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The gothic lifestyle and your part in it. Do you in some way have an active part in the gothic lifestyle?

What are your personal thoughts,expressions and opinions about the gothic lifestyle, and why?

Please explain.

Mainly I am curious who here lives the lifestyle and how they participate in the gothic culture and do they find other cultures treat them any different.

I don't personally live it, though I've always been attracted to it. I like it's dark beauty.

as a goth i want to say it is not all about the white face paint and black clothes and dying your hair

i for one am a blonde who will dye my hair any color anytime but finds that blonde is more suited to my complextion.
i believe it is more of a state of mind along with being able to express those ideas intelligently
if your creative and can express thru your make up and such goo for it ...i wear black about 85% of the time about 5% other colors and 10% nude ...i like black lip stick and dark eyes but i dont do the pale thing with out looking like iam trying to hard i actuallly like to use grey on my cheeks like preps use blush.
i collect skulls and keep my house dark most light is computer and tv candles being goth is my life my way!

for me, it's all about the music.

about 12/13 years ago, someone gave me a sisters of mercy cd and it was all down hill from there.


and, yes, you don't have to wear all black, and have pale face makeup and black eyes and lips. i for one never did it. i have always loved the bright colors and mix them with the darker colors and the military gear that usually wear. (the military gear that i use is from modern times back to the victorian area.)


and to be honest, it's less of a lifestyle as it is a state of mine. it's more about enjoying what society says is the darker side of life and understanding yourself and how you fit into the world.

i have a very conservative looking exterior, but my home is filled with skulls, gothic art, and ofcoarse my coffin.

music is a good part of anyones life thoe sisters of mercy i always thought were along the lines of heavy metal /death metal like king diamond and hellion but everyone i believes interpets things differntly

actually that's part what i love about goth, you can listen to what ever you want and you can still be part of that world. i've seen people walk into clubs wearing super hero shirts, or hip-hop artist shirts, or cowboy hats and full gear, or just about any subculture you can think of style and be totally accepted by the crowd.

even the music uses bit of everything. i've heard and spun goth music that takes bits of punk, metal, classical, blues, jazz, hip-hop, trance, freestyle and even regaton (sp?)

hiphop? Really? I said that in a comment when rating a club in the database --- more tongue-in-cheek than serious and a newbie came down on me hard. Said this was a goth site and I should go to facebook with my music tastes. lol.

I like that you say it's more all inclusive cause I'd never want to be restricted in my tastes in art, music, books, people, clothes. The world's too big for that.

Also, t shirts and whatnot (china, glassware, throw pillows) with skulls, inexplicable grave etchings and other death images abound now. Pop culture has swept Gothic into the mainstream.

Does that mean it's so over?

hell noo it will never be over...it is all about excepting your self and others as they come and keeping the dark in your heart sticking to what you believe and not forceing it on others

yes, there is a few goth/industrial bands that use hip-hop, like the strand and smp. ;)

it makes no difference what you listen to. i had some newbie get mad at me for liking the beatles..... my gods, and i've been a goth dj longer than she could get into clubs....

I believe the gothic lifestyle and culture are dead. Now we're left with people who claim to know what goth is.

how can it be dead ? if there are many who are still living it ...and what of the gothic cruise surely they would not fund something dead and gone.

My intrest in Goth had origins in my interst in Victorian Parlor, and when woman wore mourning garb, even though they where not mourning.

The photos of early gothic fashion, usually risqué peeked my interest still in my skin magazine phase.

I find the critical insight into trend and fad my goth friends have to be consistent as well, most of them are well versed in history as well.

No, I don't live any labeled lifestyle. I do however appreciate gothic art, some of the music, and many of the movies that would fall under the title of goth.

I don't mind other people who claim to be goth, though. Who would I be to tell them what they are or are not?

I do not believe the culture and lifestyle are dead. There are probably plenty of people in their thirties and fourties who would beg to differ the death of their chosen society.

Gothic Life Style is not concerned with the fashion or looks at all. it is the darkst activities of uncommon and related to the inner and celestial, which is called the gothic lifestyle.

