(All information taken from here.)

History|Culture|Critical Analysis|Gothic Terms  

History of the Gothic Subculture 
by Alicia Porter 

The date of origin is usually placed in 1979 when Bauhaus released the song "Bela Lugosi's Dead." The band originally intended the song to be tongue-in-cheek; however, many young fans latched onto this mysterious, eerie sound as inspiration for the budding gothic subculture. The first generation of the gothic movement emerged mostly in the UK in the late seventies and early eighties as a splinter from the punk movement. Punk music was breathing its last breath as this gloomy, introspective mutation gained momentum. Bands like The Damned, Bauhaus, and Siouxsie and the Banshees characterize the first generation. These bands were called Gothic later on, but most did not consider themselves Gothic at the time. There is a great deal of uncertainty about who coined the term "gothic" and how it got attached to this dark music. The British music press seems to be most responsible for making the label stick. 

In the early 1980s, the gothic movement thrived with bands like the Sisters of Mercy at the forefront. However, by the mid to late 1980s, the movement was waning. In the late eighties and early nineties, a new, second generation of gothic bands emerged to breathe new life into the scene. They distinguished themselves by being the first to regularly call themselves Gothic. Examples would include The Shroud, Rosetta Stone, and London After Midnight. This time period is when the US Goth movement grew significantly, and Gothic became recognized as a distinct subculture. Through this period, gothic music and culture grew and branched out into various subsets, pushing the boundaries of what had previously been considered gothic. 

Recently, widespread mainstream interest in the gothic subculture is apparent. Many gothic cultural quirks have filtered into mainstream culture, such as an interest in the supernatural and dark aesthetics. Historically, a dark leaning is prevalent towards the end of a century. That leaning has been more pronounced due to the close of a millennium. 

As the second generation now ages into their mid to late 20's, they usually become less interested in participating in the gothic social scene. A distinct third generation emerged in the late 90's to shape the future progression of the gothic movement. The third generation represents an explosion in the number of people referring to themselves as gothic. Many of them have learned about gothic culture because of the present widespread commercial availability. The huge popularity of "shock rock" act Marilyn Manson has thrown the spotlight onto this subculture. Marilyn Manson is far more similar to the heavy metal theatricality of Alice Cooper than the mysterious desolation of Bauhaus. Many Goths wish to disassociate themselves from the younger, over-ardent followers of Manson who seem to dress and act like him purely for rebellious shock value. The term often used for these youths is "spooky kids." 

First and second generation Goths look suspiciously upon the new generation, doubting their authenticity and disliking the exposure they give to a subculture which would prefer to remain underground. The new generation is not presently well received by their elders, but time may prove otherwise. It would be difficult to predict what the future holds for the Gothic movement. After over 20 years, it continues to change, grow, mutate and adapt, making it one of the longest surviving youth subcultures in existence.

Common Culture

Fashion|Books Etc.|Movies|Misc. Goth Interests 

Different cities tend have their own slight differences in their common Goth fashions. I have been to clubs and/or concerts in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, San Diego, New Orleans, Las Vegas and Chicago, and Salt Lake City. There are definitely differences between the scenes in these cities, especially in the way people dance and the general style. These common things are merely the ones I could come up with offhand, this list is not exhaustive. These are just things that generally tend to be popular with Goths. It is not a complete list of the common cultural quirks.

As is true for all people, there are some who reflect on their attitudes, actions and motivations, and there are some who don't. There are those who aren't aware of the meaning of the symbols they wear. You'll find many people wearing a cross, pentagram, or ankh because they think it looks cool. Perhaps, they see someone else with it and are doing it to fit in. It becomes a matter of fashion rather than awareness of what the symbol means and why they wear it. Not everyone clearly understands their actions and habits or the reasons behind them.

Fashion

Some of the popular gothic style traits: 

anything black (White or any dark colors like navy blue and deep red are also popular but less common.) 
silver jewelry 
pallor (This could be because some Goths want a sort of undead look; or they want to embody the Victorian aesthetic that says pale skin is a sign of nobility; or because tanning causes skin cancer. In general, Goths view paleness as much more aesthetically pleasing than being tan, whether or not they have a reason why.) 
dyed hair (Black, very light bleached blonde, red, or purple are fairly common.) 
black and white makeup -- white foundation, black lipstick, black eyeliner 
thin, plucked eyebrows or shaved off and drawn in eyebrows 
bondage and fetish fashion -- leather, PVC, latex, rubber, vinyl and bondage gear, corsets 
crushed velvet or regular velvet 
poet's shirts -- a few ruffles around the cuff, the collar, and the front (They are usually white.) 
chokers -- a dog leash with spikes, a bondage collar, or a velvet ribbon tied around the neck 
ankh (Egyptian symbol for everlasting life) 
the Eye of Ra (also, Eye of Horus, an Egyptian symbol. The symbol's popularity with Goths is partly due to the fact that it is on the cover of the "Vision Thing" CD by The Sisters of Mercy.) 
pentacle (The pentagram is a five pointed star -- a pagan symbol for fire, earth, air, water, spirit. The pentacle is basically a pentagram with a circle around it. These terms are often used synonymously. Since the pentacle is associated in some people's mind with Satansim, some Goths may wear a pentacle to shock people, or as a part of their Theatrical Satanism.) 
wearing lingerie that shows (garters, teddy, bustier, slip, camisole) 
opera-style capes or cloaks 
opera length gloves, either satin or latex (shorter length gloves as well, usually vinyl) 
crosses (Christian symbolism) 
fishnet tights or shirts 
black and white horizontal striped tights like the Wicked Witch of the West 
chains (as a belt, necklace, part of the outfit, whatever) 
spikes/studs (usually attached to a leather jacket or to a collar, belt or bracelets) 
tattoos (depends on the person) 
piercings (Usually not as excessive as punks, goths might have a few piercings, if any. Tongue, nose and nipple piercings seem most common. It depends on the person.) 
pointy toed shoes, buckle boots, high heels, combat boots or Doc Martens 
wearing band T-shirts, having band stickers on your car, notebook etc. 
a short A-line haircut or ratted out, hairsprayed, chaotic hair, sometimes hair extensions 
a leather jacket (often with designs painted on it), black trenchcoat, black vinyl raincoat-looking jacket, or velvet jacket 
a box (A cross between a small purse and a lunchbox, usually black with silver hinges and a briefcase-like handle. They are usually decorated with band stickers. Guys and girls alike carry them.) 
Some Goths tend to look like: Robert Smith (of The Cure) -- ratted up hair, smudged red lipstick, black makeup for eyeshadow; Siouxsie Sioux (of Siouxsie and the Banshees) -- short black ratted hair (or a sleek A-line haircut) and the makeup done very precisely with pointed angles; Death (the Sandman comic book character) -- designs drawn around the eyes, tousled black hair, always wearing an ankh; Eric Draven (character in the comic book and movie The Crow) -- white face with black vertical lines drawn above and below the eyes, black lipstick drawn extended past the edge of the lips in long smiley face sort of lines, black trenchcoat; Andrew Eldrich (of the Sisters of Mercy) -- always wearing sunglasses, short slick black hair, leather pants, a leather jacket with an open shirt; Bettie Page (1950's bondage pinup queen) -- long wavy black hair with short, curled-under bangs, very thin drawn in eyebrows, and dark red lipstick. 
Vampire archetype -- Lestat or Louis from Anne Rice's novels The Vampire Lestat and Interview with the Vampire or a Dracula influenced look. The vampire archetype look also contains some commonalties with the vampire-free Victorian aesthetics: elaborately designed hair, ruffled shirts, long skirts, velvet, opera capes, corsets, vests. Punk archetype -- ripped tights, chains and spikes, a leather jacket, boots, ratted hair, defiant attitude. Tortured artist archetype -- a bohemian influence, wearing all black, maybe kinda beatnik, wearing sunglasses all the time, maybe a beret, thin, tired-looking, a notebook carried around at all times, can be seen reading alone in coffee shops. The tortured artist look may be a little more avant-garde, but it is not quite as clearly defined fashion-wise. It is made more by how someone acts than how they look. 
For guys, some common Goth looks are:

