Gothic

This category encompasses aesthetics that draw their primary inspiration from the broader Gothic movement, particularly its expressions in historical Gothic architecture and the later Gothic literature.

Gothic architecture, which originated in the High Middle Ages, with roots in 12th-century France, is characterized by its distinctive features such as pointed arches, ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, and large stained glass windows, often evoking a sense of grandeur, the sublime, and the medieval. Meanwhile, Gothic literature, which began in the late 18th century with works like Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto, explores themes of the dark, macabre, supernatural, decay, and often features settings such as ancient castles, haunted landscapes, and oppressive atmospheres.

Additionally, the Regional Gothic internet aesthetic, which gained traction on Tumblr in the mid-2010s, explores eerie and unsettling moments rooted in specific regional environments and seemingly ordinary life experiences. Visually, it often features photography of towns, landscapes, and people with eerie overlays or atmospheric weather, emphasizing architecture and the collective atmosphere of a place.

Important Note: For aesthetics and subcultures directly related to the Goth subculture that originated in the 1980s (influenced by Gothic rock music), please see the Goth category.