Scare or Dare - this Halloween, or visit Terror and Wonder at the British Library, London

Want to get into the mood this Halloween?

 

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.

 

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.