I did adopt gothic life style but now on balancing side to heal my conscious, it been went very deep once i am pulling back from the hurt, giving rest to my chakras coz I went wrong way in research of the finding new ways inventing new method of psychic exercises.

Knowing that there are other things besides material things and not fearing anything that society wants us to fear. That's how I live my life but I don't know if that is goth after all it defers for anyone. Personally that's what I think it is, by not fearing to be yourself.

As for Gothic art, music etc...heck yes I love it!

To me being gothic isnt exactly looking like one..I consider myself me, music is what soothes me and so what if it is Death, Dark or Goth..I do wear black most of the time but as far as my house looks it is normal, only in my bedroom do you find the true me...I am not ashamed or anything for that nature but private and well some dont understand at all....Just because of what i like and the music i listen too my neighborhood calls Us Satanists....Which perhaps we are but..I do not care how ppl see me but I do my Grandbabies....I live as I wish and that is gothic...

I don't really see how Goth can be a lifestyle...? I think it's just, the way you are...? I'm confusing myself already.
Anyway I'd not call myself a goth, I never have even though everyone (especially random members of public) likes to think I am. I'm just myself and no matter how 'normal' I try to be, even when I try really hard, I just can't pull it off. I dress how I want, which to be fair is usually in black, and I would never ever be seen dead wearing jeans and a shirt. My makeup is fairly gothic styled, due to the extensive use of black eyeshadow and liquid eyeliner. My bedroom is overly decorated (cluttered even) with a mixture of pirate thingies, hello kitty, dolls and skeletons. My taste in music is as far from goth as you can get, I can't stand bauhaus, siouxie and the banshees, or the sisters of mercy (I told this to the bassist).
I'm not trying to be anything in particular, I'm not trying to rebel, I'm not going through a phase, I'm just being myself to the best of my ability.
I think it's daft to put yourself into a category, I think everyone should just be themselves, and if the world is going to label them, then let them.

Maybe VR is a Perky Goth site:

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. 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.


http://www.gothicsubculture.com/definition.php#perky

Love this one!

"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."

http://www.gothicsubculture.com/index.php

This site is full of Goth info.

If you like you can go down a list to determine if you're Goth. For me: Literature: bingo. Art: ditto Movies: fosho. Cats and vampires: lay 'em on.

Turns out teeny Xmas lights all year long as home decor is a Goth thing. I thought it was a New Mexican thing.

I remember I read that site some years ago even though I can't access it at the moment. Marked a yes on all of the list and enjoyed filling the questionnaire and post it in my journal.

Lol yes I've met people like that.

In all subcultures there are those who want to be the most of all and define others as posers, it's like there is a pedigree certificate that I don't know of?

Anyway there are more Gothic sites that are about the subculture but still why not having one's own definition? It's always a joy to read them though.

My house is decorated is what most people would call gothic - dark reds and black, halloween stuff up all year. I wear black alot. I also promote the community through membership in online organizations such as this one and through local meetups. I also write dark poetry and have helped others with writing can published an interview.

I mis represented, goth is not widely on sacred text. but whole dark world and dark side is goth world. I must say all dark activities are gothic activities.

yes it too is goth honorable pepper. adopting darkness in lifestyle is goth. even you if live 15% of your day gothic, you are goth.

Sounds awesome Pepper and wished I could have my Home like that but with lil demons running around, kinda impossible....Goth is a word the unbelievers use, we are just like anyone else, no matter how we dress, how our homes look, the music we listen too..

http://www.gothicsubculture.com/index.php

is nice site nicely interprates the Goth.

I do not consider myself goth, growing up the classes were stoners and preps. come on, why do individuals need to be classed, because they way they dress or act.

i dont live the goth lifestyle but i do appreciate it ....i think its a minset rather than a specific look....society has people to believe that people who wear all black are gothic...morbid...i think black is a great color on every body and for whatever reason that they are wearing it

So Goth is as much what a person is when others are not around, as it is what a person presents themselves to other as?

This thread rocks..!

I tend to listen to a lot of Gothic-Rock, Darkwave, and Deathrock, and I do abuse the eyeliner and Aquanet at times, but I don't consider myself part of the "Goth" subculture. No one around me is into the same sort of things, and most of the true scene is dead.