A fishnet shirt and vinyl or leather pants with some sort of boots and other various accessories. 

A white shirt (sometimes with the collar folded up to cover the neck), black pants, a black vest, boots or dress shoes. 

Some of the guys will wear makeup, skirts, corsets or heels. It's not really meant to be cross-dressing because they are not actually trying to look like women. Gothic tends to be a very androgynous thing, where some of the straight guys like to look or dress feminine, either to challenge social gender barriers, to show that they have an open mind, or as just a fashion thing. 

For girls, some common Goth looks are: 

A cleavage-enhancing corset top with a long, flowing or tutu-like skirt.

A crushed velvet dress with either boots or heels.

A fishnet shirt with a black bra underneath, a bondage belt (or some other type) and either 1) a short vinyl skirt 2) a long velvet skirt 3) tight leggings or stirrup pants usually made of vinyl or crushed velvet. 

Fishnet stockings with a vinyl dress, bondage gear, high heels or heel boots.

Books Etc.

It's hard to say what kind of books that Goths like because it falls into such a broad range. Many Goths are well-read in "classic" literature, religion, philosophy, history, and politics. It all depends on the inclination of that person. 

Vampire, fantasy, horror, sci-fi novels 

Anne Rice novels, especially the Vampire Chronicles: Interview with the Vampire, The Vampire Lestat, Queen of the Damned, The Tale of the Body Thief etc. 
Poppy Z. Brite novels: Lost Souls etc. 
H.P. Lovecraft, Ray Bradbury (sci-fi horror and fantasy) 
Classics 

Dostoyevsky - Notes from the Underground 
Dante - The Inferno 
Orwell - 1984 
Stoker - Dracula 
Mary Shelley - Frankenstein 
Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron (Romantic-era poetry) 
Everything by Edgar Allen Poe 
Magazines 

Permission 
Ghastly 
Blue Blood 
Industrial Nation 
Carpe Noctem 
Propaganda 
Comic books 

"Sandman" comic books (especially the "Death: the High Cost of Living" comics) 
"The Crow" comics 
"Johnny the Homicidal Maniac" and "Squee" both by Jhonen Vasquez 
Goth-friendly record labels: 

Cleopatra 
Projekt 
Tess 
Anubis

Movies

It might be an interesting tidbit to note that Tim Burton is the director for several of the movies I've listed here. He seems to have the knack for the gothic aesthetic in a film. 

The Hunger - a vampire flick with David Bowie and Susan Sarandon. Its opening scene shows a view of a dance club with a caged Peter Murphy singing "Bela Lugosi's Dead." 

Rocky Horror Picture Show - a cult classic musical with Tim Curry as a flamboyant transvestite. A little too strange to be described. Most small independent film theaters will have a Rocky Horror showing night now and again where people come dressed as the characters. There is a stage area where players mimic the movie as it plays. A caller leads the standard interjected addition of lines, and the audience participates in the scenes by throwing rice at the wedding scene, squirting squirtguns during the scene where it's raining, dancing during the "Time Warp" song etc. Quite a fun event. 

Hellraiser (and all of the sequels) - Some horror flicks hit it big with Goths, some don't care for them at all. 

Dracula - from Bela Lugosi's version to the Francis Ford Coppola version, it tends to be a big classic (as well as the book). 

Heathers - an eighties movie with Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, and Shannen Doherty that offers a black humor about high school and killing. 

The Crow - starring Brandon Lee (who was accidentally killed during filming). A classic truly for its dark themes of murder, revenge, love, urban decay. Dark aesthetics in the film with shots of a graveyard and an elaborate church. 

Edward Scissorhands - with Johnny Depp, a movie about a misfit with an unusual hedge-trimming genius who seems a bit out of place in the picture perfect suburbia. 

The Nightmare Before Christmas - catchy tunes like "This Is Halloween" and classic characters like Jack the Pumpkin King and Sally make it a big hit with Goths. 

Beetlejuice - with Geena Davis, Winona Ryder and Michael Keaton. Winona Ryder's character is a Goth classic, the spooky girl Lydia. 

