Hell is a teenage girl: whiteness, shame, and gothic girlhoods in popular culture

Fitzpatrick, Krysta (2024) Hell is a teenage girl: whiteness, shame, and gothic girlhoods in popular culture. Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

Hell is a Teenage Girl: Whiteness, Shame, and Gothic Girlhoods in Popular Culture postulates the distinct existence of a Gothic subgenre, which it dubs the “Girlhood Gothic.” This particular branch of Gothic fiction is prevalent in contemporary visual media such as films and television series. It predominantly focuses on narratives that revolve around young white females who find themselves in situations fraught with danger and distress. However, it is critical to note that the afflictions experienced by these characters are not necessarily of their own making. The monograph goes on to delineate the foundational tropes, motifs, and narrative structures that are emblematic of the Girlhood Gothic tradition. It delineates how this subgenre diverges from other adolescent-oriented genres, most notably from the mainstream horror genre. The fundamental differentiator cited is the Girlhood Gothic's in-depth portrayal of youthful encounters with profound loss, a lack of agency or voice, narrative omissions, and pervasive feelings of uncertainty that are intrinsic to the adolescent condition. Further, the text conducts a rigorous analysis of how modern media – through a Gothic and grotesque lens – actively shape and contribute to the discursive construction of narratives surrounding the maturation and identity formation of white females. It incorporates elements such as the uncanny and the abject to deeply interrogate these coming-of-age stories. Moreover, the work provides an intellectual framework for understanding a conceptual 'triad of distress' within these narratives. This theoretical construct is pivotal to the text as it seeks to illuminate the intricate ways in which these stories can be unpacked from a feminist standpoint. The 'triad of distress' serves as an analytical tool to unravel and critique the representation of female adolescence, highlighting how these narratives often reflect broader societal issues related to gender, race, and identity. In its examination, the text also establishes connections between various pieces of media that previously had not been collectively analyzed within this context. By doing so, it invites readers to reconsider and reinterpret familiar films and television shows that feature the trope of the white, middle-class adolescent girl navigating a world laced with Gothic and grotesque elements, thus contributing to a nuanced understanding of this unique subgenre and its place within the landscape of popular culture.

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