This is the fourth, most brief key argument from "The Nature of Gothic" by John Ruskin, first printed 160 years ago and arguably more relevant than ever. I'd recommend the first, second and third too, for fans of M31-41, as well as everyone creating or thinking ahead.
“
The fourth essential element of the Gothic mind was ... stated to be the sense of the GROTESQUE; but I shall defer the endeavour to define this most curious and subtle character ... . It is the less necessary to insist upon it here, because every reader familiar with Gothic architecture must understand what I mean, and will, I believe, have no hesitation in admitting, that the tendency to delight in fantastic and ludicrous, as well as in sublime, images, is a universal instinct of the Gothic imagination.
”
It's worth finding the whole essay if you can, and there's a little more in the videos here.
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