A Field Guide to Goths

Amy Wright

Sub-cultures have a tendency to be misunderstood. An inherent risk of going against what the what the societal puppet-masters decree. From Flappers to to Emos, the different and the rebellious have long gotten flack, mostly from those in regular society, “normies” to the rest of us, with little to no real idea of what is actually going on. For a “modern” example even Millennials should be able to follow, look no further that the “Dark Web.” There a lot of pretty crazy stories about what goes on on this dark and mysterious “basement of the internet”, though these are mostly, and most loudly, repeated by those with no direct experience with it an have gotten all their their information through hearsay. Are there criminals on the Dark Web doing dastardly criminal deeds? Probably but you don't go fire-bombing an entire city just because there might be a few terrorist hiding there. That would be insane.

Few communities have gotten more more vitriol than the Goths. Little more than a branch of the Post-Punk movement in music, Goths have been suspected and blamed for all manner of nastiness over the years. From the idea that Goth is “mostly a gang phenomenon” to mass murder and school-shootings none of these assumptions are actually true. I have been around for a while an have never seen or even heard about a “gang” of Goths. A group yes, even a “gaggle” but never an “gang”. The associations with violence are just weird, most cases either being assumed to have been done by Goth with little to no actual evidence. Even in the (very) odd cases when perpetrators of the Goth persuasion, blaming the actions of disturbed individuals who happen to have adopted the Goth style – emphasis on the word “style” - is like making blanket statements against rabbits and mascots every time a shopping mall Easter Bunny snaps.

Gradually, normies are beginning to realize they might have been a bit rash in condemning an entire sub-set of people as freaks and murderers (one step at a time), while the popularity of the Goth scene has remained more or less steady for the past thirty years, despite bad press like Columbine and, the greatest threat to the survival of the scene, Hot Topic. In the spirit of endurance and understanding, I would like to offer the following guide to Goth culture.

Black As Night, Black As Coal

Black is, of course, a major part of Goth culture. It is the colour of mourning in the Western world, with the exception of Mexico, and Goths are known to have an affinity for motifs of death. Morbid as this may sound, it is not as it weird as it is often assumed to be. The emphasis on death by the majority of Goths is a tradition with its roots in ancient Egypt. The general idea is to accept death is the best way to truly appreciate and celebrate life. At least that is the theory. Though it should be noted that dressing in all black all the time is also a marker of a newer member or a really literal person. Seasoned Goths mix it up with grey, red, blue and purple.

Painted Ladies (and Gentlemen)

While not common to all Goths, make-up is used by many and to varying degrees. From basic mascara and eyeshadow, on boys and girls, too full face paint and lipstick, make-up has been a part of the Goth scene more or less from the beginning. It is unclear how it started but has become a major part of the style.

Learning To Love Your Stoneface

It is a stereotype to be sure but it is not for no reason that Goths are know for being a bit dower. It is a impression some put a good deal of effort into maintaining. While this used to be standard operating procedure, more recent generations, since about the late 90s have lightened up on this mostly arbitrary “rule.” It is now okay for goth to be both amused and amusing, to the point there are a few goth-ish theme comedians such as Noel Fielding and Aurelio Voltaire.

Like A Hole In the Head

There has been a trend in recent years towards putting holes where none were before. Though, to be fair, this apparent preference toward post natal perforation seems to have more to do it the rather recent association with facial piecing and rebellion, particularly in the young, than anything specific in the Goth tribe itself.

Food For The Soul

Arguably the most important aspect of the sub-culture Goths have a much wider musical pallet than it might first appear to outside observers. There is, of course, the music most associated with “Goth” that came about in the 80s. Bauhaus, The Cure, Specimen, that sort of thing. Though there is also the Death Rock incarnation of post-Punk all which it is all based, as well as the dark synth pop of the likes of Depeche Mode. On the gentler side there is the etherial stylings of The Cocteau Twins and the neo-classical epicness of The Vernian Process. Something for everyone!