Batman Returns - I think that the wintertime atmosphere and the sleek sexy fetish inspired catwoman costume make this movie gothic. It had a darker feel than all of the following sequels. 

The Craft - 1996 film with Neve Campbell. This wasn't that good of a movie, and it has more to do with witchcraft than gothic. However, it is one of the few movies that has a goth chick as a main character, not that she is portrayed in a realistically Goth way. 

Gothic - not what you might first think, its true to the original gothic literature movement. It is a movie about the night that Mary Shelley first came up with the idea for Frankenstein. Full of ghost stories, hallucinations, horror and madness. 

The Lost Boys - with Corey Haim, Corey Feldman and Keifer Sutherland, it's one of the classic 80's teenage renegade vampire flicks, with an even better soundtrack. 

A Clockwork Orange - A twisted film based on the novel concerning society, violence, the government, mind control and conditioning.

Misc. Goth Interests
art (Most Goths are dabblers in the creative arts, e.g. photography, music, painting, writing, drawing etc.) 
the humanities in general (many have an interest in literature and history, philosophy etc.) 
H. R. Giger ("Alien," biomechanic fantasy artwork) and Salvador Dali (Surrealist artist) 
clove cigarettes 
cats 
candles 
fairies 
gargoyles 
coffee, "going to coffee" -- getting together to drink coffee and socialize at a diner or coffee shop 
Christmas lights -- the miniature kind strung all around the bedroom 
spider webs, spiders -- spider web design on tights, shirt, jewelry 
skulls, skeletons -- in jewelry, on tights or clothing 
graveyards -- especially to take pictures or have picnics 
coffins -- most often a coffin shaped box (the cross between a lunch box and purse) or jewelry holder 
other such spooky things 
Egyptian symbols, Christian symbols, Pagan symbols -- cross, ankh, pentacle etc.

Critical Analysis

Acceptance Into Scene|Gothic Stereotype|Appeal of Graveyards|Blood Letting & Drinking|Death Fixation Depression|Cutting one's self  

Gothic culture is a multifaceted entity with several different aspects; there are at least three major components of the subculture. One aspect is involvement in the gothic social scene -- especially frequenting clubs and knowing others involved in the scene. To outsiders, gothic is almost always evaluated by what is known of the visible social scene. The scene ideally facilitates the exchange of ideas and draws individuals of like mind and interests together. In reality, it is most often a social group similar to other social groups and cliques in structure and function, i.e. it provides a sense of belonging, contains unspoken social hierarchies, establishes norms of social behavior, etc. It must be noted that gaining acceptance in the social scene is not necessarily an interest of everyone involved in gothic culture. It often becomes progressively less important to individuals as they grow older through their 20's and 30's. 

Another essential aspect is having a gothic personality. In short, this includes individualism, an interest in the darker side of life and the supernatural, focus on beauty and dark aesthetics, art, emotion, creativity, intellectualism, mystery, and drama. Almost everyone in the subculture would probably agree that possessing the gothic personality is ultimately what makes someone gothic. 

The last is a passion for gothic music. The subculture is musically based and driven; the music is what holds the social scene together. As the music changes, the direction of the scene changes. Music is most often the reason cited for continued involvement in gothic culture over the years. Read the Music category for more. 

These three aspects of gothic culture are interdependent in many ways; they are intertwined to make up the whole picture. However, each of the three does not possess the same amount of importance to different individuals; some people may only be involved in one or two of those three aspects. Further examination follows. 

Acceptance Into Social Scene

The social scene tends to use this general criteria to evaluate whether someone should be considered Gothic. The most important aspects of "true gothness" are 2, 3 and 4 below.

Frequenting Goth haunts -- Regularly visiting places Goths frequent is the easiest and most superficial way to become accepted. This includes gothic clubs, coffee shops, thrift stores, fetish stores, independent music stores, etc. If there are no specific gothic nights at a club, Goths may be found at fetish or industrial theme nights. Frequenting gothic places may give someone exposure to the culture, but not necessarily acceptance.


Dressing gothic -- Goths initially identify other Goths by appearance. See common culture under fashion. The appearance indicates the potential for common interests. However, it often takes further investigation to determine whether or not the person is gothic. The way a person dresses alone does not automatically make him or her a Goth. For some people, the image of being gothic is shed as easily as taking off those gothic clothes.


Possessing the gothic mentality/personality -- This indicates whether a person is gothic internally as opposed to merely looking gothic externally. For people with the gothic personality, their involvement is not merely a rebellious phase, but part of their inner self. Those likely to become interested in Goth and remain involved in it will usually possess most of the following characteristics and traits beforehand: individualistic, reflective, artistic, creative, introspective, emotionally focused and driven, sensitive, non-violent, moody. They are likely to have a distaste for authority, possess above average intelligence, and be social misfits. Most are interested in the beautiful, the mysterious and the supernatural.


Listening to gothic (and related) music -- This includes the depth of music knowledge and level of dedication. See Relevant Music Classifications. It also includes familiarity with other media such as books and movies; however, these count to a lesser extend and do not qualify alone. The music plays different roles to different people. Some people enjoy Gothic only for its social or aesthetic aspects and never seek to listen to more than the most popular and well-known of Goth bands. True dedication to gothic culture is often displayed in one's span of music knowledge. Musical preference is advertised through band t-shirts, stickers, or mouthing the words to songs at a club. 


Knowing key gothic people -- Acceptance by the well-known members of the social group is often automatic grounds for being considered Goth no matter the length of time in the scene, how extreme the person looks, or musical preference.

Gothic Stereotype

Like any stereotype, the goth stereotype is a one dimensional exaggeration and people are usually not so one dimensional. Goths have a variety of interests, tastes and backgrounds. I personally don't know anyone who fits the stereotype exactly, but I do know a few who come close. Mostly, the stereotypes are something to make fun of. It helps us look at ourselves and laugh, to be able to have a sense of humor about the whole thing. 

