Goth

What is Gothic?
Gothic is the same as goth, Gothdom, gothik etc. The only difference is noun or adjective use. Capitalization is often arbitrary. There is no general distinction between these terms. Any distinction made is often particular to a certain person or group who might use a different term to designate one of the different levels of involvement or divisions of gothics. For our purposes, we'll say these words are all intended to mean the same thing.

Gothic: Of or pertaining to a literary style of fiction prevalent in the late 18th and early 19th centuries which emphasized the grotesque, mysterious, and desolate

But what does gothic mean in regards to the group of people? Here's where it gets confusing. There are things that many Gothics like that are not gothic (Industrial or Classical music). There are things that are gothic that many Gothics dislike (vampires, interest in death). There are things that some people think are gothic that are not gothic (bands like Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch Nails), and there are things that do not call themselves gothic even if they are considered gothic by most people (bands like Sisters of Mercy and Dead Can Dance). However, there's no Grand Gothic Judge to decree what is truly Goth and what is not, although there are plenty of people who claim to be it. It's an ambiguous label with many people using it that don't understand what it means. The people who do understand it often have many different definitions.

A Brief History of the Gothic Movement 1970's to 1990's

The date of origin of the gothic movement is usually placed in 1979. That was the year that the song "Bela Lugosi's Dead" by Bauhaus was released. It was originally intended to be tongue-in-cheek; however, many young fans took it as the inspiration for the budding gothic subculture. The song had a certain mystery and eerieness that listeners quickly latched onto. The first generation of the gothic movement emerged mostly in the UK in the late seventies and early eighties as a splinter from the punk movement. Punk music was breathing its last breath as this gloomy, introspective mutation gained momentum. Bands like The Damned, Bauhaus, and Siouxsie and the Banshees characterize the first generation. They were called Gothic later on, but most didn't consider themselves Gothic. There's a great deal of uncertainty as to who coined the term "gothic" and how it got attached to this dark music. I believe it was the British music press that made the label stick. In the early eighties, the gothic movement thrived with bands like the Sisters of Mercy at the forefront; but by the mid to late eighties, it was waning.

In the late eighties and early nineties, a new, second generation of gothic bands emerged to breathe new life into the scene. This would include The Shroud, Rosetta Stone, and London After Midnight, for example. They were the first to characteristically call themselves Gothic. This is when the US Goth movement grew significantly and Gothic became recognized as a distinct subculture. Through this time period, gothic music and culture grew and splintered, diversified, and branched out into various subsets, pushing the boundaries of what had previously been considered gothic.

Recently, widespread mainstream interest in the gothic subculture is apparent. Many gothic cultural quirks have filtered into mainstream culture, such as an interest in the supernatural and dark aesthetics. Historically, a dark leaning becomes prevalent towards the end of a century. Since we are also at the close of the millennium, it is much more pronounced now.

As the gothic movement progresses into the late nineties, we are possibly witnessing the emergence of a distinct third generation. Though some of the noted writers on the subject (Mick Mercer, Dave Thompson, Jo-Ann Green) have not yet recognized this new generation, I propose its existence. As the second generation ages into their mid to late 20's, they become progressively less interested in participating in the gothic social scene. A "new breed" must emerge to shape the future of Gothic if there is to be one.

The third generation contains an explosion in the number of people referring to themselves as gothic. Many of the younger generation have learned about gothic culture because of the present widespread commercial availability. For example, national chain stores like Hot Topic have made Goth accessible for kids at a younger age than ever before. With the huge commercial popularity of "shock rock" act Marilyn Manson, the spotlight has been thrown onto this subculture. Many Goths wish to make clear that Marilyn Manson plays heavy metal music. They might state that he is the Alice Cooper of the 90's, using extreme shock tactics and marketing genius to outrage conservative forces, appeal to rebellious youth, and in the process becoming very rich. Many Goths claim that the younger over-ardent followers of Manson are not in fact authentic Goths -- the term often used for them is "spooky kids."

It appears that a new crossbreed category of music may eventually be recognized: metal Goth Many Goths cringe at the possibility of this crossover or deny its validity. The sound of what would be called metal Goth is certainly different from what is now recognized as gothic music. First and second generation Goths look suspiciously upon the new generation, doubting their authenticity and disliking the exposure they give to a subculture which would prefer to remain underground. The new generation is not well received by their elders, but time may prove otherwise. It would be difficult to predict what the future holds for the Gothic movement. After 20 years, it continues to change, grow, and adapt, making it the longest surviving youth subculture in existence.