Masters Thesis

Postmodern poetics of the gothic: repetition in gothic music as haunted empowerment

In my exploration of the Gothic genre—as poetry, community and practice—I analyze how Gothic musical compositions use repetition to haunt their readers. In doing so, I reveal the ways in which these texts and their audience use repeated encounters with pain—hauntings—as a means to access agency in everyday life. I argue that Gothic music’s characteristic preoccupation with painful affects and self-conscious production demonstrates to willing subjects the power possible in a haunted existence. I carry out my investigation in three parts: first, I put forth the aims of my investigation and outline the theoretical frameworks I use to accomplish said &-ns. The following chapters then focus on an analysis of two songs that exemplify the emotional extremes that Gothic music frequently uses to bring about Gothic agency.

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