Darkness darkness my old friend

So I cheerfully set up this section during the rebuild of the mutantnation site and it has been the hardest to touch. Goth, ugh another label and one that does not accurately classify me as all, but I call myself a member of this subculture so I guess I need to explain myself as best as I can.

First let me tell you I am no youngster jumping into a fad. I have found my affinity for the Goth subculture and have been “wearing the black” since the mid eighties. In the culture proper this earns me the dubious title of Geri-Goth as in geriatric Goth, at age 38.

I toss around the term subculture a lot so I may as well define it here. A subculture is not driven by race, sex, socially economic situation. Sub culture is a matter of choice to be different. It is a group of people who feel comfortable within each others company. Ok before you start smelling the rank odor of cult or this all has to be evil let me talk about another subculture that is alive and well, that of the cowboy.

True cowboys were around for a few years before the invention and proliferation of barbed wire. But the mythos, writings, clothing styles, mentalities and even musical forms are alive and well hundreds of years after the real need for the cowboys went away. Why? Some people enjoy the mythos of the old west, some listen to the music, watch the movies, some wear the clothes, decorate their homes, and my even take the lifestyle to heart and live on a ranch surrounded by cows and horses. Are these people insane, are they in a cult, no they are just exercising their freedom of choice

Much like that subculture Goth is a subculture of look, dress, music, literature, movies, and lifestyle. Some may only be mildly into Goth, just listening to the music and reading the books. Others may adopt the look, frequent Goth clubs or events and decorate their homes with the look. A few may dive right in working in the clubs, becoming a promoter of Goth bands, or even forming a band themselves. Again this is not insanity, it is freedom of choice. Clear on that point yet? Good, lets continue.

Why do people become Goths?

People get into Goth for lots of reason. For some it is just an attraction to the form and the music, they find it is a subculture later. Many get into Goth because they have been repulsed by 'normal' society and Goth is an attractive alternative. Goths are tend to be open minded and free thinkers, people who do not accept the general rules of society without seeing the need for these rules. Traffic rules sure but rules about acceptable hairstyles, give me a break. Like any good independent thinker Goths tend to listen to what you have to say, and make up their own mind. This is not to say all Goths are positive, initially many are angst filled teens that see this as an outlet and haven’t mellowed to the point to that they see the bigger picture.

More later…