Three words best sum up the what the stereotypical Goth is all about: death, pretension, and angst. The stereotypical Goth always wears black clothing, or every now and again white -- never any other color. They have dyed black hair, black nails, white face makeup, black eye makeup and black lipstick -- maybe some designs drawn at the edge of the eyes in black eyeliner. (This goes for guys and girls.) The stereotypical Goth nowadays likes to dress up like a vampire or act like one. They like blood, death, coffins, bats, skulls, spider webs and anything spooky. Take a look at common culture under fashion to get more of an idea of the kind of things they might wear. They will never wear jeans and a T-shirt, and they never go out in public without their makeup on. Stereotypical goths look just like all the other stereotypical Goths. 

The stereotypical Goth is excessively vain, and when he/she goes out dancing, will stare at him/herself in the mirror. They spend hours doing their makeup. Every ten minutes, they check to see if it is smudged. They also have a persecution complex. They insult and judge baby bats who are not Goth enough, but they get very upset and feel so tormented when some normal person makes the "Halloween isn't until October, you freak" comment. The stereotypical Goth never smiles and always broods. They write bad cheesy poems about angst or vampires or tragedy. He/she is not just an artist, but an arteest (super pretentious bad artist trying to be an intellectual). They drink coffee, avoid sunlight, and only smoke clove cigarettes. They will not listen to anything other than gothic music. They hang out at graveyards for kicks or sit around at coffee shops all day. Their job, if they have one, will probably be either fast food or telemarketing. They take themselves and life very seriously and blow everything way out of proportion. They always act over-dramatic. They spend a lot of time watching The Crow and reading Interview with the Vampire again and again. 

The best humorous representation of the Goth stereotype is done by Jhonen Vasquez with a character he draws named Anne Gwish. She appears a few times in his various "Johnny the Homicidal Maniac" comics. A classic line of hers is, "My life is a dark pit of darkness."

Appeal of Graveyards

It is a convenient place, when warm enough outside, to go talk, drink, socialize, party, make out, and so forth. Graveyards have the same appeal that a public park would to the average person. Someone lacking a place to drink indoors will find a place outside. Cemeteries are one of the many options -- others include parks, camping areas, the parking lot of a church, etc.


It is a quiet place which lends itself to introspection and reflection on what life is about and what is important. It puts us in touch with our own mortality. If we understand the fragility of life, we are better able to appreciate it. We get away from TV, computers, stress, responsibility, superficiality and the unimportant things that invade our lives. A graveyard promotes a level of introspection and reflection that not many other places can.


Graveyards are beautiful. The sculptures, mausoleums and grave sites are often elaborate and ornate. They are a gothic museum, a favorite place to take artistic pictures.


The mystery and supernatural atmosphere that surrounds graveyards is alluring. People often feel a spiritual or supernatural presence there. Goths generally tend to focus on the supernatural.

Blood Letting & Blood Drinking

Blood letting and blood drinking differ from the act of cutting oneself. The motivations might be the same, but the desired ends can be different. Blood drinking can be solitary, between two people or in a group -- whereas cutting oneself is almost always solitary. The main difference between the two is that the focus is more on the blood than the pain with blood drinking. Blood has historically been a powerful symbol in literature and art, signifying both life and death. Blood drinking and blood letting are always a case of taking the symbolic into the literal. 

Vampiric imitation - Movies and other pop culture in the past years have done much to romanticize vampires. Vampires were once represented as demons and creatures of the devil in folklore. They were surrounded by superstitions concerning garlic, holy water and crosses. These days, partially due to contemporary authors such as Anne Rice, vampires have shed much of their superstitious air and come to embody the darker desires of humanity's ideal. The vampire has become a sensual creature of passion and beauty, immortally young, powerful, and free of inhibition. The vampire is no longer the murderous demon, but a symbol of what humanity wishes it could be: fearless, immortal, indulgent, powerful. I think that almost all young kids have a fascination or interest with the supernatural (aliens, monsters, fairies, witches and vampires). Some don't ever pursue it. Teenagers especially tend to find the vampiric symbol attractive when they reach a time in life when they feel very powerless, restricted, uncertain and anxious. This category consists of people who find pleasure in imitating the vampiric lifestyle. Some take it fairly seriously indeed. They do not kill to get blood, but they will drink from themselves or any willing donors using controlled cutting techniques (such as using a surgical or exacto knife or any other cutting tool that is precise, sharp and sterile). These people do not necessarily think they are vampires, but they enjoy playing the part. They are not usually the type to drink blood from a glass or drink an animal's blood. This category does not necessarily have anything to do with blood drinking as part of an erotic experience, although it can.


Curiosity and experimentation - Some people will try it just to see what it tastes like, how it feels, how the blood flows, what it looks like. These cuts will usually be made with razor blades or more crude knives (such as a pocket knife, kitchen knife or makeshift sharp tool). These cuts are usually fairly superficial and made in an easy to hide area such as the inner arm. This person will most likely end up doing it alone, but sometimes might be a part of a group that begins experimenting with blood letting and blood drinking. 


Erotic experience - Sex is a way to share yourself with your partner. For some people, blood drinking can also be a part of this sharing experience. Often it is viewed as a more deeply bonding and erotic way to experience the essence of another person. It is the ultimate way to symbolically share your life with another. This would be an entirely consensual experience and perhaps a part of some fantasy role playing. This category always has to do with blood drinking as a sensual pleasure in an erotic exchange, although factors such as curiosity or vampiric fantasies may also play a part. As far as blood extraction, I have been told that if you suck on a particular part of the skin in a certain way for long enough, blood will come out. Sometimes blood is extracted by controlled cutting, or (depending on the inclination of those involved) with teeth or nails for those who into more "rough" sex or a "primal" experience.


Extremists: killers, religious cults, fanatics - There are some people that are extremists who practice blood letting and blood drinking for entirely different motivations than all of the aforementioned categories. These groups might kill a human or animal to get blood. They might drink it out of a glass. They may offer bloodshed as a religious offering and sacrifice. They may drink or let blood as part of a ceremonial ritual. These extremists often believe that blood is a powerful agent, that it can help one gain immortality. They use it to worship a deity. Blood letting or drinking may rarely also be a motivation for murder. There are a few people who sincerely believe they actually are vampires and are obsessed with vampires to the extent of becoming a fanatic. This person is not really religiously or homicidally motivated; they are delusional and probably disturbed. At the very least, they have lost the ability to distinguish fantasy from reality. These groups or individual extremists are very relatively small in number. Their fanaticism or criminal activity lands them in the media spotlight at times, but the destructive groups are not the whole of those who practice blood letting or blood drinking. An overwhelming majority of people who have engaged in an act of blood drinking will never come close to this category.

