NEWS: Goth Is the New Black

CULTURE: Goth Is the New Black

The New York Times investigates the gothic aesthetic in "Embrace the Darkness." From "Corpse Bride" to Riccardo Tisci, pop culture is being permeated with gothic influences. While in part a nod to Halloween, the piece also posits that the rise of the macabre in the mainstream reflects an increased anxiety in the culture born out of contemporary calamaties. These days, even Barneys is going dark.

EVERYONE's all about the goth lately. It's weird. My little sister and her best friend desperately want to be goth. They draw skulls all over everything and draw comics of themselves wearing all black and surrounded by ghosts. (They're in elementary school and aren't allowed to wear all-black with skulls in real life.) Yesterday the best friend gave my sister a birthday card and in it she wrote "Stay goth and be happy!" Kids these days.

Isn't that an oxymoron?

[Edited on Oct 29, 2005 by mamet]

Yeah it made me giggle when she read it out loud.

At this point, Goth is similar to where Grunge was in the early 90s. A dark reaction to a time of war and a bad economy. The country is a dark place right now, and fashion is reflecting that. Thankfully, though, Goth is much sexier...

Goth is the new punk?

Hmmmm... Kinda odd to those of us who were "goth" before it became recognized as a culture unto itself. It's an incredibly broad description, and for me, those that have to work at it are missing the best aspects.

What I think the big push is about is very much like what was said in the article: people are wanting to be themselves and not have their values dictated to them by an alien culture, i.e. christian morals 'n' such. Christianity is all well and good for those who believe it, but when the very life we live becomes directed by this outdated religion, problems are bound to arise. So, rather than fear "the dark" as we've been told to do countless times and in countless ways, people all over the world are embracing it, and it's perfectly natural.

Makes me happy to be who I am, and while I rarely dress "the part," I enjoy being welcomed and appreciated by goth folkses. I'm just a sick and twisted libertine, and I wouldn't have it any other way...

- k

so i can expect a goth section in the jc penney's catalog?

Didnt I used to beat up Goth kids?...oh wait that was skaters.

you can count on it! I can't wait to see their faux-Voctorian dresses come Prom season!

Don't worry! Be gothy now!

doo doo doo doo doo doo
doo doo doo doo

Don't worry!

doo doo doo doo doo

Be Gothy!

doo doo doo

This is just so wrong on so many levels. But I can't wait to hear it on the radio. LOL

I hear you can buy goth at mall kiosks for around $20.

Bumper sticker. Now!

Every Generation has a counter-culture. First the beatniks, then the hippies, then the punks, then grunge, and now goth. I just know 20-30 years from now, we are gonna see a bunch of aging goths looking like "Grandpa Munster" Al Lewis and "Lilly Munster" Yvonne de Carlo.

It smacks of Engrish, doesn't it?

kurdt cobain would have been a rad goth.......when will gwen go goth all the way?

not only sexier, but as a general rule smells much better as well. you wouldnt believe how many people here in seattle smelled like shit in the early 90s

Rested reminded me of something...

Skaters.

Skater culture pretty much became mainstream and likewise unavoidable in the latter half of the nineties.
So, first the beatniks then the hippies then the me generation then the punks then yuppies then grunge then skaters and now "goth."

I thought goth was already ready already like twice over. Throughout the eighties with kids that liked Bauhaus and Love & Rockets and then in the nineties with the Marilyn Mansonite "spooky kids."
(I'm pretty much Mr. Run-on Sentence now.)

....wait....what?

[Edited on Oct 30, 2005 by perfect_equation]

"Here's a little song I wrote
Put in Livejournal then I slit my throat
Don't worry
Be Gothy
In every life we have some trouble
I dress in black so I can make it double
Don't worry
Be Gothy

Ain't got no cash, but got Goth style
I got a gal but we don't smile
Don't worry
Be Gothy
'Cause when you Gothy your face will frown
And that will bring everybody down
Don't worry
Be Gothy"

Tra-la-la.

Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

but I think you're also right.

it still puzzles me.