Goth in TKM(a look at motifs and themes)

This is clearly not a picture of Scout Finch,

however, considering modern goth is related to rebellion, then it could be!!

Goth Slide Show Elements:

• This slideshow will cover the following subtopics as they relate to “Goth”:1. History of Goth2. Goth as “Boundary Breaking”3. Goth in Literature and Lore4. Goth in Art and Architecture5. Goth in Modern times6. Goth FYI7. Goth in TKM

Goth History, Part 1-The TribesOrginal Goths – Fierce Germanic soldiers

• The original “goths” were eastern Germanic tribes, the Visagoths, who eventually help defeat the Roman Empire by 400 a.d.

• The Goth warriors were known as crude and barbaric.

Map of Götaland Sweden, thought to be origin of Goth tribes

Goth Part 2 – The Word becomes meaning

• The Goth soldiers had such a feared reputation that years after the Goth armies were gone, the word becomes associated with the breaking of boundaries and fierceness. Goth becomes mysticized.

Goth Part 3 – Literature and Lore

• Goth then is incorporated in medieval times with connections to dragons, forces of darkness, the unknown, wizards, witches, and warlocks.

Goth Part 4 - Art and Architecture

• Goth next becomes incorporated into sculpture, paintings, and architecture. Gothic elements including high, vertical, vaunting spires into the sky, gargoyle statues (cathedrals, castles) and buildings that seem to lead up into the unknown.

Goth Part 5 – Modern interpretations

• Goth then enters the modern age with connections to modern literature/film and include an emphasis of the grotesque, mysterious, desolation, ghosts, vampires, haunted houses, sinister murders, prisons, dungeons and boundaries which characters try to break through, witches, aliens, those unlike ourselves.

Goth Part 5 continued – Modern Goth

Goth in Literature - Americana• An American Gothic

literarary example would be Washington Irving’s, “Legend of Sleepy Hollow”

Sleepy Hollow

Goth Part 5 still – Goth Fashion

• More recently, the popular culture/fashion industry has adopted the “Goth look” including dark eye shadow, black clothing, black velvet, lace, fishnets, leather tinged with purple, gloves, stilettos, and sharp silver and black jewelry depicting religions and occult.

Goth 6 – Additional Gothic connections

• Additional characteristics of Goth include a cold, wet, uninviting climate (such as in New England, Northern Europe),

• Punk music in the late 70’s and 80’s has gothic roots

• Today, the “Goth Culture” refers to those who reject what is considered to be “normal society”.

Goth 6 continued – Goth in film

• Current or recent films with Goth elements include, Terminator 2, Bladerunner, Batman, Star Wars, Blade series, The Matrix, and Twelve Monkeys-in which a dark vision of a futuristic world is prevalent. Visions of dominating machines taking over the world, dark buildings, scary figures are a big draw at the theatres.

Goth Part 7 - TKM

Boundary Breaking in Maycomb:• Boundary breaking (revolting, trying

to break through an established boundary) includes 3 main types:– Spatial boundaries – The kids repeatedly try

to break through the boundary keeping the Radley house and Boo secretive, as when they retrieve items in the tree and try to communicate with Boo.

– Racial boundaries – Atticus taking on the Tom Robinson case is a clear violation of this well entrenched Maycomb boundary. Dolphus Raymond is a later character who also breaks this barrier.

– Gender boundary-Scout is constantly bucking the confining “proper southern belle” stereotype-she’d rather run around in jeans, get dirty, and fight.

– SCIENCE CONNECTION: ???

Sound - Ultimate Barrier Breaking

Goth as “Motif” – Part 7 continued

Motif - • Motifs are literary devices

which are used to help create themes. Motifs are elements which repeat and reoccur in a novel, helping to establish certain themes.

• There are 4 major motifs in TKM: Moral Voice, Small Town Life, Coexistence of good/evil, and Gothic Details

Gothic Motif = what theme?• Boo Radley is described as a

phantom (Gothic Character)• The Radley house is believed

to be haunted (Gothic Setting)• What themes are created by

the repeated mentioning of these gothic elements??

• Hint – would Dill care about the Radley house or Boo if they were “normal”??

Goth Part 7 - TKM

Additional Gothic elements:• Miss Maudie’s house fire and the

freakish snowstorm (Gothic climate)• The mad dog (Tim Johnson)-crazed

and violent, way out of the ordinary in sleepy Maycomb,

• Boo Radley-who is he? What does he look like? Considered a “freak”-most of that is know about him is based in myth-he kills and eats pets, peeks into peoples’ windows at night (Gothic character)

• Radley House-dilapidated, creepy, dark, ramshackled, “haunted house”(Gothic setting)

Gothic Dwelling

Goth Today

Modern Goth• Today’s Goth profess to be

tolerant of all peoples and totally accepting of differences.

• Goth could just be a phase of searching for self, or it could be a chosen life style

Goth: Fashion and identity

Goth - Many of us today in ELA class!- As Atticus says to Scout:

“Step into someone else’s skin and see things from their perspective”