Death Fixation

One of the most common stereotypes surrounding Goth is the subculture's "fixation" on death. Much of the symbolism and the look seem to connote, at the very least, an interest in the topic. The depth of this interest would vary with each individual, as always. In general, Goths are an exaggeration of the darker side of the human psyche. They represent outwardly the thoughts that linger in the back of everyone's mind. Goths tend to make their feelings about death a little more open than the rest of the world. 

Death -- in literature, in life and in religion -- has always been a monumental driving force in many of humanity's efforts. All of humanity is fixated on death in a more subtle way. Observe news, movies, and television for confirmation. Modern society has disassociated itself from the reality of death. Most people do not kill their food. Medical advances have increased life spans. The average person does not experience being around death firsthand very often. Death is an abstract concept to most people. This dissociation of life and death in modern culture hinders a conscious awareness of the total life cycle. It can make people forget to appreciate life. 

Many Goths say that Gothic represents acceptance of the inevitability of death and the existence of the darker side of life. That does not mean that Goths possess an obsession with either one. Goth is recognizing the balance of dark and light, life and death, without turning away, denying, or living in fear of the things some people find disturbing. For some Goths, it is an acceptance of the inevitable that makes them appreciate life and live it to the fullest from day to day.

Depression

It is difficult to determine if Goths are categorically more depressed than others in the general population. Mainstream society often views depression and sadness as an abnormality that must be suppressed or cured. Adolescence is a time of depression for many individuals; yet, those individuals may feel pressure from family, friends or teachers to be "perfect." These young people may feel incredible pain, but do now show it for fear of being derided as if they are abnormal. Some youths find Gothic culture to be one group of people that says, "We know you are depressed -- it's okay. We don't think any less of you for it. Here's your chance express those feelings." 

Depression seems to be a feeling that Goth personifies. It is one emotion that typifies goth best. Punk represents rebellion; Industrial represents anger; Goth represents sadness. Many people now feel so alienated from each other that they will break off into small groups, latch onto a specific belief or idea, and form a culture surrounding it. People belong to these subcultures in order to feel as if they own something and are a part of something. They become an exclusive club, not understanding other subcultures or even the parent culture after some time. Subcultures take an idea and exaggerate it to the point where they typify it. This exaggeration of the beauty of sadness in Gothic culture leads people to think that Goths are more depressed than other groups. It is possible that Goths are more depressed that other people. It is also possible that this is just the impression people get about Gothic because it is an exaggerated personification. 

Goth happens to be a group of creative individuals; most are artists in some way. Artists have long had the reputation for depression or mental instability, whether it be a valid reputation or not. At the very least, this may be an image that Goth tries to embody -- the tortured artist. 

Being Goth does not necessarily cause sadness, but people can easily become trapped in their chosen surroundings and self-expectations. People can start taking the image and stereotype of being depressed and being Gothic too seriously. They find themselves living up to an image; they close themselves off to thoughts, clothes or activities that do not fit this image. This scenario can cause Goths to create more depression for themselves. However, the likelihood of this occurrence is largely dependent on an individual's personality and how he or she perceives Goth. A depressed Goth was likely depressed before he or she became a Goth. 

The bottom line is that being Goth does not necessarily mean being depressed. While Goths are capable of feeling extreme sadness, they are also capable of experiencing great joy. Most are able to maintain balance in their lives. To some, Goth only says that sadness, like happiness, has its own majestic beauty and must be embraced as a valid emotion, not pushed down as an abnormality.

Reasons Why Kids Cut Themselves

It's a common misconception that all goth kids cut themselves.Well, although not all, or even most, do, some do, and since it has become so blown out of proportion, I figure I might as well give everyone an accurate view as to why they cut themselves.

1."They cut to get attention": These youths will make shallow cuts in obvious or semi-obvious areas, like the inner arm, usually with a razor blade. It will be in a place that can be hidden by clothing from parents or teachers. However, they will want friends or others to be observant enough to notice and care. This person is not actually suicidal. They want someone to notice even though they may hide their cuts and scars.

2."To avoid suicide by substituting a physical pain for a nebulous inner pain they can't control": These people are not necessarily suicidal, but definitely filled with an overwhelming emotional pain. Physical pain can be induced to distract the person from their inner pain and give it a tangible symbolic form. Since physical pain heals, the act of cutting is a symbolic action to release inner pain and allow it to heal. The cuts and scars are also symbols to remember past pain and the fact that they've survived it. People cut themselves in a symbolic attempt to release emotional pain, whether or not the thought of suicide actually entered their mind. Cutting yourself as a form of self-punishment also falls into this category.

3."To acquire a sense of focus": People who try to achieve focus despite pain are testing the limits of mind over matter and experimenting with their pain tolerance level, to see if they can take it. People who focus on the pain are trying to overwhelm any other trivialities which may be distracting them. They are trying to become more in touch with their body and its mortality.

4. Another reason not mentioned in the article is experimentation/imitation. A person may grow curious about the sensation. They'll do it for purely experimental reasons -- to see what if feels like, what it looks like, how it scars. Imitation is also relevant here. Some youths get the idea for self-cutting by knowing others who have done it. Curiosity, or a desire to be like that person, will make them try it. Although in this case, it is to gain respect of those who also cut themselves.

Gothic Terms to Know

Described in their Relevance to Gothic Culture

alternateen: This term is meant to designate those teenybopper kids who listen to alternative music and try to be different by looking identical to other trend-following teenagers who are trying to be different. Usually used in reference to the kids who listen to Pearl Jam or U2, for example, and other such Top 40 bands that are classified as alternative for some reason. (The gothic version of these types are called baby bats.) 

angst: The existential suffering and depression one feels when one can see the world in all its tragedy. See "oh the angst of it all." 

baby bat: A derogatory term for those wannabe Gothics who are only familiar with the superficial aspects of the culture. They may do their makeup horribly and only listen to the most popular of the goth bands. They are mostly the younger kids going through a phase and trying to look cool. However people tend to fling this label at anyone they don't like. A lot of people prefer not to use the label because it implies a "more gothic than thou" attitude. 

