Goth culture, some may not believe it’s not an actual thing or may only believe it’s used in the fashion or as an insult in some other cases. However, I’m here to inform you that’s not the case and give you a quick summary of the gothic subculture and how it formed to what it is in today’s society.
Music
The goth subculture was formed in England during the early 1980s due to its audience of gothic-rock music, similar to the post-punk genre. Artists that helped form and shape this subculture are groups such as The Cure, Joy Division, Banshees, and the list can go on. Goth music is considered a dimmer form of punk rock music that carries tones of desolation, misanthropy and much more.
Religion
There isn’t a direct religion set on goths. They carry many different types of religions, the same ones that maybe you carry, such as Christianity, Judaism, paganism, atheism, agnosticism, and much more since it is a very open-minded subculture.
Literature
Not only was the goth subculture influenced by music but it was also influenced by history and the arts. It was inspired by many sources, old and new, modern or ancient. Such as gothic literature, which was a genre to do with fictional horror, romance, and death. Gothic literature originated in England around the 18th century when it was influenced by writers such as Clara Reeve, Matthew Lewis, William Beckford and many more. The term “Gothic” came specifically from a novel titled The Castle of Otranto, a Gothic Story by English author Horace Walpole when it was first published in 1764
Fashion
Next, fashion. What goths are known for is their dark, antique, eery fashion sense that stands out. The typical gothic fashion you’ll find will include black-period styled clothing and dark-colored hair, tagged along with dark makeup and nails. Some goths borrow different styles such as from punk-fashion and especially from Victorian and Elizabethan ages.
Goths can go from black spiked hair and leather jackets to tight-laced corsets and stilettos since it has such a wide fashion range. Some influences or icons for gothic fashion and characteristics are people such as Peter Murphy from The Bauhaus, Robert Smith from The Cure, and Rozz Williams from Christian Death. Some other people as well such as David Bowie and Siouxsie Sioux
That’s a basic summary of Goth Subculture, nothing too deep or special. We’ve gone over its history and influences, literature and music, down its fashion. Not only does it exist in history, but it’s still present to this day.
