Deus Ex Machina

[jazzy_dave]

Just finished watching the third and final part of The Art Of Gothic on BBC 4, in which we enter the fin de siècle and the early twentieth century with Bram Stoker's Dracula, and the foreboding of what was to come as the new century turned. Joseph Conrad's book "The Heart Of Darkness" is a microcosm of what the imperial west has done to Africa, and in particular the Congo, a book i am reading now.




The other side of the Gothic is the vampirish blood sucking spectre of Capitalism, sucking the lifeforce of the workers, and thus you can read Karl Marx's Das Kapital as a tale of Gothic horror. William Morris read the book, and was determined that his company should be run as a co-operative. Perhaps in the modern world we are all Gothic with our machines that look into the past, such as cinema, recordings,the telephone, the mobile and such like of people, artists , singers and performers now long dead constantly preserved in the flickering image or medium of sound.

The ghost in the machine, or deus ex machina. Perhaps when i leave this mortoil coil the net will still be full of my writings.

With that in mind, here is a Gothic tune of the dead and lamented Ian Curtis of Joy Division with Atmosphere.

Enjoy your nightmares!

Comments

[bleodswean.livejournal.com]

I really believe you're onto something chilling with the idea that we are Gothic with our "machines". Nicely stated.

And, of course, RIP Ian.

[davesmusictank.livejournal.com]

One of the things that i find extraordinary in Bram Stoker's book is the use of new technology that the tale is told by various protagonists. The typewriter, the phonograph and early photography which in their different ways leaves images or spirits of those who have used them or gave been captured and preserved by them.

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

*HUGS*

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

Atmosphere is a great name for that song. It is full of "atmosphere".

Thank you Bram. :)
Hugs, Jon

[kabuldur.livejournal.com]

A radio program came on last last night on this very subject but I could not justify staying up so late to listen to it. It sounded very interesting and started with the 'first' Gothic novel, The Castle of Ortranto, which is supposed to define what it means to be Gothic.

We covered all of this stuff at uni and the ghost in the machine is a very intriguing concept.

And absolutely beautiful music. One of my favourites!