Urban Tribes: GOTHS

GOTHS

History: Goth can be traced back to Victorian ages. But it was launched in the UK by punk bands like Siouxsie Sioux who began wearing bondage clothing and topics of Victorian age and gothic literature and art and more intelligent thoughts.
Gothic literature: Literature primarily about horror and romance, and includes supernatural and Victorian themes.
Writers: Edgar Allen Poe, Anne Rice
Goth Music: Music including dark atmospheres.
Examples include and genres:
Post Punk: Siouxsie Sioux, The Cult
Goth Rock: Clan of Xymox, London After Midnight, The Cure, Bauhaus
Deathrock: Christian Death, 45 Grave, Frank the Baptist, Alien Sex Fiend
Dark Cabaret: Voltaire, Emilie Autumn
Gothtronic: Anders Manga, Gary Numan, Blutengel
Fashion:
There are many kinds of gothic fashion. But the basic things are boots, mostly dark attire, pale skin, hair that isn't brown. The "do it yourself" is a heavily emphasized part of the culture.
General Pieces: Fishnet, Black nail varnish, colored hair, dark eyeliner, leather, metal (steel), buckles, bondage pants, hobble skirts, dress shirts, ties, top hats, red lipstick, black lipstick, dress shoes, combat boots.
TRUTHS AND FALSE.
From the point of goth creation, its been morphed many times. Goth has been hit by many different accusations such as violence and satanic rituals.

Myth: Goths are violent
Truth: Its wrong to accuse a whole group based on one person's action, so its a maybe. But goth does not support violence.

Myth: Hot topic is goth
Truth: No, hot topic is a corporation. Goth originates from punk, and punk has emphasized on anti-corporation/government. In short terms, hot topic markets for mass appeal and attention, so no its not.

Myth: Goths are satanic.
Truth: Although many arts can depict vampires and death, even Satanist do not stand for evil or harm to others. Some goths could be satanic, but goth has no real links between satanism. Most goths are secular, but some are religious.

Myth: Goths have tattoos and piercings from head to toe.
Truth: Some have them, some don't.

Myth: Goths are sad
Truth: Not all of them, sure goth emphasizes the darker things in life, but not all of them are sad people, normal people can be sad, sadness is an emotion, emotions make you human. And goths are human.

Myth: Goth is nothing but a clique.
Truth: This is apart of the "morphing and warping". Goth was never centered around excluding others or trying to be different. Like many counter-cultures, its about being yourself and doing what you like, yet has similar interest and beliefs.

GOTH-RELATED TERMS AND PEOPLE

The Batcave: A club in England where goths have met since its creation
Columbine: A violent shooting that presented the first so called "goth violence" (NOTE: shooters were not goths)
Rozz Williams: The frontman of Christian Death, who founded american goth, and founded the Deathrock genre.
Siouxsie Sioux: The godmother of Goth, one of the first post-punk/goth bands that influenced bands later on.
Dinah Cancer: The frontwoman of 45 Grave, one of the first deathrock bands. "The Queen of Deathrock"
Bela Lugosi: Not a goth, but played and had a cult following in his horror movies, even after death.

Personality: There is no "rule" of personality, but most goths are open minded, witty, anti-prejudice, deep, quiet and artistic.

CONCLUSION.
Goth is a culture that emphasizes the darker, deeper and romantic sides of life that strays away from the mainstream and pays attention to individuality.