Batcave: A club in Soho (London) that began in the early eighties and nurtured the first generation of gothics from their punk heritage. Bands like Alien Sex Fiend played there live. It was closed down years later with the apparent death of the Gothic movement in the UK. The term Batcave also refers to the more punk oriented Gothic. 

bondage babe: Girls decked out in fetish clothing at clubs, including bondage collar, bondage bracelets, bondage belt and some sort of latex, vinyl, or rubber outfit. Usually intended to mean the people who are following the fetish fashion trend rather than those who know much about fetish and BDSM culture. Also bondage boy. 

Bondage gear: For example, bracelets, belts, collars, etc. that will have a metal O ring or D ring attached. See Mary's picture for a look at a bondage belt. See Amy's picture for a look at a bondage collar. The purpose is to attach something like rope, for example, to the metal ring in some sort of way to restrict a person's movement, thus the idea "bondage". It is a popular trend among Gothics to wear these, even if they don't use them for bondage. See BDSM. 

BDSM: Represents Bondage, Discipline, and Sado-Masochism (also related, Dominance & Submission = DS). It is a form of sexual fantasy play between consenting adults often involving fetishes, focusing on mental, sensual and erotic experience over the standard sexual intercourse, and requiring a great level emotional trust and communication between partners. BDSM does not have anything to do with using pain or force on someone who is an unwilling victim. Although Gothics tend to appear to be familiar with the practices of bondage by their apparel, most of those people wearing vinyl pants and bondage bracelets don't know the first thing about BDSM and are following a fashion trend. The majority of BDSM practitioners have nothing to do with gothic, and they view bondage gear as a tool, not an accessory. 

*devil bunny: The term comes from a song by My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult. It is used to designate the people who think "Satan is cool," but are not exactly worshippers of Satan. See Theatrical Satanists. 

Doom & Gloom: The type of Gothic focused on morbid, tragic, depressing or apocalyptic themes. See mopey goths. 

"Everyday is Halloween": this phrase comes from the song "(Everyday Is) Halloween" by the band Ministry.

fetish: The dictionary's definition of fetish is excessive sexual focus on an object of fixation. Fetish fashion covers a wide range of fabrics such as leather, PVC, vinyl, rubber, and latex. It also includes items such as stiletto heels, thigh high boots, corsets and bondage gear or other items of clothing that one might become fixated on. See BDSM. 

first generation/second generation: First generation emerged mostly in the UK in the late seventies and early eighties as a splinter from the punk movement characterized by bands like The Damned, Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Joy Division. They were called Gothic later on, but most didn't consider themselves Gothic. By the mid to late eighties, the Gothic movement was waning. In the late eighties/early nineties, a new generation of Gothic bands emerged, for example The Shroud, Rosetta Stone, Nosferatu and London After Midnight, who were the first to characteristically call themselves Gothic. This is when the U.S. Gothic movement grew significantly, and Gothic became recognized as a distinct subculture. Whether or not second generation is authentically Gothic depends on whom you ask. Many of those first generation adherents will say it is not, and many others will say that second generation is a bad imitation of first generation. 

*glamgoth: A sarcastic term used for bands, (and their fans) who are excessively concerned with fitting the stereotypical Goth image. These bands might spend longer putting on their makeup for a concert than the actual concert lasts. Frequently during the set they might take a clove break or stop because their makeup is smearing. Their stage names will be something like Vlad or Lestat. You might find them singing about angst and tragedy, vampires, or doing excessively cheesy things. 

gothic slide: A characteristically gothic dance move in which your boots do not leave the dance floor as you glide across it by moving your feet. Somewhat like the footwork in the movie Footloose, but much more chaotic. 

integrity: A band with integrity will not compromise the artistic expression in their music in order to sell more records. Usually integrity means that a band is creating adventurous, meaningful or original music. See selling out. 

"in the scene": 1) Being involved in the social scene, especially frequenting clubs. 2) Also refers to people who go to all the "happening" parties every night. Someone deeply involved in the scene wants you to think they know everyone at a club by giving anyone that is even a brief acquaintance a hug as if they were great friends. They might say, "You know, it's sad when I look around and realize I know everyone." They are also big name droppers. You might hear them say something like, "Yeah, William Faith (of Faith and the Muse) invited me to come on tour with them, but I told him that I just didn't have the time." 

kindergoth: Also, kindergothen. It can be derogatory, meaning a poser much like baby bat, or it can also be neutral, meaning a very young Goth, usually 16 or younger. 

Mansonite: Much akin to the ninny, the Mansonite worships the band, and the lead singer who goes by the same name, Marilyn Manson. This term is usually used for those fans who like to dress up like him, do their makeup like him and wear Marilyn Manson t-shirts. Many goths will use this term in a derogatory way towards the teenagers they think are foolish for liking Marilyn Manson. 

melodrama: Also, psychodrama. In the dictionary, melodrama means a work characterized by extravagant drama and theatricality, appealing to the emotions. Melodrama is used to describe the way a social scene often seems like a soap opera. 

mod/waver: A term for fans of Modern/New Wave music. Mods usually love eighties music and British pop such as Depeche Mode, The Cure, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Smiths, etc. 

mopey Goths: Goths who have an overdeveloped sense of angst. These Goths are the ones you may find brooding in dark corners, pondering the pain of existence, wondering why their girlfriend/boyfriend has torn their heart out (again). In general, they tend to take life very seriously. 

"more gothic than thou": A sarcastic phrase used to designate a snobbish attitude, or describe people who take themselves too seriously. A play on "'holier than thou." Someone with a "more gothic than thou" attitude will likely tell you about the gothic bands they are into by saying, "You probably haven't heard of them." 

net.goth: A term for those Goths who frequently post to the alt.gothic newsgroup and have a fairly well known presence among the internet Goth community. The internet seems to have a culture all its own almost. Before I started web surfing, I had never heard the phrase perky Goth, mopey Goth or net.goth. 

ninny: A derogatory term for enthusiastic fans of the band Nine Inch Nails . The Nine Inch Nails symbol is . The term ninny is used to express the idea that people who worship Trent Reznor (who essentially is Nine Inch Nails) are foolish. 

