Goth isnt...
Slipknot
wearing black every day
trying to be scary and intimidating
ICP
Green Day
black eyeliner
punk music
baggy pants with chains
Being evil
black lipstick
SI
Marilyn Manson
devil worship
being depressed
pale white foundation
rugs and alcohol
hating life
heavy metal
Hot Topic
Mudvayne
blood guts and gore
emo
Goth isnt about how black your clothes are, how many piercings you have, how crappy you can make your eyeliner look, being tough and intimidating, acting or being depressed, listening to mainstream metal or punk, or even acting elite and better than everyone just because you know who Bauhaus is.
MUSIC:
The Sisters of Mercy, Bauhaus, Fields of the Nephilim, The Mission, All About Eve, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, London After Midnight, (some) Siouxsie and the Banshees, Faces of Sarah, Inkubus Sukkubus, Merry Thoughts, Manuskript, Clan of Xymox, Midnight Configuration, Suspiria, Ausgang, Danielle Dax, Carcrash International, Specimen, Mephisto Walz, Rozz Williams, March Violets, The Creatures, the Birthday Party, Black Tape For A Blue Girl, Die Laughing, Death in June, X-Mal Deutschland, Lene Lovich, Nina Hagen, And Also the Trees, Batfish Boys, In the Nursery, Ipso Facto, Flesh for Lulu, Ordo Equium Solis, Rossetta Stone, Tones on Tail, This Mortal Coil, Killing Joke, Current '93, Dead Can Dance, The Machine in the Garden, Gene Loves Jezebel, Véronique Diabolique, The Cure, Joy Division, Cinema Strange, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Smiths, Coil, Cocteau Twins, The Damned, The Tear Garden, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Cruxshadows, The Pixies, Legendary Pink Dots, Moev, Love and Rockets, Ministry, Sleeping Dogs Wake, The Church, and The Cassandra Complex.
Despite the fact that outward appearance does not constitute gothness, many people within the subculture do choose to dress a particular way. Its not usually a matter of conformity, but for aesthetics. For instance, while its tacky to wear white foundation, people within the subculture often seem to find natural paleness more attractive than a tan for whatever reason. Its more aesthetically pleasing, therefore a goth who tends not to venture into the sun without protection may not be doing that to seem overtly goth, but only because pale skin makes them feel more beautiful. The same goes for style.
The gothic "uniform" varies from person to person, for those who choose to wear it. (Its definitely not required.) In fact, its not even a uniform, since creativity, innovation, and style are embraced. Goth style isnt the black t-shirt and baggy pants that the Hot Topic generation would have you believe. Thats not very creative or unique at all. Nor is it aethetically pleasing. Also, black is NOT a must. Other commonly worn color are emeralds, navys, purples, crimsons, and even white and cream.
Various types of materials besides common cotton and polyester are often incorporated into style too. Crushed velvet is popular, along with leather, pvc, lace, rubber, latex, and silk. Bondage fashion is worn by a few, and that doesnt mean wearing Hot Topic pants with those stupid bondage straps in the back. Corsets are a gothic staple for ladies and men. In many instances, Victorian and Edwardian fashions are adopted and modified to unique styles as well. Gothic style is style. Its about looking good, well dressed, made up, gorgeous. For those who choose to don the goth apparel, throwing on Manson t-shirt and some black lipstick isnt going to cut it.
Recently, goth fashion has evolved into something more inspired by other genres like electronica, ebm, darkwave, and industrial as well as goth. Its not always the classic velvet and lace look.
Please do not use certain internet sites to further perpetuate ignorance. Just because a site has the word goth in the URL or somewhere on the page doesnt mean its the ultimate master on all things goth. For every decent website giving good, informed info, there are 10 more passing off stereotypes and nonsense to whoever wants to listen. Use common sense. Find out whats up from people who actually know whats up. You wouldnt ask a preschooler their thoughts on cognitive neuroscience, would you?
