Stenobird

Episode

Bonus 3: Antisemitism and the Gothic

Podcast
Re: Dracula
Published
Nov 10, 2024
Duration seconds
2468
Processing state
processed
Canonical source
https://redracula.live/
Audio
https://pscrb.fm/rss/p/afp-898815-injected.calisto.simplecastaudio.com/1d554b02-9703-458b-8212-9f2c5e83462d/episodes/2dc6be9b-45e7-4141-9cf4-227aac69f1b3/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=1d554b02-9703-458b-8212-9f2c5e83462d&awEpisodeId=2dc6be9b-45e7-4141-9cf4-227aac69f1b3&feed=MrfL0mVE
JSON
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Markdown
/podcast/re-dracula-6265099/bonus-3-antisemitism-and-the-gothic.md

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Summary

Dr. Mary Going explores how the Gothic genre utilizes antisemitic tropes and historical prejudices to construct its monsters. The discussion traces the evolution of these motifs from Victorian literature to contemporary horror cinema.

Topics

  • Gothic Literature
  • Antisemitism
  • Dracula
  • Horror Cinema
  • Literary Tropes
  • Historical Prejudice
  • Intergenerational Trauma
  • Vampire Mythology

Highlights

  • Main idea: The Gothic genre often relies on the 'othering' of marginalized groups to create tension and dread
  • Historical context: The Visigoth invasions and the concept of the 'barbarous' outsider shaped early Gothic aesthetics
  • Failure mode: Relying on recycled antisemitic myths, such as the 'wealthy outsider' or 'child stealer,' reinforces harmful real-world prejudices
  • Practical takeaway: Modern creators can subvert these tropes by using the vampire metaphor to explore intergenerational Holocaust trauma
  • Critical lens: Readers should actively critique historical texts by seeking out contemporary perspectives from the groups being stereotyped

Chapters

  1. 1:00 Introduction and Spoilers: A warning for first-time readers of Dracula regarding plot spoilers.
  2. 4:20 Defining the Gothic: An exploration of the Gothic aesthetic, focusing on the macabre, the supernatural, and the 'explained supernatural'.
  3. 7:30 Antisemitism in Dracula: Analyzing how the novel reflects the development of modern antisemitic prejudices and social hostility.
  4. 10:50 Tropes of the Other: Discussing the specific racist and antisemitic myths used to justify political actions within Gothic narratives.
  5. 14:10 The Monstrous Mythos: Examining the regurgitation of myths involving theft, disease, and physical foulness as markers of the monster.
  6. 17:30 Economic Tropes and Modern Parallels: Connecting historical tropes of Jewish wealth to contemporary conspiracy theories and economic scapegoating.
  7. 24:10 Evolving Perspectives on Power: How shifts in the understanding of wealth and power influence modern interpretations of Gothic themes.
  8. 27:30 Queer Readings and Possession: Analyzing the homoerotic undertones and themes of possession within the Dracula text.