Midwest Gothic

This article is part of a series on Regional Gothic

Midwest Gothic is an aesthetic characterized by the portrayal of common facets of the Midwestern American lifestyle in a macabre light. Like many other Regional Gothic aesthetics, it originated and rose to popularity in the mid 2010s on Tumblr. Common themes found in Midwest Gothic works include the indifferent and mysterious qualities of nature, references to local folklore, exaggerations of Midwestern traditions, and a sense of isolation and disconnection, as well as poor weather and depressing lives. The aesthetic is often linked to cottagecore and liminal spaces.

Media[]

Literature[]

Like its predecessor, Southern Gothic, Midwest Gothic flourishes mainly in literary works. Although most self-described literature in the genre is microfiction on Tumblr, there exists a significant body of literature by established authors that falls into the classification. Some authors known for their Midwest Gothic work include:

Scott Thomas
Donald Ray Pollack
Lauren Beukes
Thomas Ligotti
C.M. Muller

More specific stories by authors that more often write outside the genre include:

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark series by Alvin Schwartz
After and Before the Lightning by Simon Ortiz
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Bonechiller by Graham McNamee
The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel

A publication worth mentioning in this category is the Midwestern Gothic literary journal, which, though sadly out of print, collected Midwest based fiction, poetry, and nonfiction from various authors.

Films[]

Midwest Gothic can also be found represented in various high-profile films. As many of the tropes of Midwest Gothic can easily be transferred to the cinematic realm, several works have been described as being a part of the genre. These include: