Goth

digigoth tries to explain..

What is goth?

For some it has become a lifestyle, for others it's just wearing certain clothes,and listening to certain music. Many people get into it because of the clothes and the music, and then they find the clubs and the people, and get into it more and more. After a while, for some, it becomes a whole lifestyle.

It's black clothes, black eyeliner, pale faces, fishnet, velvet , lace and PVC, piercings and androgynity.

It's a darker kind of music, it's vampire and fantasy, medieval architecture and history.. A more dramatic expression..

Originally a subculture going back to the 80's and what happened after glam and punk, what music is concerned.* There are a lot of different kinds of goths though. Some listen to goth rock, industrial and metal, others to dark and atmospheric melancholic music, whilst other prefer more electronic futuristic synthpop/ techno and EBM.
Goths usually have a huge interest in music, film and also literature. Vampirefilms, Sci-Fi, Horror, Fantasy, Anime etc. As with all other scenes you find many different kinds of people in the goth scene, but these are some of the things they might have an interest in. Many are creative, play in bands, write, design, draw or similar.

Goths are generally interested in the aesthetic and darker sides of life. Apart from the odd elements of red and purple, and sometimes white, black clothes and hair is usually preferred. Silver jewellery of all kinds, (often with occult symbols, ankhs, pentagrams etc.) piercings are also something you often see on goths.

But when this is said, I believe that it is not about rules, and what you're supposed to do, rather the opposite - the freedom to be able to choose for yourself. Although people in the scene want to be individualists, you see the same kind of clothes, boots, make up, jewellery etc. on people, which on the other hand makes people feel comfortable being together with people similar to themselves; the feeling of belonging to a community. It's important to be with people who have the same interests as yourself and not always having to explain why you dress the way you do and like the things that you do.

There is no A-Z of Goth, no rules that tell you what to wear, what music to listen to, and what to think and mean. Goths are usually openminded, and have a deeper respect for people who are different. They also seem to share a dark an ironic sense of humour, and the common denominator is usually the fact that they pursue the dark and aestethic sides of life, dark and beautiful, -not as many unfortunately choose to believe, dark and evil ones.

* The whole goth scene started in the late 70's /early 80's with bands like Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees and The Cult (Southern Death Cult back then) Sex Gang Children, The Cure and The Sisters of Mercy.

For more in debth information about the history of goth, and what Goth is all about , see links on the right, which I have kindly borrowed because they explain it very well, and more detailed.

FUN STUFF:
Top 10 ways of spotting a goth:

10. They wear bright clothes and plastic dayglo sunglasses.
9. They have deep tans and can often be found catching a few rays on the
beach.
8. They are great sport stars, often excelling at golf.
7. They keep up with the current trends in music and are always ready to
embrace new bands and stand by them once they have achieved mass
popularity and day-time airplay and never say accuse them of 'selling
out' or any such.
6. They have no sense of humour and would like to commit suicide, but
instead they sit around and talk about it alot - usually while listening
to The Smiths or other such dirges.
5. They are short and fat and have blonde hair.
4. They are teetotal.
3. They are keen folk dancers, often specialising in obscure and complex
dance steps with brightly coloured costumes with bells on.
2. Many of them grow root vegetables for a living and collect Elvis
memorabilia.
1. The pope used to be a goth

Taken from Sexbat's "Take a bite"

Parents are justly concerned that their children are being led into danger by the GOTH subculture. How can you tell if your child is a GOTH? Look for these warning signs.
Warning signs that your child might be a goth

GOTHIC.NO