Darkened clubs, meeting of
the masses, a universal gathering of the artistic mind, all the mystique that
controls the night; could this be what appeases the minds of Goths today? With
all that it entails amongst Gothic's today, one questions what drives an
individuals to adhere to this lifestyle. Is it the mere fact that society deems
this nocturnal breed, a society of loners who choose not to walk amongst the
norm? Or could it be the very fact that Gothic's today have been labeled as
social freaks or society rejects? Yet given the whole story, there are more and
more Gothic's coming out of the woodwork. Where does the fondness of this
lifestyle come from? To some, one would say that to be gothic is a right of
passage to be in the midst of an elite group. To the gothic youth, it becomes a
popular fad that alludes to a sense of individuality. This holds true for all
the social fads that recruits today's youth.
To further dwell within a Gothic's frame of mind, some would say that peer
pressure can play a small part of one's decision of becoming a Goth, or the
mere fact of being gothic can be dissected in so many ways. Either way one
looks at it, there entails a flicker of curiosity for one who may search for
solace amongst other Goths. To be gothic is such a beautiful thing; such a
mystery of an extremely different life. Unfortunately, there are those who feel
that if they simply purchase black clothing, they can automatically classify
themselves as gothic. Black equals gothic is the faux equation that has
been emanating for quite some time. Personally, I feel that there are too many
reasons as to what drives an individual to become gothic. From the information
that I gathered during my recent journey to the US, I was highly surprised to
learn that a majority of Gothic's believe that what brought them to the 'Dark
Side' was merely to be amongst others that would understand their artistic
darkness. Most of them feel that they are vastly misunderstood by the older
generation. Could this be true? It is possible.
The vast majority would say that they find solace from today's reality by being
Goth. Please understand, this article is only based on my personal experience
as a long time Goth, and gathering my information by meeting Goths' from all
walks of life, and yes, the want to be Goths (hey one must do like any reporter
right?) as well. As I am beginning to further understand the Gothic psyche I
realize that it is clear that no one really has an answer that would best
relieve your curiosity. Each answer would intricately be crafted with unique
differences. Though frustrating, it is a fact. I guess what really drives
someone to be gothic is actually made up of diverse meaning from each
individual. The dark underground sub-culture society is, in my opinion, one big
gothic playground where dark artistic individuals gather. As to what roams
within the mind of a gothic really in fact matters not, but can really entice
those on the outside looking in. Once again I say to all of you Carpe Noctem.
If any of you out there would care to share with the rest of us what enticed
you to be Goth I really welcome your comments.
Yours in darkness,
Raven_Nyte
posted 03 16 01
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Comment by Mary
I am but a mere 16 and admittedly haven't been in "the scene" for
very long and am very sure I still have much to learn about it. I strongly
agree with your perceptions of the goth phsyche and wanted to share some of my
perceptions as well. I believe that goth first and foremost is centered around
the music and its content because after all thats how the goth subculture all
began. Alot of my generation seem to think they can listen to their KORN and
SLIPKNOT, wear all black, buy a couple things at "HOT TOPIC" and poof
their goth. This isn't so. Those who think this way and have no interest in
goth music whatsoever, enrage me. Goths have a true appreciation for "The
darker side". Now alot seem to think that the darker side consists of the
whole "rotten.com" theme. Blood, decapitating body parts, and etc
etc
but theres much more to it then that. I find that things that would make most
people depressed or scare them is what is most satisfying to a goth. A rather
cliche and stereotypical example would be the graveyard. Now most would be
bothered by a trip to the graveyard. The thought of death scares them as does
the thought that death is "contained" there. Not a goth. I myself
find them soothing. A sanctuary of some sorts. Not quite sure why but I do. A
sort of poetic and tragic beauty lingers there that is indescribeable. Also
gloomy days would make most feel depressed and "drained" of their
energy. Not a goth. I am ready to grab my trenchcoat, tramp out the door and
enjoy such a beautiful day. Those are just two examples there is many more that
I can think of but rambling excessively just isn't my thing. So on with it. I
also feel that goth is a sort of "passive rebellion". Not neccisarily
meaning to rebel but wanting to differ from the "norm". Goth
subculture I feel is also in! fluenced a great deal by periods of time such as:
medievil or renissance, victorian, elizabethian, and so on and so forth. This
is reflected alot in gothic fashion. Long flowing skirts and shirts, lace and
ruffles, the ever popular corset and other such dramatic clothing. Gothic
literature and architecure i feel are a big part of the scene that most tend to
forget. Of course art. I find that 99.9% of goths r artists. If not through
drawing, painting etc then throu music and writing. I have grown very
passionate about my "gothdom" and could probably go on and on with my
insights but that will have to do. I am goth and proud! (May 8 2003)
Comment by Ghost
From my experience, I've come to believe the term 'gothic' is highly overrated,
especially when it comes to being the posterchild for all things associated
with the "Dark Side". We often clump the two together, when they are,
in fact, seriously seperate entities. In fact, I'll go on record and say that
the majority of gothic people I've met over the last decade are nowhere near as
"dark" as they portray themselves to be. They really seem no
different then anyone else in any other subculture around the world. They
gossip like everyone else, drink copious amounts of booze like alot of other
people I know, and really don't do anything out of the ordinary that makes them
so deserving of the title that alot of them go to such great lengths to uphold.