So goth is what a trend or statement or just the colors would like too know seriously. why is the culture stereotypiing things and not just a fad too say, huh goth is like 70's disco. wow what a trip.

70s I still remember osibisa and others...

I remember one song brown girl in the ring... I must listen it again...


dark represents chocolate but taste of lighter side must be there of sweet, without balancing the person mere beast...

Yeah - I used to 'look' the part back in the 80's and early 90's, but I'm still the same 'goth' on the inside...whatever that is.
I like the subculture's music, the art, the fashion, and the general openess of those who subscribe to it.

My question to everyone is this.... Do you really know where the term goth originated and what the goth tribe was and stood for and why the color black was important to them?

The color black to the goth tribes were so that they could attack their enemies by night and not been seen.

Here is a bit of history on the original goths, just in case anyone would like to know where the term originated. It may not be the best link but its a start and anyone interested can continue the research from there. :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goths

I knew many individuals who were goth growing up. I think I was one of them but I cannot be sure. I was more of a metal head then anything though.

Nowadays, I think the term is Emo or something like that. Like I said, I knew individuals. We all grew up just as the kids these days will as well. I simply cannot wait for the new term to come out within the next 20 years.

Goth was cool, Emo is childish; we never wore what they do now. When the new term and clothing comes out, I will most definitely make a note of it.

Any sub culture exposes itself to merging with a fax trend. If the sub culture is lost in the process then chances are good that what was thought to be a sub culture was in fact a fad/trend itsself.. Cough... Emo.. Cough..

Well said as usual ~Dabbler~, Emo may yet be just another fad. Call it what you will, I still think both the term and occasional individual who fancies themselves the term, looks just as rediculous.

The people that butterfly Subcultures, and dress amorphicly stand out as well. We all deal with such identity, the influences that present the sub culture to us play an important role in how the idividual settles into a subculture.

Or even more so, how the sub culture settles on the individual, the old "I see, I like, therefore I am" significance.

The fact still remains, when will they stop acting so confuzzled all the time and just go with what they want and not with what they think society wants them to be.

Most people don't even know what gothic is. Hell, I'm not even one hundred percent sure so therefore, I don't claim to be. But it's my understanding that gothic is a subculture... pretty much whatever society sees as the norm, gothic is not. So it's not just everyone wearing black and putting on fake fangs and pretending to be the undead like most seem to think now.. Gothic is pretty much anything and everything that your parents wouldn't want you wearing, saying, and/or doing, right? That's what I'm getting out of it anyway. Me? I'm just a simple country girl with an interest in myths and legends. *laughs*

Yesss dear...

Now, as we get back on track here *winks*, the Visigoths were not the only culture to wear black as a statement for the night, but the Japanese were as well with their shinobi or ninja.

Now these individuals knew all about stealth warfare. Silence is quite deadly. Their main garb was black. Since they were silent night assassins, they needed to where the darkest of colors not to strike fear into their enemies, but to go unseen through the night.

The shinobi, goth, as well as vampire in their own rights had a point to make based on the values the night had to offer. Even in present day the color is still used with credibility.

So what you are surmissing ~Armygirl~ is that the color the kids wear for the purpose of "goth" is as simple as saying "I do not care what you think of me." This would then be a statement for the subculture, a vampire as a mascot and the team color would be black. Basic and simply put?

I understand using black for cover in the night but what about those that seem to think that's all they're supposed to wear? It doesn't exactly do you any good in trying to blend in during the day. *laughs*

I think I like it the way you put it...The color of rebellion perhaps. Hell, society has flags of rebels, music of rebels, why not colors as well.

Of course, I could have sworn that to be goth, you had to be depressed or whathaveyou. Black does not make the individual goth, I thought it was a simple state of mind shown through clothing.

while i did not check your website out as of yet CuRsEdToDaRkNeSs ...i do believe that the original term of goth came from barbarians that were called that ...and this is where my brain goes fuzzy on the who what whens and wheres.

also as many know goth was a architecture type and then art into music and dress

Then from the art, music and dress due to the architectural phenomenon, comes a new phenomenon with differant art, music and dress to match the critique. A slightly differant twist on the definition.

