https://mla.hcommons.org/members/derekjohnston/activity/ Activity feed for Derek Johnston. Sat, 04 Apr 2026 10:04:46 -0400 https://buddypress.org/?v=10.6.0 en-US 30 hourly 2 6ecaa2e2a27c406ac49949ec69d72228 https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1943111/ Wed, 04 Feb 2026 16:56:59 -0500 0 1cf3f7242a45f7b922721cd333e0fc6a https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1920357/ Thu, 19 Jun 2025 14:39:28 -0400 0 1e72da4149a20c2c8d4628bdbd79385a https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1906679/ Wed, 11 Dec 2024 13:23:39 -0500 0 427b710ec379b8931a17a2325871fb2c https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1901427/ Sat, 12 Oct 2024 03:01:54 -0400 Black Sails (2014-2017) presented a prequel to Treasure Island mixed with real historical characters and events in a story of resistance against imperialist capitalism. The pirates were cast as rebels against a dominant system in which wealth is directed to those in charge, while those who work for it are left with little. The series dramatises…[Read more]

]]> 0 2f6b77585a057f0d9dcec58180d32a54 https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1901426/ Sat, 12 Oct 2024 03:01:41 -0400 Black Sails (2014-2017) presented a prequel to Treasure Island mixed with real historical characters and events in a story of resistance against imperialist capitalism. The pirates were cast as rebels against a dominant system in which wealth is directed to those in charge, while those who work for it are left with little. The series dramatises…[Read more]

]]> 0 902e7fffaa21ee7780d0f8e82f5a3b7f https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1901377/ Fri, 11 Oct 2024 08:07:12 -0400 Black Sails (2014-2017) presented a prequel to Treasure Island mixed with real historical characters and events in a story of resistance against imperialist capitalism. The pirates were cast as rebels against a dominant system in which wealth is directed to those in charge, while those who work for it are left with little. The series dramatises…[Read more]

]]> 0 582b7a4f75ad881c1b47b7a50dcb9d5c https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1888412/ Wed, 05 Jun 2024 03:01:47 -0400 This paper is part of a developing project on Gothic historical television dramas: fictions set in the past that use a Gothic mode to emphasise not just historical traumas but the persistence of those traumas to the present day. Stephen Knight’s work shows repeated concern with the traumas of exploitative capitalism, particularly on masculinity, a…[Read more]

]]> 0 e0064479a9e1ad597bf043d7b05b1373 https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1888411/ Wed, 05 Jun 2024 03:01:45 -0400 This paper is part of a developing project on Gothic historical television dramas: fictions set in the past that use a Gothic mode to emphasise not just historical traumas but the persistence of those traumas to the present day. Stephen Knight’s work shows repeated concern with the traumas of exploitative capitalism, particularly on masculinity, a…[Read more]

]]> 0 b0c7b18f87db7f565849ec6a177a943f https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1888410/ Wed, 05 Jun 2024 03:01:30 -0400 This paper is part of a developing project on Gothic historical television dramas: fictions set in the past that use a Gothic mode to emphasise not just historical traumas but the persistence of those traumas to the present day. Stephen Knight’s work shows repeated concern with the traumas of exploitative capitalism, particularly on masculinity, a…[Read more]

]]> 0 f02c893699b2e96712cebb2a038ffe2b https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1888104/ Tue, 04 Jun 2024 16:01:07 -0400 This paper is part of a developing project on Gothic historical television dramas: fictions set in the past that use a Gothic mode to emphasise not just historical traumas but the persistence of those traumas to the present day. Stephen Knight’s work shows repeated concern with the traumas of exploitative capitalism, particularly on masculinity, a…[Read more]

]]> 0 1348de2ac4d0341443bcd3261a23e148 https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1885899/ Sat, 11 May 2024 03:02:22 -0400 This paper examines the various adaptation frameworks operating in Stephen Knight’s television adaptations of Dickens for the BBC: A Christmas Carol (2019) and Great Expectations (2023) as part of a larger project focused on how employing a Gothic mode in historical drama encourages considerations of the past as a place of trauma that is still…[Read more]

