Definition

A catchall term for various facets of the googie, Streamline Moderne and Art Deco architectural styles. Most similar to the googie or Populuxe style and sometimes synonymous with it, the name is primarily applied to images of science fiction -- it describes the typical mad scientist laboratory as seen in films like Bride of Frankenstein and Fritz Lang's Metropolis, as well as The Jetsons and, more recently, Dexter's Laboratory. Raygun Gothic's primary influences include the set designs of Kenneth Strickfaden and Fritz Lang. The Space Needle, built for Seattles Worlds Fair, 1962 Googie, also known as populuxe, is a form of architecture, originating from southern California in the late 1940s and continuing approximately into the mid-1960s. ... Marine Air Terminal, LaGuardia Airport, 1939 Streamline Moderne, sometimes referred to by either name alone, was a late branch of the Art Deco style. ... Asheville City Hall. ... They LAUGHED at my theories at the institute! Fools! Ill destroy them all! Caucasian, male, aging, crooked teeth, messy hair, lab coat, spectacles/goggles, dramatic posing — one popular stereotype of mad scientist. ... Bride of Frankenstein 1999 release DVD cover Bride of Frankenstein is a horror film released on April 22, 1935, a sequel to the 1931 film Frankenstein. ... Metropolis Metropolis is a very early science fiction film that was produced in Germany during the brief years of the Weimar Republic. ... The Jetsons - Clockwise: Rosie, George, Jane, Judy, Elroy, and Astro The Jetsons was an animated prime-time television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions from 1962 to 1963. ... Dexters Laboratory (Dexters Lab for short) is an American animated series created by Genndy Tartakovsky. ... Fritz Lang Friedrich Anton Christian Lang (December 5, 1890 - August 2, 1976) was an Austrian film director, screenwriter and occasional film producer, one of the best known emigrés from Germanys school of expressionism to work in Hollywood. ...

It is thought that the term was coined by William Gibson in his story "The Gernsback Continuum": There are a number of people who have been (or are) named William Gibson. ...

Cohen introduced us and explained that Dialta [a noted pop-art historian] was the prime mover behind the latest Barris-Watford project, an illustrated history of what she called "American Streamlined Modern." Cohen called it "raygun Gothic." Their working title was The Airstream Futuropolis: The Tomorrow That Never Was.

Links

• Etext of William Gibson's Burning Chrome (contains "The Gernsback Continuum")
• Young Frankenstein's Lab History (includes images of Strickfaden's original sets)