ABSTRACT
The Gothic has always been a vehicle for (veiled) queer representation, but, especially in independent publishing, it is currently being re-appropriated to tell queer stories in a more timely, overt way. This includes positive depictions of LGBTQIA+ characters and relationships, lighter moods and happy endings. The result is a new subset of Gothic narratives that can be described as ‘wholesome queer Gothic’, which transgresses and expands some of the foundational tenets and key characteristics of the Gothic, as shown in this case study of two recent examples, the novel Band Sinister (2018) and the video game Night Cascades (2022). The Gothic, consistently with its long-standing focus on transgression as a central element, seems to embrace even this transgression of its own rules; it is proving resilient enough to accommodate this queer seismic shift.
