EN
The article aims to depict the phenomenon of cultural changes at the turn of the 18th and 19th century. Gothicism characterized by that time is widely considered as a herald of Romanticism. However, the article approaches Gothicism as a decadent form of Classicism. The reason behind the appearance of Gothicism was in fact Enlightenment paradigms having become inefficient, and more precisely – as discussed in the article: - the end of seeking security in nature, - the end of trust in human mind, - the change of the position of women in society, - the change in perception of literature. The conclusion of the article links the first appearances of Gothicism with the later development of pop culture.