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Goth is first and foremost a person who listens to certain types of music and dresses the part. The music includes deathrock, batcave, certain postpunk, certain non-electronic darkwave and other music that is goth. The person dresses the part by wearing makeup either all black clothes or deathrock-style, which can include colorful mohawks, painted leather jackets, colorful ripped t-shirts and fishnets. Real goths always wear makeup to the club, and often daily, no matter what their gender is, otherwise they look like posers.
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Goth is not merely a person who embraces "the darkness" or "everything dark". Their makeup, style, dance moves and music choices make or not make them goth--don't confuse "goth" with "gothic". "Gothic" can be applied to many different people who aren't goth and denotes a person or trend that borrows from Goth, that is "into things dark" but is not goth. Example would be a person who occasionally listens to goth music (but to a lot of other kinds too), who likes BDSM and goes to all kinds of "dark" clubs, not caring too much what to dance for, basically, looking "goth" only when they go out. Gothic is a dark streak that is not to be confused with real Goth. People who prefer "gothic" music that is not Goth, can be called different ways: darkwavers, rivetheads (who love industrial scene/music), moshers, metalheads, etc. Fetish scene is not to be confused with Goth scene: they have very little in common. Goth has a lot of fetish elements in clothing style and many from fetish crowd attend goth clubs on occasion, but that's where the resemblance ends. "Vampires" aren't Goth either; Goths like to play with vampire theme quite rarely, but those who think they're vampires, who wear white contacts, fangs, or paint blood on their faces aren't Goth at all.
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Goth has a very strong androgyny element: It is common for Goth males to wear traditionally female elements of clothes/makeup to the clubs. Deathrocker Goth females also prefer androgynous styles, and dress hardly any different from deathrocker males. Truly Goth dancing is characterized by original, assymetric and often a-rythmical moves, cat-like stepping, wavy arm movements. Goths never bare too much of their body; if they do, they belong to a different scene, but depending on gender (example would be: girl wearing a bra instead of a top to the club or showing garter and stockings isn't Goth, a guy wearing mini-skirt to the club and showing stockings and garter looks Goth).
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Goth is about extreme individualism, yet, it's about belonging to a group and fitting in, at the same time, paradoxically. Goth is about looking at things, at human nature--and oneself with extreme honesty and accepting what mainstream culture doesn't accept--death, melancholy, decay. Like Mike Mercer had put it Goth is about ultimate dignity. Goth hates the mainstream culture, real Goth doesn't watch television. Goths like to shop in thrift stores or specialized Gothic stores, they also have tendency to make their own clothes and jewelry and be creative about their outfits and makeup.
Favorite Goth boots are very pointy ones with buckles, though army-style boots (with include Docs) are also acceptable, as well as platform boots. Layered torn fishnet and sheer tights worn over the arms and legs and Victorian clothes are old time favorites. Modern goths wear more PVC/vinyl clothes than before, which includes tight pants, dresses, corsets and long skirts made of PVC. Black nailpolish is very popular and is worn by males and females, both.
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People who claim that Goth is only about "mindset" and "lifestyle" versus the look aren't goth: real Goth takes great care of their looks and alway strives to look beautiful and goth. Dark beauty is something that is at the core of the Goth--beauty of art, or appearance and of melancholic mind. Each real Goth is an art piece, essentially, as a person is being creative about their look.
Of course, those goths who're stuck in only one way and criticize new style developments lose creativity.
Gothic person: "There's a new goth club that plays emb, goth, synthpop, darkwave and industrial!"
Goth: "This is not a goth club"
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A goth is basically a person who likes the darker side of most things, and often wear a lot of black, but sometimes they wear other colors too. Goths like people, are not all the same. For instance, not all goths like metal. Some prefer softer music. Goths DO NOT worship Satan, and ARE NOT all cutters/suicidal depressing low-lives like the people you always see at Hot Topic. Just because a person wears all black n' stuff and listens to metal or something like that, it DOES NOT mean that they are suicide or cut themselves. You could be a prep who listens to Christina Aguilara and be a cutter. Some goths can be that way, but that's because they are PEOPLE not living labels and r all different! They r not psychotic and they certainly aren't all gay/lesbian or have social issues. If somebody OBSESSES about black and says he/she loves 666 and Satan, talks about Hot Topic and/or even so much as calls him/her self a goth, they are most likely a poser. Goth is a state of mind, not a trend. A lot of posers decide to "go goth" because they think it makes them feel special or "cool". It doesn't. It makes them look stupid. Goths are not afraid to show who they really are and what they stand for. They don't care about being popular and would rather be considered an outcast or a freak than conform to everyone else. Goth(in my opinion) is a state of mind in which one sees the world through a shadowed window, but sees things for what they truly are and accept their position in the world and arn't afraid of what people think of them. So, if you go up to a goth and rag on him/her about Satan and crap and beat them up, I'll come after you. Unless it's a poser goth in which case i will gladly lend you a hand.