]]> 0 46136d4ecc30f2837cfbc59234364cfc https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1885898/ Sat, 11 May 2024 03:02:20 -0400 This paper examines the various adaptation frameworks operating in Stephen Knight’s television adaptations of Dickens for the BBC: A Christmas Carol (2019) and Great Expectations (2023) as part of a larger project focused on how employing a Gothic mode in historical drama encourages considerations of the past as a place of trauma that is still…[Read more]

]]> 0 e6659346fa483db426f1ddbbb266fb34 https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1885897/ Sat, 11 May 2024 03:02:03 -0400 This paper examines the various adaptation frameworks operating in Stephen Knight’s television adaptations of Dickens for the BBC: A Christmas Carol (2019) and Great Expectations (2023) as part of a larger project focused on how employing a Gothic mode in historical drama encourages considerations of the past as a place of trauma that is still…[Read more]

]]> 0 74c28463e60e22fd07952efc52b169d2 https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1885819/ Fri, 10 May 2024 08:44:44 -0400 This paper examines the various adaptation frameworks operating in Stephen Knight’s television adaptations of Dickens for the BBC: A Christmas Carol (2019) and Great Expectations (2023) as part of a larger project focused on how employing a Gothic mode in historical drama encourages considerations of the past as a place of trauma that is still…[Read more]

]]> 0 0f04ca472586ac378412590201048eaf https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1878830/ Thu, 07 Mar 2024 03:00:31 -0500 This paper continues the early development of my current project into Gothic Historical Television Dramas, that is television dramas with a historical setting presented through a Gothic mode to emphasise their focus on traumas that are not only historic but which also relate to current issues. Here I am starting to consider the idea of the…[Read more]

]]> 0 43c8671992088cf75aa354596c62ae3d https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1878829/ Thu, 07 Mar 2024 03:00:29 -0500 This paper continues the early development of my current project into Gothic Historical Television Dramas, that is television dramas with a historical setting presented through a Gothic mode to emphasise their focus on traumas that are not only historic but which also relate to current issues. Here I am starting to consider the idea of the…[Read more]

]]> 0 867ca91a83b364cf05a2f703ef785677 https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1878828/ Thu, 07 Mar 2024 03:00:21 -0500 This paper continues the early development of my current project into Gothic Historical Television Dramas, that is television dramas with a historical setting presented through a Gothic mode to emphasise their focus on traumas that are not only historic but which also relate to current issues. Here I am starting to consider the idea of the…[Read more]

]]> 0 d6732cdb9a174f1689e0aa27f0ee48d1 https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1878827/ Thu, 07 Mar 2024 03:00:04 -0500 This paper continues the early development of my current project into Gothic Historical Television Dramas, that is television dramas with a historical setting presented through a Gothic mode to emphasise their focus on traumas that are not only historic but which also relate to current issues. Here I am starting to consider the idea of the…[Read more]

]]> 0 1fafb502e9527f378c89e453f6dce1b6 https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1878706/ Wed, 06 Mar 2024 11:21:25 -0500 This paper continues the early development of my current project into Gothic Historical Television Dramas, that is television dramas with a historical setting presented through a Gothic mode to emphasise their focus on traumas that are not only historic but which also relate to current issues. Here I am starting to consider the idea of the…[Read more]

]]> 0 d0e51222636c99088053ead1ce5fc504 https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1864488/ Tue, 14 Nov 2023 03:00:30 -0500 This paper presents some of the ideas central to my current developing research into the modes of historical television drama, particularly the Gothic mode. In focusing on the 2018 television adaptation of Picnic at Hanging Rock, the paper illustrates the idea of the Gothic mode in operation, considering its relationship to notions of historical…[Read more]

