Gothic Western (sometimes referred to as Western Gothic and Gothic prairie) is a subculture, artistically similar to Southern Gothic, but blends goth and Western lifestyles that are notably visible in fashion, music, film and literature.
History
The
post-war consciousness 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 to
relativism, survives in the shadows of the idealized
American Dream.
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 Cash introduced the "Man in Black",
"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."
Larry Vincent, a horror host named
Sinister Seymour, established Knott's Halloween Haunt in 1973, one of the first Halloween related events on a large scale, blending Gothic and Western aesthetics at Calico ghost town, and providing a first venue for the growing subculture.
Literature
In literature,
- the stereotype of the heroic cowboy gives way to a more complex
antihero who has experienced trauma or is overcoming personal tragedy, and often associated to the darker side of
Weird West monsters and villainy.
-
-
- The novel
by Richard Brautigan was one of the first to incorporate the term in its title,
while
Blood Meridian by
Cormac McCarthy[ and The Dark Tower by Stephen King are also popular examples of the genre. The young adult series, The Goodbye Family by Lorin Morgan-Richards, has been considered Gothic Western with an element of humor.]
Music
The mixture of Gothic music and Western music has brooding and dark motifs interwoven into cowboy culture while incorporating themes of death, occult and superstition.
Film and television
Filmmaker John Carpenter spoke of the unique quality of the genre, noting it is not the same as a Western horror.
Gaming
Several games have been promoted as Gothic Western, including Darkwatch, West of Dead, , and Evil West.
Fashion
Gothic Western fashion is a mix of Western wear with goth or Victorian era mourning attire, incorporating black and leather elements.
