By: Asherra

As it exists in the present day, it’s hard to imagine that the Goth subculture came from the same root as the current punk scene. Goths are to punks what vampires are to werewolves, evolved from the same ancestor yet as different as siblings can get. When I think of punk, I associate it with hot pink mohawks, sleeveless jean-jackets with Dead Kennedys and anarchy patches on the back, and the all purpose red tartan taper slacks (adorned with an appropriate number of chains and zippers, of course). Where, when one thinks of Goth, there is only one word that comes to mind: black. People dressed in dreary colors, heavy eyeliner, and lots of silver jewelry. Punk is loud, violent, and socially expressive where Goth is quiet, reserved, and anti-social. More than one punk band discusses the anger they have for being made to ‘conform’ to social standards set forth by society and many have very focused attitudes on the problems of the current social structure. Conversely, you would be hard pressed to find even one Goth who cares about the current social structure or the election at hand (heck, I don’t even know who’s running. Wait… is it an election year?). Through the decades since the late nineteen-seventies, Goth and punk have taken their own separate roads from home and developed radically, if not opposing ideology. Through their clashing styles in clothing, music, and world view one thing remains consistent, each group holds that there is something horribly wrong with mainstream society and thusly choose not to interact with it.

Through its series of generations, Goth has morphed away from its proto-punk roots and into something very different from what it once was. It is an amalgam of several different groups and sub-cultures that all continuously grow and evolve in their own separate directions. Through this evolution, it has become increasingly difficult to define the gothic cultural boundaries. We have found ourselves, when asked ‘what is Goth?’ hemming and hawing with a response something like ‘it’s um… a lot of people wear black and…um…like weird music…and…uh, stuff.’ If you have ever participated in the gothic subculture, you know that there is so much more to being a Goth than just wearing black and listening to ‘weird’ music. Goth is a whole mindset. It is a way of life that is reflected in our art, our music, our cartoons, our humor, and often times our appearance.

When thinking of an archetypal ‘Goth’, a certain type individual comes into mind. They probably look something like the people in the image to the right. Dark clothing, boots, zippers, fishnets, black lipstick, and LOTS of white foundation. But that look is not what defines the core being of a gothic individual. Sure it certainly helps, but take me for instance. I’m currently sitting at work (ahem… I’m working boss… I swear!) in khakis and a white cardigan. Nowhere on my person could you find even a speck of black except for my flip-flops (Gasp! No boots!?). Does the lack of proper attire mean I loose my gothic persona? Am I only ‘Goth’ when I’m wearing all black? Of course not! I’m no less a Goth now in my prep-o-matic cardigan than I am when I’m kicking smurfs out on the dance floor in my 4 inch, knee high platform boots (with extra buckles *grin*). Our sub-culture is drawn together by its love for similar things. Our art reflects the morbid and lustful desires hidden within the human heart. Our humor, both dark and satirical, is humorous to us because it makes fun of universal truths. I mean, what’s worse than finding 20 dead babies in a trash can? Finding one dead baby in 20 trash cans! Sick…but funny. To be a Goth in the modern age means that one has to look past the ‘gee paw, everything is just hunky-dory’ veil that has been pulled over your eyes and take a look at the world the way it really is, find humor in it, and then accept it.