Painting your face, wearing black synthetic clothing, and collecting spooky
dolls hardly qualifies somone as a "General" in the army of darkness.
Let alone a "Private". People that are TRULY in touch with the
"Dark Side", are totally seperate entities than goths. These are
people who tend to be social anarchists, and societal outcasts, who feel more
comfortable living on the fringe. G.G. Allin was one such person. Or, in some
cases, they can be the mild mannered, next door neighbour, who just happens to
have a snuff collection the size of Blockbuster Video. Maybe even the person
who goes slumming on a Friday night, if only to catch the thrill that comes
with catching a bullet in a part of town no reasonable person would be caught
dead in. These are people who are TRULY living on the "Dark Side".
Being gothic is not the same as being in touch with the "Dark Side".
If you are going to talk the talk, then be prepared to walk the walk. Just know
that it's a walk you just might not come back from. Ask Kurt Cobain, G.G.
Allin, and the list goes on and on and on. (April 9 2003)
Comment by katie:
i agree with a piece of what everyone has said here. i don't agree with the
everlasting stereotype that to be considered "gothic" you must be
depressed and dark minded. however, i do agree that if you are perky, own
pom-poms and paint your nails baby pink everyday, you are not goth. there are
no strict guidelines to be a goth if you ask me, but the basics are that you
should not only wear black, but you should enjoy wearing black. and yes, the
arts do have a large impact of the title of goth. 95% of goths either write
poetry, stories, songs, sing, dance, paint, sculpt, sketch, draw, etc etc. i
100% agree with the statement "One isnt artistic because they are
gothic-they are gothic because they are artistic." made by
"eve". that is very true. if you were a normal, basic person
yesterday who had no interest in the arts and whom loved baseball and soccer,
then today, just cause you found your black clothes and wore them, does not
make you a goth. however, if you were interested in the arts, believed in past
lives and did not have an overly bubbly personality yesterday, and began
wearing your vast amount of black clothing today, you very well could be, and
should be in some people eyes, a goth. it is not just about the co,our black,
although that adds to it, it is about non-perkiness, sharing a love for the
arts deeply, and the acceptance and non-judgment of others. i consider myself a
goth. where as, a friend of mine insists that i am not a goth because i do not
have depresseion problems, which pisses me off to no end, so yes, i am a goth,
and no cheerleaders a pink lovers are not. email to vhat or if you have an
agreement or complaint about my opinions. (August 13, 2002 )
Comment by anon:
i think although goth is a very recognized and commercialised subculture , one
that also has to be taken seriously, it is also one of the most confusing and
depressing
im 14, pretty mature for my age i like manson not because i was raised to
believe that moansonites automatically fall into the category of goth, i like
his music but aton of other stuff too like black metal and its sad because im
particularily drawn to him for many reasons far from the fact that
youngmansonites are calling themselves goth..i understandthat ultimately,goths
are dark individuals, which i am naturally or i developed it some point in my
early life
and we all know that there is no goth course where u work ur way up to win
acceptance as a goth...thats the problem this gives everyone the freedom to
call themselves goth and sadly to say, there will never be a real effective way
to tell them apart (or does anybody know)it makes everyone angry..and all
though true goths will snear and know in their hearts that they arent
real(these misled mansonites)noone really has the right to label anybody
else!!!doesnt this piss u off???