]]> 0 876639e43dba5a5b181bfdc43b2dacfa https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1864487/ Tue, 14 Nov 2023 03:00:28 -0500 This paper presents some of the ideas central to my current developing research into the modes of historical television drama, particularly the Gothic mode. In focusing on the 2018 television adaptation of Picnic at Hanging Rock, the paper illustrates the idea of the Gothic mode in operation, considering its relationship to notions of historical…[Read more]

]]> 0 c3339b996898a60b30adbe46e24666d5 https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1864486/ Tue, 14 Nov 2023 03:00:20 -0500 This paper presents some of the ideas central to my current developing research into the modes of historical television drama, particularly the Gothic mode. In focusing on the 2018 television adaptation of Picnic at Hanging Rock, the paper illustrates the idea of the Gothic mode in operation, considering its relationship to notions of historical…[Read more]

]]> 0 b52f1629ddbaf0d3e1c1d0603c6420e2 https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1864485/ Tue, 14 Nov 2023 03:00:02 -0500 This paper presents some of the ideas central to my current developing research into the modes of historical television drama, particularly the Gothic mode. In focusing on the 2018 television adaptation of Picnic at Hanging Rock, the paper illustrates the idea of the Gothic mode in operation, considering its relationship to notions of historical…[Read more]

]]> 0 7ca957399361124ca3f266da8dc2c421 https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1864399/ Mon, 13 Nov 2023 11:22:58 -0500 This paper presents some of the ideas central to my current developing research into the modes of historical television drama, particularly the Gothic mode. In focusing on the 2018 television adaptation of Picnic at Hanging Rock, the paper illustrates the idea of the Gothic mode in operation, considering its relationship to notions of historical…[Read more]

]]> 0 eb2278e9ccc865c343968e6763aa7b01 https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1860293/ Sun, 01 Oct 2023 16:38:37 -0400 0 943d4e39a319f6b79e677411605de315 https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1860267/ Sun, 01 Oct 2023 03:01:17 -0400 This paper examines the use of the Gothic mode in historical television drama to suggest it is used to emphasise engagement with historical traumas, and suggest that these traumas still have relevance today. This emphasis works by engaging with the associations that are acquired around the Gothic mode through experience, recognising the aesthetic…[Read more]

]]> 0 a4fffcb8b7318897d97fde24103dcd9c https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1860266/ Sun, 01 Oct 2023 03:01:15 -0400 This paper examines the use of the Gothic mode in historical television drama to suggest it is used to emphasise engagement with historical traumas, and suggest that these traumas still have relevance today. This emphasis works by engaging with the associations that are acquired around the Gothic mode through experience, recognising the aesthetic…[Read more]

]]> 0 dc43cdec8a059b4ec595a2e806ad2eae https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1860265/ Sun, 01 Oct 2023 03:01:02 -0400 This paper examines the use of the Gothic mode in historical television drama to suggest it is used to emphasise engagement with historical traumas, and suggest that these traumas still have relevance today. This emphasis works by engaging with the associations that are acquired around the Gothic mode through experience, recognising the aesthetic…[Read more]

]]> 0 43d9100d3856993f981b78f04e42e813 https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1860241/ Sat, 30 Sep 2023 15:20:16 -0400 This paper examines the use of the Gothic mode in historical television drama to suggest it is used to emphasise engagement with historical traumas, and suggest that these traumas still have relevance today. This emphasis works by engaging with the associations that are acquired around the Gothic mode through experience, recognising the aesthetic…[Read more]

]]> 0 c0b426eedfc4d3405b8649482ccec8fc https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1854223/ Tue, 08 Aug 2023 10:12:48 -0400 0 258c16305ce7bc7032254f7a734cf752 https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1852679/ Tue, 25 Jul 2023 02:24:26 -0400 This paper proposes that there are a number of historical television dramas which make use of the aesthetics of the Gothic in order to signal their focus on historical traumas which still have contemporary resonance. This is part of a wider use of a Gothic mode in these dramas in presenting and considering these traumas, not just as the individual…[Read more]

