Goth Stereotypes Part 1

Since this blog is all about Goth and ''dark'' people I thought it would be great to let you know some kinds of Goth that exists and decide on which side you are! Here we go:

1) The Original Goth. Whether they were actually around in the 80s or not, the Trad Goth most values the traditional scene from its earliest days, when it began to evolve from Punk. Trad Goths venerate those original Goth bands - Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Birthday Party, The Sisters of Mercy and anything played in the infamous Batcave club. Other influential bands (e.g. The Velvet Underground) may also be revered as minor deities.

2) While TradGoths tend to be all about the 80s music scene, Romantic Goths (or "RomantiGoths") focus on the dark, sensual and mysterious world of Gothic created by Victorian literature and subsequent movies. In other words they’re probably more “Gothic” than “Goth,” if that makes sense. Identifying features are velvet and lace, flowy clothes (often Victorian or Medieval inspired), and a love of poetry and literature.

3) Cyber Goths are truly the antithesis of all that is Goth. They like bright neon colours, worship futurism and technology, and listen to dance music that is as different from Gothic Rock as possible.

So why are they called Goths at all? It could be because the music scene gradually evolved from Industrial, Goth’s experimental electronic cousin. It could be that the lyrics of their preferred music genre (Electronic Body Music, or EBM, eg. VNV Nation) are generally too deep and too depressing for other dance fans. It could be because they have weird hair.

4)Kinkyness has been a part of the Goth movement from the beginning since the first Goth musicians like Bauhaus started wearing chains, leather, fishnet and strappy bondage gear on stage.  Today the image (and lifestyle) remains popular, with modern Fetish Goths having an even wider range of sexy bondage-related clothes available to choose from.  Tattoos, piercings and other forms of body modification are also popular among this type.  And they quite possibly all have a set of handcuffs, mask/gag and some sort of spanking implement in their bedside table.

5) In the world of Goth stereotypes, you get two sorts: those who think hippies are too optimistic for their own good, and those who are hippies. A relatively abundant species, stereotypical Hippie Goths are nature-loving, follow Paganism and/or Wicca and/or misc. New Age religions, and are into candles, crystals, incense, Tarot, and anything else that can be found at the local New Age shop. The only major difference between hippies and Hippie Goths is the prevalence of black and occult symbols.

6) Japanese “Goth” should probably not be called “Goth” at all. Although the fashions sported by the alternative crowd in Harajuku (Tokyo’s equivalent of Camden) were largely inspired by the Western Goth movement, J-Goths tend to enter this subculture via different roots: either anime “cosplay” (dressing up as your favourite anime character) or through Japan’s own alternative music scene: Visual Kei, often thought to be started by the Japanese rock band X-Japan.

7) Rivet Heads, or Industrial Goths, often do not consider themselves “Goths,” although their preferred music and fashion can be found in the same shops and they’ll happily go to Goth clubs. The scene all started with the band Throbbing Gristle forming their own label, Industrial Records, for a new genre of extremely weird experimental electronic music. For some Rivet Heads, this is the only “real” Industrial music - bands like SPK and The Leather Nun which spawned from this scene of the early 80s.

8) More of a general attitude than a true type, Perky Goths know how to have a good time. Abandoning the dark and gloomy Gothic stereotype, these Goths are cheerful, friendly and often bouncy to the point of hyperactive. They see the gothic lifestyle primarily as a way to have fun.

9) The most common Goth stereotype held by non-Goths, the Mopey Goths are the ones who take the whole “dark and gloomy” aspect of Goth far too seriously. They feel that to be Goth, one must never appear to be remotely happy. They will most often be found at home in their rooms, writing angsty poetry or diaries of their doom and gloom, or else lurking in shadowy corners of clubs, waiting for someone to come and try to talk to them (so they can tell them that they’d rather be alone).As for music, anything goes provided that it is as dark and as torture-ridden as their souls. They’re also the type who will most likely wear the most black, and will most likely paint their room black (and possibly the lightbulbs, too).

10) These creatures are regarded by some as the “missing link” between Punk and Goth, hence their extremely similar appearance and musical tastes to the Trad Goths. However, while the Trad Goths tend to believe that Goth is dead, the Deathrockers see that Goth is still alive and twitching, in a suitably zombified form.

11)  Spooky kids, Kindergoths, Mansonites, Mallgoths...these pre-teen or early-teen types are known by many names, most of which are derogatory. They are often regarded with scorn and contempt by older members of the Goth community. Their crimes? Generally, not being old enough to remember the 80s, not being rich enough to afford a “proper Goth” wardrobe, and not being wise enough to know the “right” music to listen to or the “right” amount of make-up to wear.

This people was the first part! If you're noone of these then you should wait until the part 2 to find out more...