In reference to the subculture;
A term that has been thrown around so much these days, who knows what it actually means. I know that, it seems to be defined by the music you listen to... which I think, personally, is ridiculous. Even some of the the open minded people who say they are goth assume that all fans of slipknot and manson are posers, and think that they're badass because they listen to that music. Well, here's a newsflash- goths can wear tons of different styles of clothes and listen to different styles of music. Just because someone listens to Slipknot or Marilyn Manson doesn't mean they are poser. There are a lot of types of goths, and suggesting music defines the person is just stupid and close-minded. So, instead of listening to all these people saying "goths are depressed, suicidal satanists (which, btw, isnt the evil religion people make it out to be o.O)" ALONG with "all people who like slipknot and manson are posers who think theyre goths and are just trying to be 'cool'", why don't you listen to me and the other people with brains out there who know that "goth" doesn't rely on music or religion or anything like that.
(shortened version: a subculture that ISN'T just about wearing black nail polish and listening to certain music and its hard to define it, because theyre all so different.)
A term that has been thrown around so much these days, who knows what it actually means. I know that, it seems to be defined by the music you listen to... which I think, personally, is ridiculous. Even some of the the open minded people who say they are goth assume that all fans of slipknot and manson are posers, and think that they're badass because they listen to that music. Well, here's a newsflash- goths can wear tons of different styles of clothes and listen to different styles of music. Just because someone listens to Slipknot or Marilyn Manson doesn't mean they are poser. There are a lot of types of goths, and suggesting music defines the person is just stupid and close-minded. So, instead of listening to all these people saying "goths are depressed, suicidal satanists (which, btw, isnt the evil religion people make it out to be o.O)" ALONG with "all people who like slipknot and manson are posers who think theyre goths and are just trying to be 'cool'", why don't you listen to me and the other people with brains out there who know that "goth" doesn't rely on music or religion or anything like that.
(shortened version: a subculture that ISN'T just about wearing black nail polish and listening to certain music and its hard to define it, because theyre all so different.)
by vaela March 08, 2005
Whoever started talking of the Goths was going way off topic, Goths and goths are two different things. The Goths were a Germanic tribe, goths (gothic sub culture)are people who mainly dress in black and wear stark black and white make-up to make themselves look more mysterious and dark (kinda goes with the theme/the person's interests). They usually associate with Gothic Rock music, but also have interests in Wicca, Pagan etc. There are types of goth whether you like it or not, Traditional/classic, Modern, Romantic, Net (a trivial one)etc. It obviously depends on your interests and gothic is a way of expressing yourself, you can be your own person and 'customize' gothic to suit yourself.It IS label that others may call you if you associate with the examples above, you should not be offened by it, it is NOT an insult, neither does it mean alot so let them say it. You are You essentially, I wouldn't ever try to live up to a label.
Music: Siters of Mercy, Bauhaus, The 69 Eyes, HIM (well, I like them anyway) these are the most popular, but it depends on individual style. I personally hate Cradle of Filth, just not my thing.
*this does not for a moment think that you should immediatley dump those Old Good Charlotte or Greeday, or whatever other music OUTSIDE the gothic rock catergory it is you like also.
'The Rasmus are not goth'-a typical 'more goth than thou' comment, who cares if they are or are not, they good musicians, that's all that matters really. Plus theire lyrics are dark and myserious and I like them.
Interests: art (creative), literature (gothic, eg: Woman in White, Dracula, MUSIC, pagan, wicca, sewing etc...
*this does not for a moment think that you should immediatley dump those Old Good Charlotte or Greeday, or whatever other music OUTSIDE the gothic rock catergory it is you like also.
'The Rasmus are not goth'-a typical 'more goth than thou' comment, who cares if they are or are not, they good musicians, that's all that matters really. Plus theire lyrics are dark and myserious and I like them.
Interests: art (creative), literature (gothic, eg: Woman in White, Dracula, MUSIC, pagan, wicca, sewing etc...
by ~Sorrow~ February 04, 2005
Goths tend to have a dark and perverse sense of humor, a love of history, literature, and music, and far too many bottles of black nail polish. But trying to slot goths into orderly little sections is pretty much impossible. The spectrum of interests, styles, and activities is far too broad. Sometimes the clothes can be a clue, but not always. Just look for that appreciation of darkness--that's the most reliable indicator.
