Gothic Subculture

Goth is a subculture, style, and way of thinking. That sounds awfully pretentious, but that's another facet of goth. The common thread in goth culture is an appreciation for the dichotomy of life, the contrast between (for example) light and dark, with an awareness that the two can't exist without each other, and that the traditional value judgments assigned to those opposites are not necessarily true.

Goths tend to have a dark and perverse sense of humor, a love of history, literature, and music, and far too many bottles of black nail polish. But trying to slot goths into orderly little sections is pretty much impossible. The spectrum of interests, styles, and activities is far too broad. Sometimes the clothes can be a clue, but not always. Just look for that appreciation of darkness--that's the most reliable indicator.
the Banshees and the Damned were originally considered punk. Music is not the only art form in goth, though. Artistic endeavor of all kinds is welcomed and encouraged.

The goth subculture is itself quite balkanized. Though there is a close link between the "classic" goth music scene and the industrial music scene, there are people on both sides who shun the other. Some goths who like the "classic" look of velvet and lace look down upon goths who prefer fishnet and leather. Some goths who like pop-culture entertainments and things that are lighthearted are ostracized by others who believe that nothing is worthwhile unless it is obscure and dark. Like any culture, it has divisions and cliques.

Much of goth culture is superficial, artificial, and pretentious, and this isn't helped by the fact that many people who consider themselves "true goths" look down upon those they consider "poseurs." Some of the young people who now consider themselves "goth" will grow out of it and move on to other things. Others won't. Some will move on, but feel vaguely displaced in "normal" culture, and will re-discover themselves through some avenue that leads back to goth culture and thought.

But there is also a lot of goth culture that is rich, thoughtful, and very satisfying. Goths read things like Dante, Byron, and Tolstoy--not because we "have" to, because we want to. We watch German Expressionist silent films and relate the details as eagerly as other people talk about the latest Hollywood effects extravaganza. Goths are likely to have spirited discussions about the evolution of religion and its place in modern society. And we tend to identify, if not empathize, with the underdogs and downtrodden--don't be surprised to find a fair number of goths helping out at the local youth shelter or AIDS fundraiser.

Being goth is, in the end, a form of tribalism, a way for people of like interests and mindset to find each other and have a place to belong. Like most tribes, goths will often try to keep out those who are not "of" the tribe (hence the pretentiousness and disdain for "poseurs"). But it can also be a wonderfully welcoming and comfortable place for those who do fit in, and full of patience and enthusiasm for people who are genuinely interested in finding out what we're about. Goths will try to keep out those who don't belong, and those who are interested in exploiting us because we look different and have interests outside the mainstream; but we will also try to protect our own. For someone who doesn't feel that they really "fit in" with mainstream culture, discovering gothdom can be a wonderful feeling.