Current mood:	contemplative
Current music:	....

Definitions.
I just had to post here as I have read a certain 'claim' somewhere (about being gothic because one can "carry" the gothic clothes) which ticked off my brain cells and got me into thinking. Im not starting a fight see. Im just stating my own opinion. If anyone takes the time to read then I am grateful.

What defines a goth?

In its real essence, there really is no true unifying stereotype- that all goths are angsty and depressed, all are fascinated with vampiric culture, that all goths wear all things black and leather and listen to goth music.

Goth is more than just the label and the clothes. In fact it has existed even before the label of "goth" and "gothic" came into existence. It started in Western Europe and North America in the seventies as a rebellion of the middle class youth from the tightening social structure.

Literature has its own share in terms of influencing this culture. Most claim about reading Vampire stories and literature BUT even Poe, the ancient Greek Aeschylus and William Shakespeare contributed to the birth of Gothic lit.

Bands also had influence with this culture. Their music became a deviation from the norm. But it was not even a movement, according to the bands who had the most influence with the gothic scene - it only became one when it was called one. For them it was an expression of their life and culture. Then media came into the scene and the BBC coined the term "gothic". Since then the term was identified with gothic bands, their image and their form of dark expression, when in fact it was and still is much more than this.

One does not become goth just because he/she can "carry" the clothes, or listen to dark music. Being goth is an existence, a belief, a subculture, a way of life. It rests within the belief that there is beauty in darkness and recognizing it as integral within each and everyone of us.

It has been driven greatly by philosophy and artistry but has now been replaced by attitude and dress code. Sadly, the latter has become the popular belief.

I am not in the position to point out faux goths or define who or what the true goths are. In fact I am not in the position to do so too. But I do have a plead. Support the local goth music industry. At least there's something good coming out from you other than making these claims.

The local goth industry has a wide variety of music tastes, from progressive rock to new wave. And then maybe you'll get to meet the wonderful people who started the subculture here (we like to call them the oldies). Most have heard from Late Isabel but there are lots of other bands worth hearing to, such as Dominion, Funeral Frost, Names are for Tombstones and Sea of Rains.

And then again, maybe you will be able to look past the dark make up, dark clothes, and the vampiric attitude. And realize what it really is. Just maybe.