Goth

A music-based subculture that evolved out of punk in the late 70's

Besides punk rock, early musical influences for goth come from The Doors and the Velvet Underground

Staples of the genre include:
Low pitch, drawling vocals inspired by Jim Morrison; fast drum beats (often programmed), or slow, tribal drums; punk rock rhythm guitar over repetitive, high pitched bass-lines and spacy lead guitars; lyrics dealing with macabre or dramatic subjects

Gateway bands:
Bauhaus, Joy Division, Siouxsie and the Banshees and Christian Death

The visual style of goths comes from Punk, Post-Punk and Glam Rock:
Black clothes; teased, spiky hair, sometimes with the sides shaved; makeup; black nails; accessories such as studs, crosses, webs; boots; leather or denim jackets; fishnets

As far as political views go, goth is left-wing like the punk sub-culture it evolved out of
A lot of poser Goths will tell you goth is "apolitical" however being right of center is in direct contradiction to the goth subculture.
If you're a goth, you're already punk by default and if you're punk without being left-leaning, then you are a poser.

You have to be a goth music fan in order to be goth and you can't be a Nazi. Two very simple rules that no one seems to get right :)
Goth is not "a mindset"; there are goth sensibilities and common values, and the vehicle for that is goth music
Goth isn't always a style of dress. Joy Division don't "look" all that goth but I'd say early Joy Division were Goths

"my favorite Goth band is Nosferatu"
"I like your hair: it's very Goth"
"Movies such as Dracula give me heavy Goth-vibes"