The "classic" goth music scene and the industrial music scene, there are people on both sides who shun the other. Some goths who like the "classic" look of velvet and lace look down upon goths who prefer fishnet and leather. Some goths who like pop-culture entertainments and things that are lighthearted are ostracized by others who believe that nothing is worthwhile unless it is obscure and dark. Like any culture, it has divisions and cliques.
Being goth is, in the end, a form of tribalism, a way for people of like interests and mindset to find each other and have a place to belong. Like most tribes, goths will often try to keep out those who are not "of" the tribe (hence the pretentiousness and disdain for "poseurs"). But it can also be a wonderfully welcoming and comfortable place for those who do fit in, and full of patience and enthusiasm for people who are genuinely interested in finding out what we're about. Goths will try to keep out those who don't belong, and those who are interested in exploiting us because we look different and have interests outside the mainstram; but we will also try to protect our own. For someone who doesn't feel that they really "fit in" with mainstream culture, discovering gothdom can be a wonderful feeling.
However, the term "goth" does NOT refer to the Arcetectural or Literature movement. The proper term for this would actually be gothic (def. 2). Said term does not generally encompas the subculture, but may, in select minds.
The "classic" goth music scene and the industrial music scene, there are people on both sides who shun the other. Some goths who like the "classic" look of velvet and lace look down upon goths who prefer fishnet and leather. Some goths who like pop-culture entertainments and things that are lighthearted are ostracized by others who believe that nothing is worthwhile unless it is obscure and dark. Like any culture, it has divisions and cliques.
Being goth is, in the end, a form of tribalism, a way for people of like interests and mindset to find each other and have a place to belong. Like most tribes, goths will often try to keep out those who are not "of" the tribe (hence the pretentiousness and disdain for "poseurs"). But it can also be a wonderfully welcoming and comfortable place for those who do fit in, and full of patience and enthusiasm for people who are genuinely interested in finding out what we're about. Goths will try to keep out those who don't belong, and those who are interested in exploiting us because we look different and have interests outside the mainstram; but we will also try to protect our own. For someone who doesn't feel that they really "fit in" with mainstream culture, discovering gothdom can be a wonderful feeling.
However, the term "goth" does NOT refer to the Arcetectural or Literature movement. The proper term for this would actually be gothic (def. 2). Said term does not generally encompas the subculture, but may, in select minds.
"Goths are not really that terribly different from any other subculture. they just dress more imaginatively"
by Forsaken March 21, 2005
Goths are people who tend to look to the past to deal with the present in the future.
They usually wear older style clothing such as dresses, though not just in black, contrary to popular belief and stereotype. They generally don't wear all the spikes that mainstream images would depict, although that doesn't mean that they don't at all.
Goths look at life and see darkness. The difference between the mainstream image of goth and actual goth is that goths look to the darkness and see beauty. They see suffering, and they embrace it.
Being a goth does not instantly include or exclude one from a religion. There is nothing in Christianity that says "thou shall not accept goths." Rather, this is a prejudice placed by society. Many goths learn to live with this, and simply move on.
Goths DO smile and DO laugh, just not at the things at which a normal human being would laugh or smile at.
Goths are not by definition sons of Satan or tools of evil. Those two are prejudices. While there are goths that worship Satan, there are also goths that are god-fearing Christians.
Goths can usually be characterized by reserved mannerisms, a byproduct of their insular and instrospective nature, dark music such as death metal, gothic metal, black metal, trash metal, or even heavy metal, as well as a usual creative thread.
They usually wear older style clothing such as dresses, though not just in black, contrary to popular belief and stereotype. They generally don't wear all the spikes that mainstream images would depict, although that doesn't mean that they don't at all.
Goths look at life and see darkness. The difference between the mainstream image of goth and actual goth is that goths look to the darkness and see beauty. They see suffering, and they embrace it.
Being a goth does not instantly include or exclude one from a religion. There is nothing in Christianity that says "thou shall not accept goths." Rather, this is a prejudice placed by society. Many goths learn to live with this, and simply move on.
Goths DO smile and DO laugh, just not at the things at which a normal human being would laugh or smile at.
Goths are not by definition sons of Satan or tools of evil. Those two are prejudices. While there are goths that worship Satan, there are also goths that are god-fearing Christians.
Goths can usually be characterized by reserved mannerisms, a byproduct of their insular and instrospective nature, dark music such as death metal, gothic metal, black metal, trash metal, or even heavy metal, as well as a usual creative thread.