Oh yeah, and one more thing, goth is NOT the same as emo. Just so we're clear on that.
Poser Goth: Hey, u wanna hang out with me at Hot Topic?
Me: No!
Poser Goth: Oh okay then, yeah i guess I'll just go so i can get goth stuff so i can piss off my parents, and show how fcuked up my life is . . ."
Random asshole: You guys are fucked up! Why don't you get the hell out of here, slit your wrists already and join Marilyn Manson in Hell!
(me punches random asshole)
Me: (to poser) Get a goddamn life!
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An especially gloomy offshoot of the punk movement, slowing down and adding keyboards and more danceable drumming. Although primarily an 80's movement as music, the fashion sense has frequently been ripped off by young metal fans and artists (ala. marilyn Manson, Korn, etc.) creating a new subculture calling themselves goths. fairly large remnant goth scene continues to thrive among slightly older individuals in clubs and cities around the globe.
Sisters of mercy, The Cure, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Fields of the Nephilim
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A very unique, though generally dark, style that should not be labeled by rights. However, society loves to label goth as a general term for people who wear: a lot of black, seem withdrawn a lot in public, wear heavy metal shirts, wear dark make-up, and are actually talented at subjects on the creative side, like writing.
It's not about how many chains one can wear, it's about overall thought, acceptance, and certain tastes. For example, you can't be seen as gothic walking around in a polo from American Eagle. But, the limits of dark colored clothing and "dark" accesories range in variety and it's up to the individual. KEYWORD: Inidivdual
Gothic music ranges in genres like darkwave, industrial, trance, techo, electronica, heavy metal, alternative rock, and so on and so forth. The music is generally solemn sounding, in some way, and very creative.
The places to easily find "gothic" clothing would be Hot Topic or Spencer's. Also, check out local thrift stores or online sites.
Above all, it's about being yourself and living outside that margin so many people feel almost too comfortable within. "Goths" are not mean.
Stuck up person: Look at them, they wear a lot of black and look depressed, so they must worship Satan along with that creepy Marilyn Manson dude. Wow, let's stay away from those scary freaks. They're goth
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goth is a subculture that grew out of the punk culture in the 80s.
i will agree with non-goths in that most goths are very evasive when it comes to defining the term "goth." i will also agree with them in that "goths" who simply whine and make fun of non-"goths" are pricks. most "goths" don't really know what it means to be goth.
the gothic period (late 1700s-1800s) was a period of the "sublime." rather than look for skin deep beauty in something, the gothics would look for intellectual or moral value. for example, they would prefer a battered old castle staircase to a sparkling new marble staircase because the old one has more character.
the TRUE goths of today are named this way because they follow this thought pattern of looking for the thought-provoking instead of the aesthetic. why revel in the darker side of life? "sinister" things (i.e., death, fate) provide more food for thought than pretty things (i.e., blue skies, love).
thinking in this rather morbid way usually results in the true goth being rather satirical. SOMETIMES they may be withdrawn and maybe a little snide, but this is because knowledge is a burden.
the pseudo-goth (the one everyone thinks of when they hear "goth"; bear in mind, i do NOT consider these people goth) is some middle school douche who shops at hot topic and listens to music in the gothic genre (i.e., bauhaus) whether or not they actually like the music. they are quick to judge people and make fun of them every chance they get.
then theres the TRUE goth (like me). we think in the manner of the people of the aforementioned gothic period. some of us are "artsy" simply because we can express our knowledge so freely in it. we don't *neccessarily* shop at hot topic (though they have some cool shirts) and we don't *neccessarily* listen to goth music/death metal (i like pink floyd & queen). we are intellectuals.
most of us are pretty nice. many goths are outcasts in some perspective, so they are often receptive to people who need a friend.
fake goth (aka valley girl goth): like, oh my goth, gag me with a crucifix! i got this bauhaus shirt because ellen and julia and megan and paula have it! i'm so individual! i wish i knew what bauhaus was...
real goth (like me): ...style doesn't make a goth; your thought process is most important
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An aurora of subcultural awesomeness. Usually misunderstood by the public as a magnet for darkness and self-destruction, Goth is a form of music and fashion that is embraced by many (including myself)
Bauhaus, Christian Death, and Siouxsie and the Banshees are actualy goth bands.
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A movement that arose from the death of Punk in the 1980's and embraces creativity, individuality, and exploring the more morbid side of things.
Goth has been totally eclipsed by emo these days and the two are, atrociously, often confused, though they are nothing alike: goths are somber and intelligent with a flair for the artistic, while emos are skinny-ass teenagers who do nothing but bitch about their lives.
"That girl is SOOOOOOOO emo."
"You fuckhead, she's a goth!"
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