Tuesday 16 January 2007

Goth the life

Somehow I've managed to not talk about one of my other fascinations. That is shocking to me, since it's possibly an even bigger obsession than Star Wars and blogging together. I know, it's that bad.

I've always been a fan of fantasy and the line between reality and makebelieve is one I find very interesting indeed. And as macabre as it may sound, the role death plays in that.

Sounds creepy? I bet. But I've always been fascinated by so-called "gothic novels" and the gothic subculture.

And vampires.

Vampires and the goth lifestyle are often associated, for obvious reasons. Goth wear black clothes, often oldfashioned style, dye their hair black and pale their faces. The resemblance to an undead corpse isn't that farfetched.

However, both vampires and goths are often misinterpreted. When talking about vampires, people quickly start to talk about stakes, garlic and full moons. Full moons? That's werewolves for you. Their ancient enemy. But vampires are fascinating. I once did an essay on them, and discovered that although cultures around the world have their own sort of vampires - just like dragons - they are all just a bit different.

So what defines a vampire?

Is it being a walking corpse? Nah, some cultures believe in vampires that have nonhuman origins, or no origin in life at all. Is it the human appearance? Nah, some believe in vampires made of flames. Is it the seducing aspect? Nah, some vampires are just plain gross. Kind of like zombies.

Is it the blooddrinking? There are some creatures that do not drink blood, yet they are most definately vampires.

So what defines a vampire?

And what defines a goth?

Goth, in my opinion, is misinterpreted by many people, even goths. Does that sound ridiculous? I'm sure. But please realize just how many people just try to fit in, even in such small and remarkable groups. However, misunderstanding is more common amongst those who are not gothics.

I once had a conversation with a religious woman who had read about goths, yet she never had encountered any. She was appalled, yet fascinated. Of course the article, in a christian magazine, was not too objective, and often reminded readers that some goths deny god, or are satanists. And I explained, that the essence of goth is not that.

Goth, in essence, is a philosophical view of life, in which death is acknowledged as the ultimate certainty. Every being is subject to death, human and animal alike, and also angels, demons and gods. Goths are not religious by that view, since they do not see any god or devil as mightier than death. Satanists are not gothics.

However, the misunderstanding stems from that view of death. Many people think gothics are fascinated by death, yet the opposite is true. In accepting the finality of death, gothics take more pleasure in life.

Gothics enjoy life on a more conscious level than most of us.

I know there are people that call themselves goths and disagree with this. But in essence, this is what gothic is all about. Misunderstanding comes from too few explanations from the gothic subculture, but also because people don't bother to look under the eerie surface.

I would call myself gothic if it wasn't for the fact that I don't wear makeup. I do like dark medieval-looking clothes, and I love the silvery jewelry with pentacles and such. I am not fascinated by death, yet I am fascinated by vampires. The nightstalking undead, caught between their previous lives and the death they cannot reach. The ultimate exception to the ultimate truth.

Please don't look down on goths ever again.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

very well put and yes we r miss understood alot but that will never change who i am or who i will become.

Anonymous said...

I am not a goth but i want to be
my mom says that she doesn't have a problem exept she wont let me be a goth because my nans very religes and she might have a haret atack lol but i think its not fair

Anonymous said...

being goth is cool. u know not all goths HAVE to wear makeup. if u r goth, its in your soul- not on your face.

u should take up writting- books short stories ect- u seem to have an awsome sence of reality. if u do make it about vamp/goths. hehe
good luck!

Anonymous said...

woops! i forgot to mention that i'm goth too!

Anonymous said...

I am kind of a goth,and I would like to take it further.I will try to add another one to their world.

Alexandra(remorseless) said...

I think we are miss understood quite a bit.I think it iS because liik so different.But I don't care,I Will be a goth and you can't stop me,DAD!!!(lol)

Evra von said...

I was in town and this little kid goes look mam its a vampire Lol

gothicnightmare said...

im a true goth and have been since i was 4. i have piercing on my eyebrows nose tongue ears chin lips cheek and forehead.and i think most of this is rubbish we dont have to wear makeup. soooo... and also we can smile but we also have bad tempers sumtimes.and tune out ov fings alot like now...

gothicnightmare said...

im a true goth and have been since i was 4. i have piercing on my eyebrows nose tongue ears chin lips cheek and forehead.and i think most of this is rubbish we dont have to wear makeup. soooo... and also we can smile but we also have bad tempers sumtimes.and tune out ov fings alot like now...

Anonymous said...

I want to be goth but i need advise on wat exactly goths do. for one i'll need to inform my mom on all the reasons why i want to be goth. i don't want to be goth because i like the style and stuff like that, but because when i talk or read about goths i feel a connection that i cant explain. its something that i feel inside that i've never felt before, when talking to other goths i feel like i'm with the people who really understand me

Infinity said...

This is about the only thing on this site that i can agree on.(BTW) I absolutly love vampires.

Infinity said...

oh yeah Infinity iz my goth name btw

Little Demon said...

Well put. Very well put indeed. I think you hit it on the dot. Pretty much... Close enuf. Good job. You should write of a living.

Ruth Suckers said...

Why is everything so much like this?? I mean a goth is a person who express themselves. You shouldnt be looking for how to be goth. If you are goth, its natrual. If you're not, you're not... stop trying! be you. nuff said

Sincerely ~ the vampire girl who is in eternal pain.

Unknown said...

I think goth is the darkness inside you just because we are goth does not mean that we have to hate everything goth is us being us just because we are goth does not mean we to hate everything happy i was born a goth and just let me tell you dont lose your freinds over and be you play sports you like do stuff you like to do dont let goth rule you we are the undead so we rule goth JUST BE YOU!!!

Unknown said...

And i dont belive in names