Decentring the Gothic: Fear, Supernaturalism, and Social Order in Indigenous Folklore

Abstract

This paper challenges the Eurocentric framing of the Gothic by examining its presence and function in indigenous oral traditions, with a focus on the Galo community of Arunachal Pradesh. By analysing narratives featuring supernatural entities such as the Yapom and Dimi, the study argues that Gothic sensibilities, fear, the grotesque, and encounters with the unknown exist independently of European print culture. In these oral traditions, supernatural phenomena serve as instruments of social and ecological regulation, reinforcing moral codes and maintaining cosmic balance. Through a comparative and theoretical lens, this paper demonstrates that fear and supernaturalism are central to communal governance, positioning indigenous folklore as a legitimate site of Gothic expression. By decentring the Gothic, the study expands its conceptual boundaries and foregrounds the universality of the Gothic impulse across cultures.