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 and Fritz Lang.

It is thought that the term was coined by William Gibson in his story "The Gernsback Continuum":

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.

External links

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