A prelude to a small dynasty that may die off as time allows. But why does society relate in the manner that they do...To relate out of mere depression, or rebellion? It is far removed from its predessesor of the architectural definition of the past.

I guess with new ways of thinking, society must act accordingly.

i was only 1 when my gramps died i got my first BLACK dress and knew death and i was always drawn to staying up all nite and sleeping all day ...enjoying the sculpted tombstones and more people past and things got darker and darker and i cant say who was absolute first in the music as we know that is a debate in it self (alice cooper/misfits) who knows but goth is a believe a way of living a mind set NOT just about clubing

Goth is used in India from unknown past indian term "kali duniya" the black world (dark world).

All I'm saying is that I don't believe you HAVE to be depressed and wear black all the time just to be goth like almost everyone seems to think nowadays.
If you ask most people now, it seems you can never be happy, you have to hate your life and the rest of the world, and you have to love, be, or want to be one of the undead.
Why can't goths be happy? Why do they always have to wear black? And if they love mythical creatures so much then would it really be all that bad if one of them really loved unicorns and such instead of creatures affiliated with nothing but death?
I ask them all these questions and they're never able to answer me back. They just stick to the whole "morbid, death, destruction, and black" bit of the whole thing.

sterotypes of goth, cutters, depressed, wears black, sounds like the rebels in the fifties. many i have seen are not this or would like to be this. where your life is always in turmoil.

Goth, rebels, stoners just societies class for what they are.... not in culture or know the values of community.

to each there own. goth to me is maybe the feelings inside not the outer apperance. creative individuals with drawing and writing.

I was seen at all the gothic events and so forth.. mind you I was into a sub culture of Goth called horrorbillys or psychobillys … punk & Goth meets rockabilly.
Our dancing was called wrecking … basically we beat the crap out of each other, I remember some Goths being victims dancing through the centre of a ring of us and getting punched to bits. We looked like death and dressed like the dead and all had flat top that became very long points in the front lol
Iv got a pic from those days on my yeh I know crazy point.

Now I still dress in black but very smart suits and so forth.
i also live a very dark lifestyle

while i do wear dark colors, i do enjoy some color. ive never dyed my hair black (so cliche) or gotten several zillion peircings.
im more of a victorian goth....i enjoy my frills and leather. and ofcoarse my waistcoats.

not depressed...not a cutter (thought that was more emo anyway)

i can't say that i have ever known a true goth/death rocker/rivethead that was ever moping around and acting depressed. and if they where doing something like that, they where very far from a goth.... more of some kid that wondered in trying to be cool.

I think it's more a state of mind than anything else, which makes it different for each individual at least to some degree.

For me, it's about looking through the social facades of everyday life. Exploring subjects that most people think are morbid or dangerous, for me, that's taking the "road less traveled".

I cant say I have ever really "lived the lifestyle" per se, as I'm not quite sure what you mean by that. I've done the whole clubbing three nights a week, shows and stuff, but not so much anymore.

Depends on the culture and the circumstances. Some people ignore it, some people think its awesome, and some people cross the street to avoid me.

I hate labels. I have recently had a beautiful 'gothic' stly bat tattooed across my shoulders & all people could say was, "does this mean you're a goth?" It drives me insane! Yes I appreciate gothic architecture, vampires, the dark etc but I also love wild flowers & rainbows. Why do people insist on putting people into boxes???

To me, what makes a person goth is their attraction to the darker side of things. I find what I consider to be true goths are very open minded individuals who are nonconformists; this is, those that do what they want because they want to, even if other people happen to be doing it too. Generally speaking they have an affinity for music in any form and tend to be attracted to darker colors for their clothing and makeup.
Best way I can put it. Just my opinion.

ive got friends who are gothic. me im more of a punker. but some of the pvc clothes are really cool. im yet to see any new fashion to come out. with kind of sucks. as for the clubs in sydney yhier crap now. just teenie bopper wannabes

Bleeding Massecr, affirms the trend effect. Clubs know what is popular, they will use subculture to draw a crowd, then those seeking through curiousity will imulate the subculture with a mesh of other trends, and perhaps even subcultures. * shivers as I recall seeing a hip hop fan blending punk*

Dabbler this has been happening since the fifties, with trends in sub-cultures, to rock-n-roll, sad to say disco and to new sub cultures with punk and goth,

Trends in our sub-cultures are every changing and the next step into it will be something that these in the sub-culture now will shun and not understand.