]]> 0 14707c6ac44f729bc8421a3e071a31ad https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1852678/ Tue, 25 Jul 2023 02:24:15 -0400 This paper proposes that there are a number of historical television dramas which make use of the aesthetics of the Gothic in order to signal their focus on historical traumas which still have contemporary resonance. This is part of a wider use of a Gothic mode in these dramas in presenting and considering these traumas, not just as the individual…[Read more]

]]> 0 c7b0f0a24d8b3936a9e778cc893e2460 https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1852677/ Tue, 25 Jul 2023 02:24:11 -0400 Television historical dramas take on a number of different modes, which inflect how they are interpreted. The Gothic mode, signalled in part by aesthetics and a focus on trauma, encourages audiences to engage with the past as a place of horror and darkness. Through intentional anachronism and the presentation of contemporary parallels, these…[Read more]

]]> 0 00df225b24b30cc39ad88eaee3f2bc0a https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1852676/ Tue, 25 Jul 2023 02:23:42 -0400 Television historical dramas take on a number of different modes, which inflect how they are interpreted. The Gothic mode, signalled in part by aesthetics and a focus on trauma, encourages audiences to engage with the past as a place of horror and darkness. Through intentional anachronism and the presentation of contemporary parallels, these…[Read more]

]]> 0 8e5b1b77aec7fa24c3680fde1f5f17e4 https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1852587/ Mon, 24 Jul 2023 08:48:07 -0400 This paper proposes that there are a number of historical television dramas which make use of the aesthetics of the Gothic in order to signal their focus on historical traumas which still have contemporary resonance. This is part of a wider use of a Gothic mode in these dramas in presenting and considering these traumas, not just as the individual…[Read more]

]]> 0 660990cc9165af4e83d27af14ae73aef https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1852586/ Mon, 24 Jul 2023 08:36:51 -0400 Television historical dramas take on a number of different modes, which inflect how they are interpreted. The Gothic mode, signalled in part by aesthetics and a focus on trauma, encourages audiences to engage with the past as a place of horror and darkness. Through intentional anachronism and the presentation of contemporary parallels, these…[Read more]

]]> 0 3eeba42d27efb39eebc7baaf86779efe https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1846007/ Sat, 13 May 2023 02:24:17 -0400 Guest lecture at the University of Warsaw From Queen Anne to Queen Victoria Reading Group, 11 May 2023.
Historical dramas can be presented in many different ways in film and television, with the mode in which the genre of historical drama is presented influencing how that drama is understood. Thus, the same events portrayed in a comic mode will…[Read more]

]]> 0 97fc208f44169409546ee015bb551fa8 https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1846006/ Sat, 13 May 2023 02:23:50 -0400 Guest lecture at the University of Warsaw From Queen Anne to Queen Victoria Reading Group, 11 May 2023.
Historical dramas can be presented in many different ways in film and television, with the mode in which the genre of historical drama is presented influencing how that drama is understood. Thus, the same events portrayed in a comic mode will…[Read more]

]]> 0 c93dab3857e83243e917576a13ec7ffd https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1845949/ Fri, 12 May 2023 08:13:21 -0400 Guest lecture at the University of Warsaw From Queen Anne to Queen Victoria Reading Group, 11 May 2023.
Historical dramas can be presented in many different ways in film and television, with the mode in which the genre of historical drama is presented influencing how that drama is understood. Thus, the same events portrayed in a comic mode will…[Read more]

]]> 0 c9a1c199ac289476645cb9a70bfac384 https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1831513/ Fri, 27 Jan 2023 02:24:25 -0500 This paper examines a strand in British television historical drama that presents what I term a “Gothicised” version of history. This actively engages with historical trauma as returning to confront its originating society, as the classic Gothic text represents the returning or ongoing effects of a traumatic past in the narrative present. In Peaky…[Read more]