Slipknot
wearing black every day
trying to be scary and intimidating
ICP
Green Day
black eyeliner
punk music
baggy pants with chains
Being evil
black lipstick
SI
Marilyn Manson
devil worship
being depressed
pale white foundation
rugs and alcohol
hating life
heavy metal
Hot Topic
Mudvayne
blood guts and gore
emo
Goth isnt about how black your clothes are, how many piercings you have, how crappy you can make your eyeliner look, being tough and intimidating, acting or being depressed, listening to mainstream metal or punk, or even acting elite and better than everyone just because you know who Bauhaus is.
MUSIC:
The Sisters of Mercy, Bauhaus, Fields of the Nephilim, The Mission, All About Eve, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, London After Midnight, (some) Siouxsie and the Banshees, Faces of Sarah, Inkubus Sukkubus, Merry Thoughts, Manuskript, Clan of Xymox, Midnight Configuration, Suspiria, Ausgang, Danielle Dax, Carcrash International, Specimen, Mephisto Walz, Rozz Williams, March Violets, The Creatures, the Birthday Party, Black Tape For A Blue Girl, Die Laughing, Death in June, X-Mal Deutschland, Lene Lovich, Nina Hagen, And Also the Trees, Batfish Boys, In the Nursery, Ipso Facto, Flesh for Lulu, Ordo Equium Solis, Rossetta Stone, Tones on Tail, This Mortal Coil, Killing Joke, Current '93, Dead Can Dance, The Machine in the Garden, Gene Loves Jezebel, Véronique Diabolique, The Cure, Joy Division, Cinema Strange, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Smiths, Coil, Cocteau Twins, The Damned, The Tear Garden, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Cruxshadows, The Pixies, Legendary Pink Dots, Moev, Love and Rockets, Ministry, Sleeping Dogs Wake, The Church, and The Cassandra Complex.
Despite the fact that outward appearance does not constitute gothness, many people within the subculture do choose to dress a particular way. Its not usually a matter of conformity, but for aesthetics. For instance, while its tacky to wear white foundation, people within the subculture often seem to find natural paleness more attractive than a tan for whatever reason. Its more aesthetically pleasing, therefore a goth who tends not to venture into the sun without protection may not be doing that to seem overtly goth, but only because pale skin makes them feel more beautiful. The same goes for style.
The gothic "uniform" varies from person to person, for those who choose to wear it. (Its definitely not required.) In fact, its not even a uniform, since creativity, innovation, and style are embraced. Goth style isnt the black t-shirt and baggy pants that the Hot Topic generation would have you believe. Thats not very creative or unique at all. Nor is it aethetically pleasing. Also, black is NOT a must. Other commonly worn color are emeralds, navys, purples, crimsons, and even white and cream.
Various types of materials besides common cotton and polyester are often incorporated into style too. Crushed velvet is popular, along with leather, pvc, lace, rubber, latex, and silk. Bondage fashion is worn by a few, and that doesnt mean wearing Hot Topic pants with those stupid bondage straps in the back. Corsets are a gothic staple for ladies and men. In many instances, Victorian and Edwardian fashions are adopted and modified to unique styles as well. Gothic style is style. Its about looking good, well dressed, made up, gorgeous. For those who choose to don the goth apparel, throwing on Manson t-shirt and some black lipstick isnt going to cut it.
Recently, goth fashion has evolved into something more inspired by other genres like electronica, ebm, darkwave, and industrial as well as goth. Its not always the classic velvet and lace look.
Please do not use certain internet sites to further perpetuate ignorance. Just because a site has the word goth in the URL or somewhere on the page doesnt mean its the ultimate master on all things goth. For every decent website giving good, informed info, there are 10 more passing off stereotypes and nonsense to whoever wants to listen. Use common sense. Find out whats up from people who actually know whats up. You wouldnt ask a preschooler their thoughts on cognitive neuroscience, would you?
"I'm so goth, me. Now lookit my I-pod with all my Cradle of Filth mush"
"I'm SUiCiDaL sO i MuSt Be A gOtH rIgHt?"
