To start conceptualizing for my project, first I need to decide the main inspirations for my work. The first challenge is to decide on an united time period to set the setting in– since the project world is a fantasy world that takes place on the moon, we have more flexibility with mixing and matching time periods (but I’d still like them to look unified aesthetically together).
Old character designs of Lumiron cast often takes inspiration of the European Victorian era style fashion, so this gave me a basis for the rest of the project. I originally considered Gothic style architecture, but since it was situated in the medieval era, the time periods didn’t quite match up.
While researching I found out about a movement named the Gothic Revival movement, around the 18th-19th century which sees the start of the Victorian era as well. The historical reason for the comeuppance of gothic style in that era is actually quite interesting!
Gothic Revival is also known as Victorian Gothic or Neo-Gothic, although it should be noted that Neo-Gothic comes later around the 20th century
“The reasons that Neo-Gothic developed are complex, but essentially they were a reaction against the Enlightenment as part of the overall trend towards Romanticism. Where the Enlightenment celebrated Reason, science, and logic (and rejected the allegedly anti-science fervor of the Middle Ages), Romanticism rejected all of that and was much more mystical and otherworldly. Hence it hearkened back to an earlier age that supposedly upheld the same mystical ideas of the Romantics.”
– Josiah Greenbrier (2019)
https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-main-differences-between-Gothic-and-Neo-Gothic-cathedrals
this quote does come from quora so sources should be taken with a grain of salt
I find the idea of rejecting logic and science to instead focus on the mythical to be in line with the themes of the current Lumiron game. As the main character descends further into his own mind, his eternal quest for salvation overtakes his reason as he slowly becomes trapped inside his inner world. The architecture style of Gothic Revival is also reminiscent of storybook castles and cathedrals, adding on to the fairytale-esque vibe of it all.
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