The subculture feeling tainted by shallow representation, flee the scene, and those that remain unknowingly "embody" the jest of the subculture, all that
Adopt what is the dominate representation are based on established trend, removed by degree from the original subculture, Thanks Cadre.

LivNdedGirl:


''how can it be dead ? if there are many who are still living it ...and what of the gothic cruise surely they would not fund something dead and gone.''


I doubt anyone even remembers the true meaning behind the original Gothic subculture.

Just because someone claims to be Goth doesn't make them so. Just because a cat thinks it's a dog, it doesn't make it one.

As for the Gothic Cruise, you can slap a label on anything. Doesn't make it true.

Goth is a appreciation for the darker side in all of us. For the things of many never look twice at or fear to look at. Clothes do not make you goth, but the love of darkness and allowing your self to be yourself. Then again black is a great color to wear, always looks great.

I wish there was a "gothic lifestyle" but there really isn't much to do except be a consumer. You are what you buy.

But for me, goth is a form of artistic expression that appeals to me because I am very attracted to the depths of the unconscious mind. I understand how nightmares can be beautiful. Even if I did not like goth music (but I do like it) I would follow goth because it can lead you to the uncanny. For example, I discovered the films of David Lynch by checking out the movie recommendations on goth sites.

My inner life is formed by my eerie imagination and that determines my lifestyle. It isn't necessarily "dark" and can incorporate more than goth encompasses but it does allow me to feel a deep appreciation for everything gothic.

I just wish the real world was strange enough to be equal to the life of my imagination. I've noticed that many goths express their dissatisfaction with the mundane so we are on the same wavelength.

I have been looking for an example a victorian Gothic parlors. I was struck by one I saw in Tuolimnee (sp)Ca.

I have attended both parlor performance séance parlors, using theatrical set design, andPracticing Spiritualist séance rooms, very gothic influence, with some guinuine, and some set design.I am fond of Victorian furniture.
And railing irons, hinges, and keys, restorationist pay top dollar to rubish divers that way.

well
a lot of my friends are attracted to it
i live it..... in my house and by some of the clothes that i wear
i feel that most people enjoy learning something about you...
or are interested in something you wear and ask questions
for the most part, people around me accept it.
they accept me
i love my room...
it is a deep reddish purple
and had black iron candle holders on the wall.......
very.. dark colors and intricate, almost Victorian styled designs.
i love it
very me... i guess it depends where you are located and the people around you
but it is a personal taste.

I would say I am me and some people would say I am gothic, but I am just me and wear what I like and wear my make up and hair the way I like.

"As for the Gothic Cruise, you can slap a label on anything. Doesn't make it true."

Damned straight ~MBK~, I recall someone on here a while back who made a comment about going on one of those and was insulted by another individual stating this individual was not goth either at all, or not enough. Which I find was completely arrogant, as well as out of place.

Just because something has a label on it, does not make it the be all end all of what it is wanting to represent.

Im pretty old compared to most of you on this site. But when I was younger they didnt label it Goth ....but the lifestyle was pretty much the same(minus the face paint of course...and Im not sure but I think there was a few who did that).

I was a professional musician for over 30 yrs so Ive seen it all at one time or another. The lifestyle will always be around...just under different names. I was pretty happy when it came back into style so i could dress the way I wanted again ie: Bats, graveyards, tombstones, and yes Vampires. I have always been a child of the night,and always will be no matter how old I get.

very true MBK labels are just that
i believe there is a very fine line between the punk and goth movement and i may be wrong but i believe alice cooper was the begining and as for vvSoulshroudevv
i never said i was not a goth and arrogance is far from me i dispise those with that trait it makes me want to vomit. iam alloud to speak my mind just like anyone else and iam not always right i make mistakes and i will own up to them any day of the week

societies labels are just those who do not fit the norm in culture and trends. it started somewhere. most in schools a person dresses how they feel and bam the school now dresses like it as a sttement to society.

the 50,s had the greasers the slick hair and leather coats

60's aaaahhh disco
and so forth. labels of society to put them in a different culture or class away from the publics view.