]]> 0 52e6f6be6ff347b82fbf3d9d29e1d9a0 https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1831512/ Fri, 27 Jan 2023 02:24:24 -0500 This paper examines a strand in British television historical drama that presents what I term a “Gothicised” version of history. This actively engages with historical trauma as returning to confront its originating society, as the classic Gothic text represents the returning or ongoing effects of a traumatic past in the narrative present. In Peaky…[Read more]

]]> 0 a3cd241e0c5c2bc560b5fee807718c1f https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1831511/ Fri, 27 Jan 2023 02:24:13 -0500 This paper examines a strand in British television historical drama that presents what I term a “Gothicised” version of history. This actively engages with historical trauma as returning to confront its originating society, as the classic Gothic text represents the returning or ongoing effects of a traumatic past in the narrative present. In Peaky…[Read more]

]]> 0 b487805d9b760f32ed1f7232113f667b https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1831510/ Fri, 27 Jan 2023 02:24:10 -0500 This paper considers the 2018 television adaptation of Picnic at Hanging Rock as an example of Gothicised historical television drama, which uses the Gothic mode to present a past in a way that challenges our expectations of what prestige historical drama should be like, and to emphasise historical traumas and the way that they are still relevant…[Read more]

]]> 0 602d54021a9a4b115708b42d99e80bb8 https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1831509/ Fri, 27 Jan 2023 02:24:07 -0500 This paper considers the 2018 television adaptation of Picnic at Hanging Rock as an example of Gothicised historical television drama, which uses the Gothic mode to present a past in a way that challenges our expectations of what prestige historical drama should be like, and to emphasise historical traumas and the way that they are still relevant…[Read more]

]]> 0 0f8eaabfafb0356a09c53add13c5c16b https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1831508/ Fri, 27 Jan 2023 02:23:39 -0500 This paper considers the 2018 television adaptation of Picnic at Hanging Rock as an example of Gothicised historical television drama, which uses the Gothic mode to present a past in a way that challenges our expectations of what prestige historical drama should be like, and to emphasise historical traumas and the way that they are still relevant…[Read more]

]]> 0 c0dfde747bcfd23b6834e6ff7aec754f https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1831416/ Thu, 26 Jan 2023 09:58:10 -0500 This paper examines a strand in British television historical drama that presents what I term a “Gothicised” version of history. This actively engages with historical trauma as returning to confront its originating society, as the classic Gothic text represents the returning or ongoing effects of a traumatic past in the narrative present. In Peaky…[Read more]

]]> 0 5b11a2576ab69c3d204e75df8dedba0c https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1831415/ Thu, 26 Jan 2023 09:42:21 -0500 0 7917df2fd33a6ac5ca7b3f8f26f64709 https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1831414/ Thu, 26 Jan 2023 09:16:43 -0500 This paper considers the 2018 television adaptation of Picnic at Hanging Rock as an example of Gothicised historical television drama, which uses the Gothic mode to present a past in a way that challenges our expectations of what prestige historical drama should be like, and to emphasise historical traumas and the way that they are still relevant…[Read more]

]]> 0 470a81403a79689d09c83bdc7e176b63 https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1827454/ Fri, 23 Dec 2022 02:24:18 -0500 Keynote paper.
This paper examines the connections between the winter season and Gothic historical television dramas. It defines Gothic historical television dramas as dramas with a historical setting that take on a Gothic aesthetic and emphasise themes of trauma which are active in the past and continue to be active in the present. It also…[Read more]

]]> 0 64cc331a49a5ff1915913e5b80cb2fd5 https://hcommons.org/activity/p/1827453/ Fri, 23 Dec 2022 02:24:15 -0500 Keynote paper.
This paper examines the connections between the winter season and Gothic historical television dramas. It defines Gothic historical television dramas as dramas with a historical setting that take on a Gothic aesthetic and emphasise themes of trauma which are active in the past and continue to be active in the present. It also…[Read more]

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