What is Goth?

If you are wondering, ‘what is goth?’ then you have come to the right place. Goth is a subculture which began in the early 1980s in the United Kingdom.

It comes from the aftermath of the post-punk genre of music and has been around longer than other subcultures of the same era. Gothic music, literature, and horror movies make up a large part of it.

Gothic subculture is made up of a community of people who are free thinkers. A lot of people adapt to the goth lifestyle because they refuse to conform to mainstream society.

The gothic community is more accepting of those outcasts who do not seem to fit in anywhere else. This is comforting and is the most common reason why people turn to goth.

Lots of stereotypes about goth culture exist today. This seems to be a trend as everyone now has their own way to pinpoint ‘what is goth’. Most people believe that all gothic people are cult members or worship satan.

Of course there are always going to be those who may listen to a certain type of music, dress a certain way, or really do worship the devil most of the stereotypes surrounding gothic people are untrue.

While stereotypes are often misleading it is important to note that gothic subculture is associated with music, fashion and art of all forms.

Gothic music is a combination of styles that range from heavy metal to punk to electronic to dark and mystical sounds. Fashion among gothic people is derived from the Elizabethan, Victorian, Romantic and Medieval eras.

It also borrows from death rock, punk and is at times very androgynous. Garments are typically worn in black with dark makeup, pale colored skin and unusual hair.

Nothing can truly define what is goth. It is a music preference and fashion statement just the same as it is the process of breaking away from conventional society, ideas, and beliefs.

People in the goth scene come from different backgrounds, have different hobbies and follow different religions.