"I'm SUiCiDaL sO i MuSt Be A gOtH rIgHt?"
by DeadCanDanceDemon November 07, 2008
Goth was originally a term used to describe people with a taste for certain bands eg: Bauhaus, Sisters of Mercy, The Cure, etc. in the '80s when punk started to fade out, and with wardrobes predominantly black.
In the 90s and early 2000s the goth subculture seemed to change to include bands such as Nirvana, Linkin Park, Slipknot, Cradle of Filth, etc.
Many goths have a cynical outlook on society and have an evolved sense of humor which has gone beyond the "Ya ma" as an insult and will laugh at others, and at themselves in a healthy way. Goths don't usually care what other people think of them, and don't care if they don't fit in. Goths don't care, either what sexuality, religion, etc. other goths are, and we don't take the piss out of gays because we aren't homophobes.
If you shout insults after a bunch of goths, alot of the time, they might not be offended, but take pride that people are realising that they're individuals.
In the 90s and early 2000s the goth subculture seemed to change to include bands such as Nirvana, Linkin Park, Slipknot, Cradle of Filth, etc.
Many goths have a cynical outlook on society and have an evolved sense of humor which has gone beyond the "Ya ma" as an insult and will laugh at others, and at themselves in a healthy way. Goths don't usually care what other people think of them, and don't care if they don't fit in. Goths don't care, either what sexuality, religion, etc. other goths are, and we don't take the piss out of gays because we aren't homophobes.
If you shout insults after a bunch of goths, alot of the time, they might not be offended, but take pride that people are realising that they're individuals.
by Ben December 05, 2004
the goth ideal was all about, hey, if you're a bit different, a social outcast, sensitive and depressed, gay, straight, whatever, well we'll love you and accept you. but as with all other alternative youth movements and subcultures, goth has been hijacked by all the wrong people. it was absorbed back into the mainstream where it had its soul raped and thus an mtv stereotype emerged, complete with rules and regulations.
you can hear these non-judgemental open-minded people telling you what is goth and what is not goth, that slipknot is not goth, that marilyn manson is not goth (because manson is extreme and for the average poser goth this brings them too much negative attention so they try to distance themselves from him because in reality they're full of shit), that goth is spelled with a capital g and if you use a lowercase g you are not really goth, etc, etc, ad nauseum.
they will usually claim to be bisexual because, girls, you got off with your best mate once, and lads, well, most of you probably never got off with another lad but you just kind of have to claim to be bi since it shows how different you are. remember the rules.
the problem is you cannot really tell us apart. for a while we thought we had a way to separate ourselves from the human cattle who make up the majority, which we wanted nothing to do with. but those days are gone now.
good things are ephemeral; it's not long before the fruit attracts the flies.
you can hear these non-judgemental open-minded people telling you what is goth and what is not goth, that slipknot is not goth, that marilyn manson is not goth (because manson is extreme and for the average poser goth this brings them too much negative attention so they try to distance themselves from him because in reality they're full of shit), that goth is spelled with a capital g and if you use a lowercase g you are not really goth, etc, etc, ad nauseum.
they will usually claim to be bisexual because, girls, you got off with your best mate once, and lads, well, most of you probably never got off with another lad but you just kind of have to claim to be bi since it shows how different you are. remember the rules.
the problem is you cannot really tell us apart. for a while we thought we had a way to separate ourselves from the human cattle who make up the majority, which we wanted nothing to do with. but those days are gone now.
good things are ephemeral; it's not long before the fruit attracts the flies.
by pinksugar April 19, 2015
by not a goth January 03, 2005
I don't know anymore. There are so many definitions of goth nowdays, especially music. For example:
There's classic goth music, like the Sisters Of Mercy (including the greatest 80's pop song ever made, This Corrosion) and Bauhaus. There's Victorian-style goth, but that's rare. The only good example I can think of is Rasputina. (Their song "Transylvanian Concubine" was on a Buffy soundtrack.) There's electrogoth, like Switchblade Symphony and Faith and The Muse.