it's annoying me....goth isnt a big deal to me...i call myself a goth to help
people who dont know me or havent met me,an idea of what i am like but then
again do they know what a true goth does sometimes i hate to call myself goth i
hate the label because IT TAKES AWAY OUR INDIVIDUALITY because i dress
ultimately like agoth, everything evryday black make up and all and i am a dark
person at heart maybe im even sick in the head becuas eim abit violent BUT i am
also an artist a, i paint and illustrate my own comics
i also have a girlband which is a verybig priority to me, i also skateboard do
most goths skateboard?? im also a friend to many...i do aton a shit and i still
have time to indulge in alittle gothic passtime, like club , and thats just one
of the things goths do... but people have an idea that were all the same and
its kind of true most of us are big fans of movies like clockwork orange and
the crow it all brings us together.....u shouldhave noticed this by now i go to
skool among all these wannabes....falling back onto this word "goth"
because they r searching for a diffrent kind of acceptance and im classified
under the smae label as these kids??? i look at goth as a label.....
it still means alot to me....but i think that people should hold on to their
own individuality..yah..the scene is great the community is great but lets not
forget about ourselves.....remember being the strange kid in highskool like us
little kids before u knew u were what u call urself???before u discovered
darkwave??
INDIVIDUALITY=TRUE BEAUTY by the way im asian...he he he (March 28, 2002 )
Comment by anon:
Goths are not called "Gothics." Try getting an 8th grade grammatical
education before presuming to be a spokesperson for a subculture you're
obviously not even a part of. (April 9, 2002 )
Comment by *~EvE~*
:
This comment is for anyone, but in specific reply to andru.
In your comments, you made several points that I disagree with. The Gothic
culture is vast. It IS something unique. Its about accepting the fact you are
different from the crowd, and expressing it. One isnt artistic because they are
gothic-they are gothic because they are artistic. When one decides that they
are Gothic, it is because they have qualities not normally found in others. The
sensitivity, the intelligence, etc..Yes there is a difference between the goth
and the cheerleader. Except in rare cases, its not just physically-its
emotionally, spiritually...they are two different personas. As well, being
gothic, isnt just about liking Marilyn Manson-a statement which is completely
ridiculous. Some find it offensive. Its something, much much deeper than that.
Its not about singing, and cheering for the opposite sex...Short skirts and pom
poms...Its a soulful state one is in, and at the same time questioning and
welcoming life and death, not obsessing as some may suggest.
Animals are all the same. No. The eagle is free and alert. The dolphin is
friendly and welcoming. The bat is mysterious and sly. Flies are annoying, yet
essential to a frogs life.
Humans are merely the same. No. The businessmen are work oriented and
organized. The computer savvy are rich and intelligent. The goths are deep,
silent, and soulful. We are all equal as humans, yet the personalities differ.
We are not trying to avoid being human, rather expanding it, and making what we
can. Through the arts whether it be music, visual, etc, we express the deepest
feelings, dark and bright. (8/13/01)
Comment by deofel:
i like black. i like spiked collars and black make up and chains and gothic
metal...i didnt realize that made me goth until i came to canada,though. amd i
am not quite sure i want to belong to that categoty,i think its wrong to
include all those people under one title, alas, to find the things i like i
have to go to "gothic shops" and "gothic clubs" and fit
myself in a definition i never agreed to. what entised me to be goth...is ..me?
Comment by andru:
dark and artistic individuals? does that not seem a little cliched? there is
nothing vastly different about a goth shrouded in mystique and a bubbly
cheerleader. this is not a putdown, but a fact. "Goth" is not
something unique, it's a variation on life. people may dress differently, but
mere corsets and an obsession w/ mr. manson cannot help one to escape the
plague of humanity; that is, being human. we live to survive and perpetuate our
genes, nothing more. if one believes otherwise( ie. "being" goth,
believing in an afterlife, "living" your occupation) then he/she is
deluding him/herself into not acknowledging the fact an individual is
insignificant. this is common among all of humanity - wanting to believe we're
more than what we are- and so the "psyche" of a gothic(dark as it may
APPEAR) is no more multi-faceted or "deep" than that of a
clubmonaco-chick
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