Want to get into the mood this Halloween?
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Image taken from the series ‘Whitby Goths’ by Martin Parr, Magnum photos/ Rocket Gallery, 2014 – courtesy British Library. |
You can put on scary make-up and costumes to
Scare or Dare
your friends and neighbours, or visit
Terror and Wonder: The Gothic Imagination
presently on until January 20 2015 at the
British Library , and explore Gothic culture’s roots in
British literature and celebrating 250 years since the publication of the first
Gothic novel.
Alongside the manuscripts of classic novels such as
Frankenstein, Dracula and Jane Eyre, the exhibition brings the dark and macabre
to life with artefacts, old and new.
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Film still of Elsa Lanchester and Boris Karloff in The Bride of Frankenstein, 1939 © Universal / The Kobal Collection. |
Highlights of the exhibition include a vampire slaying kit
and 18th and 19th century Gothic fashions, as well as one of Alexander
McQueen’s iconic catwalk creations shown below.
Also on display is a model of the Wallace and Gromit
Were-Rabbit, showing how Gothic literature has inspired varied and colourful
aspects of popular culture in exciting ways over centuries.
Celebrating how British writers have pioneered the genre,
Terror and Wonder takes the first Gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto by Horace
Walpole, and exhibits treasures from the Library’s collections to carry the
story forwards to the present day,
underpinning how Gothic fiction has evolved and influenced
film, fashion, music, art and the Goth subculture.
Lead curator of the exhibition, Tim Pye, says: “Gothic is
one the most popular and influential modes of literature and I’m delighted that
Terror and Wonder is celebrating its rich 250 year history. The exhibition features
an amazingly wide range of material, from stunningly beautiful medieval
artefacts to vinyl records from the early Goth music scene, so there is truly
something for everyone”.
Coinciding with the exhibition is a brand new
series of photographs of the Whitby Goth Weekend by the award-winning
photographer Martin Parr. Commissioned specially for this exhibition, the
photographs take a candid look at the biannual event, which takes place in the
town famously featured in Dracula, capturing its diversity and energy.
It seems many Brits today are embracing this unique American
tradition more than ever before, according to new research from Mintel, which
reveals that retail sales of Halloween products reached £230 million in 2013
and are expected to grow to around £240 million this year.
Indeed, the report reveals that the number of Brits spending on products or services for
Halloween rises from two-fifths in 2013 to as many as three fifths (58%) of 16-24's and over half (55%)
of those aged 25-34.
Furthermore, British
parents who on Halloween night are the most likely to have a fright as three in
five (60%) bought products or services* for Halloween in 2013, rising to 73% of
Brits with children aged 6 to 12. Whilst two in five (40%) parents bought trick
or treat confectionery, one in four (25%) bought fancy dress. However it seems
that it is not only parents who are getting into the spirit of Halloween as
more than one in four (28%) Brits bought trick-or-treat confectionery in 2013
and one in seven (14%) bought fancy dress. In addition, one in ten (10%) bought
decorations, 9% bought special food or drink to have at home and 8% went out to
a party or event.
John Mercer, Senior European Retail Analyst at Mintel, said:
“Halloween is firmly established on the retail calendar and
continues to grow in importance, but it is an event marked by frugal shopping
from consumers: average spend is low and confectionery is by far the most
popular category to spend on.
“For stores, the gains go beyond a bite of the £240 million
market: Halloween-themed ranges, merchandising and in-store events can have a
“Santa’s grotto” effect, providing shoppers with reasons to visit stores,
driving footfall and encouraging impulse purchases.” John continues.
In addition, the UK food and drink sector seems to be
tapping into the spooky season as the number of food and drink products
launched with a mention of Halloween grew 263% between 2009 and 2013. Looking
beyond the UK, it seems that the season’s excitement is also spreading, with
the number of food and drink products launched globally referencing the event
growing by 194% in the five year period to 2013.
Chris Brockman, Research Manager, Food & Drink EMEA at
Mintel, said:
“It appears that Halloween has evolved from being a largely
child-focused holiday with a focus on trick-or-treating. Adults have now
adopted it as a fully-fledged excuse to throw parties and dress up in ghoulish
outfits.”
*NB: Halloween products include themed trick or treat
confectionery, fancy dress, decorations, toys and games, special food or drink
to have at home (eg party food) and fireworks.Halloween services include hosting or going out to a party,
event or night out.Mintel's Seasonal Shopping UK 2014 report is available to
purchase.