Exactly cadrewolf I fully agree with you on that as well.

It is a way of labeling those who are different from everyone else.

I have my own unique way of dressing and my own way of doing my makeup so some would put me into the goth category for sure. However I am a mother and therefore I do dress conservative as well.

As for myself, I don't believe that I can place myself into a category, so therefore cannot call myself Goth- and even if someone else appears to be so, one will usually find many other aspects of their personality that perhaps displays thier belonging in another category as well.

Not all "Goths" are the same... people, in general, are not mass produced in groups to have the same views, personalities, fashion sences and interests.

However, I find that people who are labeled as Goths, as I have been labeled in the past, have a keener understanding of, appreciation for and interest in the darker things in life. Now, that does not neccesarily mean that one who is so inclined lives their lives in darkness or even hints it through their way of dressing or outward self expression.

In the same way, not everyone who wears white makeup and dark clothing are truly "Goth" in all respects, either. For somebody who is aesthetically inclined towards the darker side may infact be repelled at the thought of reading a piece of dark literature or perhaps even sitting through a horror film.

For me, it has always been difficult to truly define what a goth is or is not. At the end of the day, we all label ourselves as what we want to be- and if one wants to be seen as a goth, they have to set their own boundaries as to what makes them so.

So I am seeing Goth as, just as much where Goth is on the social spectrum,
As well as physical environment. All the right cloths/ fashions don't make a person Goth, perhaps as stated it is the signature, the attentions to detail.

Custum.. Rather then costume?

LivNdedGirl -

''i may be wrong but i believe alice cooper was the begining''

No, he wasn't. Alice Cooper was not goth in the least; he was a simple shock rock artist.

stereotypes have always be around and shall maybe around still after some of us have gone to where ever, cultures seperation of society and the classes.

depicted in movies, depicted in culture and depicted in some cases religion.

Just because you wear black or die haired or whatever does not fit you in the class of anything. it is basically your opinon that puts you there. or your mind set..

Culture may call you something else or shun its own way, but i think truly to achieve it is up to you.

It is not alife style it chooses us
and other cultures thinks of us as out casts they have to be like us to fit in
Gothics are all about dark and not just about a fashion statement
and its all about who u are down in side
if u love vampire movies vampire books and then u think u are a vampire ur living the gothic life style

I personally don't consider myself goth or any one thing else either for that matter. I don't fit neatly into any category. I am myself and I don't try to be this or that or dress to impress anyone. Some may consider me goth because I wear almost exclusively black, have fair skin, a few piercings and tattoos. The similarity ends there though because my mode of dress is generally western, biker or a blend of the two. I do like the gothic look on some people though I think some take it to extremes merely for shock value. I find it amusing that many look down on goths because they wear black a lot yet so does high-society, a black tux or evening gown are always "in style". Trends and styles are constantly changing so who's really to say what is or isn't "goth". It doesn't matter what group you consider yourself part of someone else may see it different. What was preppy yesterday may be nerdy tomorrow or what one thinks is goth someone else thinks is punk. When it comes right down to it though all that matters is how you feel about yourself screw what everyone else thinks. A lot of my family doesn't get the way I dress but if they can't accept me the way that I am oh well I'm not going to change who I am to suit their idea of who they think I should be. That does not mean though that I'm going to be rude or disrespectful towards them out of spite though either. You can be who you are without rubbing peoples nose in it when they disagree. There are times when a more formal attire is more appropriate and you can adjust to it and still stay true to your nature a simple thing like going from a black t-shirt to a black dress shirt can make a big difference in some ways without compromising your choice in color for example. To me I think who you are whether goth, prep, punk, metal head, biker or whatever is more about attitude than how you dress anyway. If you identify with being goth then I say your goth. What right does someone else have to say you aren't because you don't wear black eyeliner and paint your fingernails black? I've never seen an official guide to what is or isn't goth.

