When you think of goths – you might picture the stereotypical all black clothes, dramatic makeup and a gloomy attitude. But not many people know what being goth really means. It’s a subculture with an unfortunate amount of misconception.
In reality, the goth subculture is all about finding beauty in the darker side of life, and celebrating individuality and self expression.
Despite usually being associated with dark clothes and heavy makeup, goth is a music based subculture, focused on the very diverse genre of music. Gothic rock songs are famous for their uniqueness, with sounds that vary from band to band, though they commonly share aspects like a heavy drum beat, prominent bass guitars, and a mix of high and low vocal register.
The first goth song was released in 1979 and was the debut of the heavily influential band Bauhaus, titled “Bela Lugosi’s Dead.” The nine-minute song, recorded in a single take, is centered around the funeral of actor Bela Lugosi, who famously played Count Dracula in the 1931 Film “Dracula.” The themes of death and immortality paired with the song’s unique instrumentals and melancholy vocals created an anthem of the goth movement. “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” and other early goth songs helped form the dark aesthetics of the goth-subculture, still present to this day.
Goth fashion is just as diverse as its music, most outfits and accessories drawing influence from the Victorian era, and the musical icons like Siouxsie Sioux, Peter Murphy, and David Bowie. Due to the mysterious, dark and gothic aesthetics presented in the subculture, it’s common to see shared aspects of outfits, such as dark color pallets, heavy eyeliner and intricate ensembles of accessories. Despite this, there is no one way to “look goth,” as fashion in the subculture is first and foremost, a way to express yourself.
“Is goth Political?” A question that consistently plagues both outsiders and newcomers to the subculture, has a surprisingly simple answer: yes. The goth subculture developed from punk, a political movement all about pushing back against the system, rejecting the mainstream, and avidly refusing to be told how to live or express themselves. Goth, at its very core, shares most of those same values, creating a community that often strives to battle against all forms of oppression. Goth culture fights for progressive ideas like LGBTQ+ rights, anti-consumerism, economic equality and racial justice.
Now that you know more about the goth subculture, maybe you’re interested in exploring it yourself. The best way to do that is simply listening to the music. The goth genre is filled with hidden gems, and I encourage you to search for them, but to start off here are a few popular bands