Contrary to popular belief, goths can be pleasant people to be around, and they won't try to recruit you into an army of darkness.
by Twice Scorned May 15, 2004
A person who reads literature, listens to goth-y music, watches goth-y entertainment, and generally wears dark colours, though some are known for their bright neon colours. A lot of 'goths' shop at Hot Topic, thinking it makes them cooler. Some goths shop there, though they understand that apperances aren't everything and just needed some more nailpolish etc. There are many different forms of 'goth', raver, traditional, industrial, etc.
some person:hey, your in Hot Topic! OMG your goth!
goth-ish person: go away.
person:are you goth because you go to Hot Topic?
goth: *eyebrow raise* No.
goth-ish person: go away.
person:are you goth because you go to Hot Topic?
goth: *eyebrow raise* No.
by Ghetto Billy Bob May 23, 2005
1. A member of an ancient Germanic tribe.
2. (obs.) A member of the Gothic subculture; in the late 1970's, the media declared Bauhaus and Siouxsie and the Banshees to have a "gothic" sound, after Gothic literature. Gothic literature was, incidentally, named after Gothic architecture, which was named after the Gothic tribe, as an insult, to imply that it was barbaric.
The original goths from the late 70's had a sardonic sense of humour above all else. They often wore dark clothing, as goth was an offshoot of punk. In the early 80's, Second Wave Goth began with bands like the Sisters of Mercy. This is possibly when goth acquired the reputation of being more sullen. At some unknown date, Goth began degenerating. It was rather like cancer, wherein there was part of the subculture still functioning and alive, but more and more of it was becoming sick and dying. Though some bands with a gothic sound still exist, a new name for the genre is sorely in need of creation. Honestly, those few true goths left need to give up the ghost and come up with a new subculture for themselves.
3. A misnomer for a follower of bands such as Marilyn Manson, Tool, Korn, Slipnot, etc. Generally, bands like these were part of the reason why "goths" kept seeming whinier and whinier. Now not only are there bands trying to portray themselves as goth when goth is effectively dead, but now mass marketing has decided to reshape the subculture to cater to a very lucrative demographic: rebellious teenagers of middle- to upper-class families.
2. (obs.) A member of the Gothic subculture; in the late 1970's, the media declared Bauhaus and Siouxsie and the Banshees to have a "gothic" sound, after Gothic literature. Gothic literature was, incidentally, named after Gothic architecture, which was named after the Gothic tribe, as an insult, to imply that it was barbaric.
The original goths from the late 70's had a sardonic sense of humour above all else. They often wore dark clothing, as goth was an offshoot of punk. In the early 80's, Second Wave Goth began with bands like the Sisters of Mercy. This is possibly when goth acquired the reputation of being more sullen. At some unknown date, Goth began degenerating. It was rather like cancer, wherein there was part of the subculture still functioning and alive, but more and more of it was becoming sick and dying. Though some bands with a gothic sound still exist, a new name for the genre is sorely in need of creation. Honestly, those few true goths left need to give up the ghost and come up with a new subculture for themselves.
3. A misnomer for a follower of bands such as Marilyn Manson, Tool, Korn, Slipnot, etc. Generally, bands like these were part of the reason why "goths" kept seeming whinier and whinier. Now not only are there bands trying to portray themselves as goth when goth is effectively dead, but now mass marketing has decided to reshape the subculture to cater to a very lucrative demographic: rebellious teenagers of middle- to upper-class families.
Why is it that there are no more flappers or beats, yet there's a plethora of "hippies," "punks," and "goths"?
The beats and the flappers probably just knew when to give up and move on.
The beats and the flappers probably just knew when to give up and move on.
by Nemuko May 15, 2003
An ancient germanic tribe consisting of the ostrogoths and the visigoths who sacked rome, not to be confused with the industrial subculture often reffered to as goth, a goth is not someone who wears all black and makeup, the only true goths are germans or people with german heritage whos bloodline dates back to the ancient gothic tribes of germania
Person 1:"that person i so goth"
person 2:"hey kid in black are you of east german decent"
kid in black:"no im not"
person 2:"do you consider yourself goth"
kid in black:"yes"
person 1"see i told you"
person 2"i already just proved that he isnt gothic"
person 2:"hey kid in black are you of east german decent"
kid in black:"no im not"
person 2:"do you consider yourself goth"
kid in black:"yes"
person 1"see i told you"
person 2"i already just proved that he isnt gothic"
by skinheadfuckingsteve May 10, 2008