The gothic and the maritime both stand as genres in their own right. Yet, like two streams meeting the tide at the same estuary, the characterising elements of both are drawn together, overlapping and merging and then parting again, each holding elements of the other. The product is something more nuanced than its parent genres; a creature more fluid, and less easy to pin down.
In the works that anchor themselves in the realm of Seaside Gothic we find pieces of introspection, isolation, and exploration of the unknown. Something that is not quite human, but undeniably significant; something that is unstable and threatened, yet strong. This is the first in a series of articles in which I will explore the different threads that make up the Seaside Gothic aesthetic; the elements that come together to give form to this obscure genre. This piece addresses voice.
Issue 5
COLD WAVE
Elle Brown is a writer from Newcastle with a master’s degree in Medieval Literature. Her poetry has been featured in The Projectionist’s Playground, The Cannon’s Mouth, Foxtrot Uniform, and Runcible Spoon. She also has a series of online nonfiction articles published with Society19.