After this, things get fuzzy.
Symphonic metal, like Within Temptation and Lacuna Coil, is sometimes considered gothic metal. Industrial music, like Nine Inch Nails, occcasionally mixes with gothic music. Electrogoth and electropop sometimes overlap, an example being Ladytron and Depeche Mode. There's pagan rock, like Inkubus Sukkubus, but the only reason that has a gothic following is because many goths follow a Pagan or Wiccan path.
In conclusion, no one knows what goth is anymore, because it's forked so many times. However, it is agreeded upon that Marilyn Manson is not goth.
There's classic goth music, like the Sisters Of Mercy (including the greatest 80's pop song ever made, This Corrosion) and Bauhaus. There's Victorian-style goth, but that's rare. The only good example I can think of is Rasputina. (Their song "Transylvanian Concubine" was on a Buffy soundtrack.) There's electrogoth, like Switchblade Symphony and Faith and The Muse.
After this, things get fuzzy.
Symphonic metal, like Within Temptation and Lacuna Coil, is sometimes considered gothic metal. Industrial music, like Nine Inch Nails, occcasionally mixes with gothic music. Electrogoth and electropop sometimes overlap, an example being Ladytron and Depeche Mode. There's pagan rock, like Inkubus Sukkubus, but the only reason that has a gothic following is because many goths follow a Pagan or Wiccan path.
In conclusion, no one knows what goth is anymore, because it's forked so many times. However, it is agreeded upon that Marilyn Manson is not goth.
by My name! MINE! September 21, 2007
To a Scally: Someone wearing black clothes, and make up.
To a 12 year old Linkin Park fan: Someone who likes Korn.
To a goth: I'm not a goth!
Really: A tribe of eastern european barbarians that sacked rome in the 4th century. The name of an artistic style, associated with clothing, and architecture
To a 12 year old Linkin Park fan: Someone who likes Korn.
To a goth: I'm not a goth!
Really: A tribe of eastern european barbarians that sacked rome in the 4th century. The name of an artistic style, associated with clothing, and architecture
by EskimoDan August 18, 2003
You are NOT Goth Just Because You Wear Black
You Are NOT Goth Just Because You Like Horror Movies
You Are NOT Goth Just Because You Are Depressed
You Are NOT Goth Just Because You Think It Looks Neat
You Are NOT Goth Just Because You Listen To Metal (which isn't real goth music by the way)
You Are NOT Goth Just Because You Like Blood
You Are NOT Goth Because You "cut yourself"
You Are NOT Goth Because You Wear Tripp Jeans
You Are NOT Goth Because "love " Hot Topic
A True Goth isn't defined by their look but by their music.
I am going to try to put this into my own words as much as possible because I am tired of "trendy teens" Calling themselves goth and giving us a bad name.
Lets start at the early goth first. The Gothic Romanticism.
Gothic was a type of architecture as i;m sure most of you are well aware. The ruins of the Gothic architecture became to symbolize the inevitable decay and collapse of human creations. This is where Gothic Literature stemmed from. The writings were meant to produce the same feel of emotions as the Gothic architecture for lack of better word. Think of Edgar Allan Poe and how his writing mostly stood for the collapse of the human psyche. See where this ties together? This is where the Victorian Goth style also comes from.
Now Fast forward a few hundred years to the most recent and well know revival of goth in the 70's.
First Generation Goth- 1979-1985
this derived from post-punk with the most influential bands of this time being Siouxsie and the Banshees, Christian Death, Bauhaus, and sisters of mercy. These are just a few of the many bands where goth music has derived from. If the music doesn't have some kind of resemblance to this kind of music it is NOT goth. Metal is NOT goth. I love metal but please don't confuse it with goth. So all you COF fans out there..hate to tell you this but they aren't goth. They are Black Metal and Marilyn Manson? Nope. He is just EBM. Nothing more and nothing less.
Now Second Generation goth- 1985-1995
By now the post-punk era was starting to give way to some newer music styles such as the blending of industrial with Gothic themes as seen in such bands like Skinny Puppy and Depeche Mode.
