Gothic definitions (was Re: [xml-dev] Re: Markup, an abstraction)

["Simon St.Laurent" <simonstl@simonstl.com>]

On 8/29/13 10:48 AM, Peter Hunsberger wrote:
> Well I believe those two time periods overlapped? Either way it seems
> the existence of a renaissance Goth should be possible.  However, trying
> to reconcile that with the modern co-opting of the term Goth makes my
> head hurt, so I won't insist on you adopting the moniker...

The word has too many meanings.  There's a roughly continuous thread of 
attractive with/because of a dose of the repulsive, but it's hard to pin 
down.

A good place to start is:

<http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/product/9780199586790.do>

My usage fits in his Chapter 10, "The Gothic Dream", but I get a strong 
sense that Nick Groom (the author) has the least sympathy for that use. 
  In Ruskin's use, there's a sharp contrast with the Renaissance and its 
idealization of classical models.

 From a different (Japanese) cultural background, but with intriguing 
parallels, take a look at Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets, & 
Philosophers:

<http://www.leonardkoren.com/lkwa.html>
<http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42190.Wabi_Sabi>

Yes, the author of that also ran _WET: The Magazine of Gourmet Bathing_, 
but there's still a lot there worth contemplating.

Sorry to mix "gourmet bathing" with "Markup, an abstraction".

Thanks,
-- 
Simon St.Laurent
http://simonstl.com/