LivNdedGirl -

''i may be wrong but i believe alice cooper was the begining''

No, he wasn't. Alice Cooper was not goth in the least; he was a simple shock rock artist.

shock rock i can agree but his morbid performances and topics set the mood and opened doors just a bit and then move on to Kiss and of course the misfits and ramones when it comes to music i know the vote is all over the board ( iam an old fart and it was those guys that got me started on my way to the darker side of things) but labels are so droll

KISS, Misfits, and the Ramones had nothing to do with "goth". The first "goth" type artists were such like Bauhaus and Siouxsie and the Banshees.

i like the kinky vampish look of goth girls.
its too much of a conformist subculture for me to embrace.

Seeking to be acknowledged as a non- conformist, is a contradiction.

To present absolute definitions on any subculture merges it with trend.

The more mainstream representation of a once low key Society, turned subculture, and adopted in fad, and trend. It is not one thing that makes a person something, it is perhaps, an ecclectic consistancy that separates
Fad/ trendsters from subculture.

If you ask 100 goth people what goth is you will get no less than 100 different answers no two will completely agree. Who is to say which of those answers are right or wrong? There is no goth manual as to what is or isn't goth.

~LivNDeadGirl(sp)~ I think you misread my post way up there...I was not attacking you, but was speaking about an individual that made a comment a little more than 6 months ago. If you feel that I was attacking you, then please take it up with me in message.

Most "goths" within the community do in some way or another come off as arrogant, or at least snide or coy. This justifies their standoffish behaviour of saying to the crowd..."Don't talk to me, I am pissed off at the world." A few once you get to know them, are that way anywho. They just don't care about anything, thus the world is always against them instead of them against the world in their eyes.

Which takes me back to the rebels without a clue. But this could also be said for the "punk" classification as well. Just remember that these are mere stereotypes, if the individual trully wishes to segregate themselves into any stereotypical lifestyle of their choice, then so be it...Just don't complain either to others, or about others when things get hairy.

At the moment i do not haave my own house so cannot know how far my gothic culture would influence the styling of the house. But I have a red room red satin sheets victorian wardrobe and red velvet curtains there are variuos things that hint to it being a gothic room such as various bits of decor. the only person my room has "scared" is the boiler man who came to fix my radiotor everyone else think my room is quite cosy and is antique

I think your room based on opinion alone would not be detailed as goth, but as Victorian-esque. Reminds me of my apartment actually.

dear vvSoulshroudevv
i sincerely appologize i did feel it was directed at me i get paranoid easy im always the first to admit when im wrong iam not proud and stand offish letting others walk on me i will get defencsive ...but over all i think this thread has jumped off topic and missed the whole point LOL everyone is entitled to thier belief and names like goth and candy goth punk metal head just a label ...and dress and make up ...dont mean crap it is so much more a state of mind ....so my walls are painted gray and black and i collect skulls i could just be wierd not goth but i do call my self goth ...and as long as there is free will to think and create goth will be alive some of you would say disco is dead but seriously what about those handfull of people who still enjoy the music and dance... lets just except who we are and not worry what others think

No apologies are nessessary, after all...You were defending your lifestyle choice as a representative/Ambassador for your culture. But as the individual, I can say that I do not label myself with any extravagant choice words, nor subject myself to advocate the act of segragation of any kind. If society deems fit to call me any form of stereotype, then that is on them. I simply shrug it off like it was last weeks news.

Remember, those who are worried about what others may think of them only need to worry about what they think of themselves first. Society will subject them to the rules of judgement.

old goth phrase "you think were freaks because we are differant, we think you are freaks because you are all the same."

Perhaps judgement should be second in line to acknowledging who we are within, and bringing it out. Then again, who am I to judge?

So to me the senses is goth is an inner being of a persons out look on life, and not the class or subculture that has been given.

cultures or class or just interpitations of other classes to take them out of theirs and to shun or persicute them. racism of classes are always around.

Wondering what the next class to come is............

MyArmyMyMilitaryMyLife says:

Why can't goths be happy? Why do hey always have to wear black? And if they love mythical creatures so much then would it really be all that bad if one of them really loved unicorns and such instead of creatures affiliated with nothing but death?