Now Here We are. Third Generation 1995-present
The Gothic aesthetic has become popular due to bands such as HIM, Marilyn Manson, Within Temptation, whose music is nowhere near being Gothic but because of their looks they have become associated with that genre much to the chagrin of true goths everywhere. Hot topic also helped to make this culture mainstream and breeding mall goths who probably have never even heard of Siouxsie Sioux.
In order to be a "true goth" you have to love true Gothic music. And it should be a good majority of what you listen too. Liking one song by switchblade symphony and then listening to nothing but nightwish and within temptation won't make you a goth, no mater how much make-up or hair gel you are wearing.
So please learn about a culture before you try to embrace it and end up embarrassing yourself and others.
And try listening to some old school Goth/Punk
Siouxise and the Banshees, and the Cure are always good start.
You Are NOT Goth Just Because You Like Horror Movies
You Are NOT Goth Just Because You Are Depressed
You Are NOT Goth Just Because You Think It Looks Neat
You Are NOT Goth Just Because You Listen To Metal (which isn't real goth music by the way)
You Are NOT Goth Just Because You Like Blood
You Are NOT Goth Because You "cut yourself"
You Are NOT Goth Because You Wear Tripp Jeans
You Are NOT Goth Because "love " Hot Topic
A True Goth isn't defined by their look but by their music.
I am going to try to put this into my own words as much as possible because I am tired of "trendy teens" Calling themselves goth and giving us a bad name.
Lets start at the early goth first. The Gothic Romanticism.
Gothic was a type of architecture as i;m sure most of you are well aware. The ruins of the Gothic architecture became to symbolize the inevitable decay and collapse of human creations. This is where Gothic Literature stemmed from. The writings were meant to produce the same feel of emotions as the Gothic architecture for lack of better word. Think of Edgar Allan Poe and how his writing mostly stood for the collapse of the human psyche. See where this ties together? This is where the Victorian Goth style also comes from.
Now Fast forward a few hundred years to the most recent and well know revival of goth in the 70's.
First Generation Goth- 1979-1985
this derived from post-punk with the most influential bands of this time being Siouxsie and the Banshees, Christian Death, Bauhaus, and sisters of mercy. These are just a few of the many bands where goth music has derived from. If the music doesn't have some kind of resemblance to this kind of music it is NOT goth. Metal is NOT goth. I love metal but please don't confuse it with goth. So all you COF fans out there..hate to tell you this but they aren't goth. They are Black Metal and Marilyn Manson? Nope. He is just EBM. Nothing more and nothing less.
Now Second Generation goth- 1985-1995
By now the post-punk era was starting to give way to some newer music styles such as the blending of industrial with Gothic themes as seen in such bands like Skinny Puppy and Depeche Mode.
Now Here We are. Third Generation 1995-present
The Gothic aesthetic has become popular due to bands such as HIM, Marilyn Manson, Within Temptation, whose music is nowhere near being Gothic but because of their looks they have become associated with that genre much to the chagrin of true goths everywhere. Hot topic also helped to make this culture mainstream and breeding mall goths who probably have never even heard of Siouxsie Sioux.
In order to be a "true goth" you have to love true Gothic music. And it should be a good majority of what you listen too. Liking one song by switchblade symphony and then listening to nothing but nightwish and within temptation won't make you a goth, no mater how much make-up or hair gel you are wearing.
So please learn about a culture before you try to embrace it and end up embarrassing yourself and others.
And try listening to some old school Goth/Punk
Siouxise and the Banshees, and the Cure are always good start.
Person 1-What are your favorite goth bands?
Person 2-I like Christian Death, Suspiria, Bauhaus, Siouxsie, and Lamb Of God Is pretty kick ass too.
Person 1-Awesome.
Person 2-I like Christian Death, Suspiria, Bauhaus, Siouxsie, and Lamb Of God Is pretty kick ass too.
Person 1-Awesome.
by RubyBloodDrop October 18, 2008