"oh so gothic": 1) A sarcastic phrase to express one's opinion of something as Goth-worthy i.e. "I see you have all of the Bauhaus albums on vinyl. That's oh so gothic of you," or "Those skull shaped candle holders are oh so gothic." 2) A sarcastic phrase for those who take fitting the image of being gothic too seriously. Say it with a really cheesy English upper-class accent to add emphasis. 

"Oh the angst of it all": A sarcastic phrase used to mimic Gothics who take themselves too seriously and are constantly brooding. To add emphasis when saying it, put the back of your hand to your forehead and look like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. 

perky Goth: Some may say this is an oxymoron, but perky Goths are people who like the gothic style and music, but don't like the doom and gloom attitude some Goths have. (For those of you who have seen Switchblade Symphony play live, think of Tina Root.) Perky Goths try not to take themselves too seriously and don't brood. They like to have fun. You'll often find them wearing, for example, body glitter, a mixture of black and non-black clothing, and telling the mopey Goths to lighten up. The mopey Goths say that they are missing the point of Gothic entirely. 

raver: Can either refer to a fan of techno music, or techno music itself. Techno music is characterized by an electronic, digital, fast beat created by drum machines. There is also a large subculture surrounding it. Large, secret, underground gatherings of techno music and drug use are called raves. 

rivethead: A fairly recent term used to describe fans of industrial music. The term Industrial was coined in 1976 (another child of the punk movement) several years before Gothic emerged. However, it remained only a music form for much longer before a culture developed around it. Gothic as a subculture is older than industrial subculture. See Industrial in the Music Related Definitions. 

selling out: A term used to describe bands who were once underground and then became popular, Top 40 music. Usually the term selling out refers to the band or artist compromising their musical quality or artistic expression in order to sell more music. They are essentially selling themselves. It often is used by the underground elitists to justify not liking a band based only on who else listens to them. Music that has sold out has somehow become diluted, common, and generic when it once may have had specialness, power and force. Whether the artist did the diluting or the constant repetition of a song on the radio, MTV etc. dilutes it, the effect is the same. See integrity. 

spooky kid: This is a very recent term which doesn't have much widespread usage quite yet. The spooky kids are followers of Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch Nails and are mostly under 18 years old. (Originally the name of the band was Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids.) People confuse spooky kids for Goths, which is frustrating to Goths because Goth culture gets blamed for the stupid things spooky kids do. Spooky kids and Goths don't associate with each other very much, and they tend to not like each other. Goths resent them for being poseurs and giving Goth a bad name, and they resent Goths for being snobs and elitists. Spooky kid is usually used as a derogatory term similar to baby bat, but it specifically refers to the younger and ardent Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch Nails fans. I'm not sure if spooky kids call themselves spooky kids, I think most of them call themselves Goth. 

ultragoth: 1)In the pie chart, Ultra Goth is described as those for whom gothic is who they are, not what they dress up as. 2) Also, the Gothics who have a more extreme appearance and/or have been in the scene for a long time. They are usually over 20 years old. 3) Often used to designate the gothic snobs, ones who have a "more gothic than thou" attitude. 

underground: Something that is not widely known about among the general population. It is secret, obscure, hidden, rare, only for a selected few who are knowledgeable enough to pursue it. There are two tendencies that often occur in those who adamantly participate in an underground culture. The first is elitism. In general the elitists view themselves as having suffered (persecution, harassment) to become a part of something rare and unusual. They dislike those who have not suffered to join the culture, those who are following a trend. The trend-followers defile what was sacred and make common what was once rare. The elitists view that culture as something they had to search for, discover, and suffer ridicule for; and they despise those who had it handed to them. The second tendency of those in an underground culture is a wide familiarity (often acceptance and friendliness depending on the person) with other people in the social scene or those who appear to be a part of the same culture. 

*weekender/weekend Goth: 1) In the pie chart, weekender is defined as the kids going through a phase. See also baby bat. 2) Also, weekend Goths are the people who dress normally when around normal people and dress gothic when they go to gothic clubs. Basically, they are the ones who conform to whatever environment they are in. It has nothing to do with their knowledge of the culture, it has to do with their appearance in different contexts. Some weekend Goths have to dress somewhat normally because of a professional career but are Goth at heart. Some don't dare to suffer the ostracism they would receive by looking different among normal people and are only closet Goths Depending on which type of person the term is applied to, it can have either neutral or negative connotations.

Occult

Ritualistic Magic: An attempt to control powerful, supernatural forces through the use of ceremonies.

Ritual or Ceremonial Magic: Magic usually practiced by a group (two or more persons) and using:

1. Chanting or incantations (spells)
2. Ceremonial dress (robes)
3. Potions
4. Gestures
5. Special signs or symbols
6. Ceremonial artifacts
7. Mimicry or imitation
8. Anything that will create a state of emotional or mental intoxication.

Concept of Stored Energy: Every object or creature is a natural storehouse of energy that a magician can tap into and use to facilitate, empower or energize his spells.

Transmission of Qualities: The belief that the qualities of objects or creatures can be magically transmitted.

Sympathetic Magic: The belief that if one has a part of his enemy, or intended lover, he can harm, or attract, that person more easily through that part because it contains some of the essence of the person.

Satanists

Since some goths are satanists (note: SOME..not all stanists are goths, and not all goths are satanists) I figured I'd include it here

Satanist Types

Proclaimed Satanists: These people are members of the documented Satanic churches. The First Church of Satan and the Temple of Set are examples. Anton LeVay founded the Church of Satan in the 1960's when he wrote The Satanic Bible, a text which emphasizes that man is an animal, no better than his four-legged brethren. LeVay's Satanism claims that as an animal, man should follow his natural instincts. Members of these proclaimed satanist groups are usually young adults or older. They rarely admit juveniles. Members come from all professions: doctors, lawyers, school teachers, politicians, police officers, etc. Their income and IQ are generally average or above. They denounce criminals and criminal acts by occultists. Their belief system is centered around principles of self-empowerment, individualism, responsibility, and questioning. They do not necessarily see Satan as an actual being or deity to worship. Often Satan is the symbolic representation of man's carnal nature.

