Right Here". Washington City Paper. Archived from the original on July 7, 2018. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
  36. ↑ Wilmington, Michael (November 5, 1993). "Flesh and Bone Has a Full-Bodied Flavor That is Marred by a Sappy Ending". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  37. ↑ "The Client". RogerEbert.com. July 20, 1994. Archived from the original on April 10, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  38. ↑ "Prisoners a captivating film noir". Hartford Courant. May 17, 1996. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  39. 1 2 3 Moore, Roger (August 24, 2013). "The Gothic South of Billy Bob Thornton". Movie Nation. Archived from the original on May 27, 2026. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  40. ↑ Holden, Stephen (September 24, 1997). "'100 Proof': Sullen Slice of Sullen Lives". The New York Times. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
  41. ↑ Zinn, Howard (October 26, 2000). "Lawn Dogs". Harvard Film Archive. Harvard University. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  42. ↑ Bradshaw, Peter (August 20, 1999). "Cookie's Fortune - Review". The Guardian. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  43. ↑ Gingold, Michael (December 20, 2000). "Review: The Gift (2000)". Fangoria. Archived from the original on July 8, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  44. ↑ "20 Best Southern Gothic Movies". A Taste of Cinema. December 17, 2014. Archived from the original on August 26, 2025. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  45. ↑ Morrison, James (February 13, 2002). "Bleak Ball". Indy Week. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  46. ↑ "Special Screening of The Accountant to headline 2025 Athens Film Festival with special guests Ray McKinnon and Eddie King". Georgia Entertainment. State of Georgia. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  47. ↑ McCarthy, Todd (January 21, 2004). "Chrystal". Variety. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  48. ↑ Dalton, Stephen (April 21, 2006). "Film choice". The Times. Archived from the original on January 6, 2026. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  49. ↑ Ide, Wendy (August 10, 2006). "Tideland". The Times. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  50. ↑ Kennedy, Lisa (March 1, 2007). ""Black Snake Moan" a wrong note?". The Denver Post. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  51. ↑ Taylor, Ella (July 29, 2010). "Get Low: Greeting Death with a Deadpan Smirk". National Public Radio. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
  52. ↑ Euan Kerr, Euan (February 5, 2010). "The Southern Gothic storytelling of That Evening Sun". Minnesota Public Radio News. Archived from the original on April 3, 2026. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  53. ↑ Bradshaw, Peter (November 3, 2011). "Straw Dogs – review". The Guardian. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  54. ↑ Jones, J.R. (July 3, 2012). "The haunting southern gothic Beasts of the Southern Wild". Chicago Reader. Archived from the original on August 27, 2025. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  55. ↑ Strout, Justin (August 28, 2012). "Lawless". Orlando Weekly. Archived from the original on June 20, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  56. ↑ Moore, Roger (April 22, 2013). "Movie Review: Mud, one of the best pictures of the still-new year". Movie Nation. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  57. ↑ Puig, Claudia (October 4, 2012). "Seamy Paperboy delivers swampy thrills". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 25, 2025. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  58. ↑ "Review: 'Jug Face' opts for more dread than gore". Los Angeles Times. August 8, 2013. Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  59. ↑ Collin, Robbie (June 26, 2014). "Cold in July Review: 'expert Southern Gothic'". The Telegraph. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  60. ↑ O'Malley, Sheila (November 7, 2014). "Jessabelle". Roger Ebert. Archived from the original on January 24, 2026. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  61. ↑ Ford, Kody (May 16, 2014). "FILM REVIEW: Little Accidents". Idle Class Magazine. Archived from the original on January 15, 2026. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  62. ↑ Hawkins, Taylor (April 10, 2017). "Jeff Nichols: The Savior of the South". Bright Wall / Dark Room. Archived from the original on July 21, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  63. ↑ "Tom Ford mines Texan roots for Southern Gothic styling of Nocturnal Animals". The Sydney Morning Herald. November 9, 2016. Archived from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved March 30, 2019.
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  67. ↑ Stubbs, Dan (February 23, 2021). "The Dark and the Wicked review: relentlessly bleak Southern gothic horror". NME. Archived from the original on December 23, 2025. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
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  70. ↑ Gavin, Ty (April 5, 2023). "Finger-Lickin' Good? The coding of queerness as cannibalism in Bones and All". Berkeley Beacon. Archived from the original on November 8, 2025. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  71. ↑ Shannon Miller, Liz (July 12, 2022). "Where the Crawdads Sing Review: A Lush, Lyrical, and Engrossing Southern Gothic Drama". Consequence. Archived from the original on July 21, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
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  78. 1 2 Davis, Linda A.B. (August 15, 2015). "Southern Perspective: Southern Gothic style surrounds us". Pensacola News Journal. Archived from the original on May 26, 2026. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
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  86. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Wiggs, Zackary (February 16, 2023). "9 Best Southern Gothic Settings In Video Games". TheGamer. Archived from the original on January 24, 2025. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
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