I reply:
As I said in another discussion thread, I do not consider myself "goth", but others do - because I wear black, listen to some music considered gothic, and am occasionally depressed (as if that particular medical diagnosis has any bearing on where I fit in society).

That being said, I am happy most of the time. As someone diagnosed with major depression who doesn't take medication, I just can't be happy all the time; then again, can anyone really be happy all the time without medication? Others I know, who definitely are gothic, are happy. It is my personal belief that the "can't be happy" attitude is more prevalent in those newer to the "gothic subculture", say within the last 10 to 15 years perhaps.

I wear black more often than not because I just like it. It looks good with my skin coloring.

As for mythical creatures, I like them all - I'm girl enough to admit to liking unicorns as much as dragons and fictional vampires. I would point out that fictional vampires are affiliated with more than just death; immortality is a big affiliation too.

One final thought: normal is just a setting on the washing machine. No one can define me, but me.

The music, some clothes, the writing, art, and just the like and love of dark things.

Any lifestyle, gothic or otherwise is more about attitude than fashion. Fashions change all the time so if it was about the fashion then you would have to go back to when it started and stick to those fashions forever never changing. The funny thing is that in itself would just be another fashion statement. What I find amusing is when a self proclaimed goth complains about goth stereotypes from the mainstream then turns around and says something like "your not really a goth your just a wanna be because you shop at hot topic" or something similar. If you make it about fashion then you are not any better than the "in crowd" that a lot of people complain about.

I would think the conclusion we are striving to reach here is the surmised opinion from the majority is that "goth" seems to stem from the nature of the eclectic individual. Those that seem to strive on non-conformity, but tend to dwell on everything when thinking about nothing. The outcast way. Putting themselves into the outcast circle, but still trying to maintain the vagabondish ways.

A bit off, but hey...You get my point.

So following such reasoning SS those that ask "Are you Goth?" Are asking "Am I Goth enough?".

If I profess to be a Skater, and dress to suit the Skater fashion, listen to the popular music.. ect. Yet I don't skate..

I could tell people I was not a Stoner in High School, but they still suspected I (incunclusively) was, but my Slacker went undetected.

So if not Goth, then what could the person dressed in black attire, with various "religious" accessories, wearing make-up be?

The whole "More Goth then Thou" could be settled for those who feel Elite by holding Goth Games, that's all they want is a chance to compete for intitlememt, makes one wonder how those that are "disipled" by such a person act, Key word Act.

Mourning a death, like black cloths, just because you wear black does not make you goth.

It is more of an innerself, than the outward appearance. stoner, greaser, come on,

Titles that our society gives the outcast generation, or generation x. those who do not fit societies looks, or rebels against the norm in our culture.

I don't necessarily live the lifestyle, though I do find that the darker beauty is what attracts me most. I hardly ever wear makeup, and while I dye my hair black-brown is my natural color-it's only because it suits me better. When I do wear makeup, I usually like to wear dark eyeliner with bright eyeshadow, simply because it makes my eyes look better, and while I usually don't wear lipstick, when I do, it's dark reds, because it looks better on me. Simply put, I love the whole candles, and dark colors, but I think I'm with TheBatt when I say that I thoroughly enjoy mixing dark colors with lively, and bright colors. In fact, my favorite color combination happens to be Black, Lime green, and dark purple and/or navy blue. I'm a sucker for contrast.

For some, the idea of mourning death is all to traditional. Those of whom may cast themselves into the cluster of "goth" may wish to display the idea of "I do not fear death, but welcome it." Which may be why they seem depressed as often as they do. The rebellious tenacity. Since the fear of death may be on their minds, they do not wish to succumb to that fear, but embrace it.

The act of being differant, the attitude that comes with the style. THese are the emotions that they may think society brings out in them, even though it is their choice of how they wish to be presented in society based on behavioral patterns. Thus the non-comformist comes out. Since they would not care what society thinks of them, the rebelliousness syndicated...May not be the word I am looking for here, but it will do...May let society know that they are "not to be messed with." The "mind your p's and q's" displayed behavior.

Perhaps this reasoning may be why society stereotypes them into the "darker" natured divisions of theology...AKA devil worshipping satanists or whathaveyou.

This thread has been automatically closed for length.