Theatrical Satanists: These youths are usually ages 9 to 17 years old and are called "wannabes" by some experts. The name "theatrical" comes from the fact that they only act the part. They get what little occult knowledge they have from readily obtainable commercial sources: music, movies, videos, magazines, television and friends. They are unsophisticated in their occult practices. Usually they are part of a group of youth with similar interests. They often will dress like the rock stars to whose music they listen. They generally commit those violations of the law common to youthful offenders. Approximately 5 - 8% of the youth pass through this stage of "living on the dark side of life." Most mature and pass through this phase relatively unaffected, but a few may progress on to the next phase.

Experimental Satanists: Ranging in age from about 14 to 20, these youths have sensed a power or fulfilled a need during the theatrical stage of involvement. They have now read and studied occult training manuals, and/or attended rituals conducted by more experienced practitioners. These children are now conducting rituals themselves. The rituals may be simple or complex. Their knowledge has been acquired through effort. They are most often part of a group which might commit a wide range of crimes from vandalism to homicide. They may cut themselves to obtain blood for ceremonies. Drugs and sex are a part of their rituals, and they may participate in animal sacrifice.

Christian Satanists

What's a Christian Satanist? I would describe them as people who have been raised in the Christian tradition. They believe the principles and tenets of Christianity (they accept the Christian teleological explanation of the universe), but they choose to worship the figure of Satan rather than Christ. They call themselves Satanists, but they have little to nothing in common with followers of LeVay's Church of Satan, or any other group of proclaimed satanists. What's the difference? The primary motivation of the Christian Satanist is rebellion. They make up their worship as they go along.

The myths of demonology and Satanism have been spread by fundamentalist Christian groups throughout the centuries. The Salem witch hunts and Spanish Inquisition are the most familiar examples of Christian fervor to brand anything different from itself as Satanism. Extreme Christian groups have shown throughout history to use scare-tactics to keep their followers in line. Satan has also often been the scapegoat for those who stepped out of line, i.e. "the devil made me do it."

Kenneth Lanning of the FBI reported that there is no conclusive evidence that a secret, organized, Satanic cult group committing large-scale crime and multiple murders has ever existed. However, there are rebellious teenagers today who choose to do anything in their power to shock and outrage adults. Since Christianity is the dominant belief system of Western culture, the concept of Satan as the "evil being" has a certain appeal to anyone who wishes to upset conservative forces. These teens will buy into what I call the myth of Christian Satanism. They will create a reality to substantiate the myth. They will act to fulfill every stereotype which has been presented as Satanism by the media and religion. They will also use Satanism as an excuse to justify or explain criminal activity they don't want to take responsibility for. This group of youthful Christian Satanists essentially exists because of the myth originally popularized by conservative Christian groups. Proclaimed Satanists would state that these people are not authentic Satanists. With these things in mind, read through Johnson's material about Youthful Satanists below:

Today's Youthful Satanism contains elements taken from voodoo, witchcraft, pornography, paganism, the Church of Satan, other religions and the drug culture. There are two main types of Youthful Satanists.

THEATRICAL SATANISTS OR SIMPLE DABBLERS

These youths are usually about 10 to 16 years of age. They get their information from friends, certain kinds of music, books, movies, videos, and television. Crimes they might commit would be: vandalizing a stop sign, smashing a tombstone, breaking into a church and stealing something, or ripping up a Bible. Approximately 8% of all high school age children go through this phase of living on the "darker side of life." An increasing number of junior high and elementary age kids are dabbling as well, but most young people pass through this phase relatively unaffected. These children are rebelling; they are not religiously motivated. Theatrical Satanism has little organization to it.

EXPERIMENTAL SATANISTS OR ADVANCED DABBLERS

About 1% of children between the ages of 14 and 20 move on to this second phase, which is characterized by personal study or practice. The Experimental Satanist may have sensed a power over others or the unseen world and is trying to control it. These youths borrow from all aspects of the occult and make up their own style of worship. They perform rituals -- thus the title "experimental". Part of their rituals may involve cutting their body to obtain blood to drink during a ceremony. They may kill animals as a sacrifice. Some have been known to commit acts of homicide. While these youth are somewhat religiously motivated, their primary motivation is still rebellion.

Experimental Satanism has a definite organization and leadership structure [which is created by the group's participants]. When a juvenile joins a group of Experimental Satanists, he is required to attend certain activities and make commitments. In the beginning stage he is told that Satan has all power and that God is weak. God doesn't care about mankind. That is the reason why there is so much misery in the world. He is told about the ability to obtain riches here on earth and about reincarnation and how he can return to earth with great powers. Beginning ceremonies are introduced to him at this point. If he decides to continue with the group, he is told he must make strong and binding commitments. He will eventually be required to give his soul to Satan in return for the riches and powers he will receive. It is stressed that roasting in hell for all eternity is just a myth perpetrated by the Christians. Through Satanism he will receive powers beyond anything he can imagine. To demonstrate his loyalty to the group and to prove to Satan he is sincere, he might be asked to become sexually involved with the group or to commit a serious crime. This is also a tactic to keep him from telling on the group. He will be required to go through some type of ceremony in which he swears allegiance to Satan and denounces God. He promises to fight against and do anything to destroy Christianity. This will sometimes be a verbal covenant, but will often be a blood covenant where a communion made of blood, urine and alcohol will be taken. He is told that a demon (he is often told the demon's name) has been assigned to watch him and report to Satan. The demon will destroy him if he disobeys those in authority or tells on the group. He may be told that members of his family will die if he breaks his covenants. He will probably take part in animal sacrifices and may eventually participate in the killing of a human, usually a member of the group. [It must be emphasized again that this type of Satanic group is created entirely by its local participants. The goal of the group's leader is not to worship a deity, but to gain control of others within the group.]