Is Gothic literature dead?

[GothicLover]

They are mainly edgy mysteries, thrillers, adventures. The few romances offered are usally filled with swear words, cell phones, traffic, stress, gays, lesbians, absurd situations, and/or weddings.

Gays and lesbians? Do we really want to go there? This is a personal topic, and throwing it into the list the way you did might be taken as inflammatory by some readers. How do you know there aren't gay or lesbian Gothic readers on this forum?

No intent to inflame anyone. Just pointing out that all of the things mentioned are not elements found in traditional gothic romance novels or old-fashioned romances.

Look at all the reality shows based on weddings, as if that is the only time in a woman's life that she will be allowed to be truly romantic. After that, it's back to the reality of everyday life, with its extreme stress, worries about fidelity, and fears about the future and bringing kids into this going-crazy world. Thus the extreme pressure to make that wedding day perfect.

There is nothing romantic about these ostentatious, vulgar, grotesque TV weddings where it all comes down to the dollar figure. Money = love. Such spectacles are the very opposite of romance; they are exhibitionistic displays of material fetishism. Where is the intimacy in such nonsense?

You are right in equating love with intimacy and equally astute in attributing the premise behind the ostentatious TV weddings as money = love. However, there are other wedding shows, such as "Say Yes to the Dress" where the bride and family get all teary eyed over how lovely and romantic the bride looks in her dress. I guess I was thinking more of the latter when I was talking about being allowed to look/feel romantic only on that special day.

A final word on the weasel word "escapism". Anything you read is escapism, whether it's Remembrance of Things Past or the latest Nora Roberts novel. Even non-fiction is a kind of escapism. I don't believe there is anything wrong with wanting to escape, at least for a little while, from the stress of reality.

I agree there is nothing wrong with escapism. Some people like to escape into fantasy/romance. Others like to escape into reading that will edify them in some way. Others like to escape into brain exercise, like trying to solve a mystery. Different strokes for different folks. Good point.
Thanks for your thoughtful responses to my post.