goth The word "Goth" covers a lot of ground and almost two millennia: from the marauding Germanic tribes of the second century, to pointy European cathedrals and haunting American literature, all the way to the "dark" fashion and music that still gets confused with devil worship. The Gothic architecturethat evolved in Europe between the 12th and 16th centuries--vaulted ceilings, gargoyles, pointed arches--did actually get its name from the Germanic tribes. Italian Renaissance writers apparently thought those cathedrals were ugly and chose to blame them on the barbarians who had done battle with the Roman Empire about a thousand years earlier. But what better setting than a Gothic-style medieval castle for the dark, scary Gothic literature that developed much later, with the stories of Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" and "Dracula"? Ghoulish encounters with vampires and other living dead gave the characters of Gothic literature a bad case of anti-social behavior--a stigma (or sign of prestige) that endures in modern Goth culture: moody, punk-inspired music, first presented by Siouxsie & The Banshees and Bauhaus, and the black-and-white death tones of Goth fashion. One of the latest blows to the Goth reputation followed the Columbine High School shootings in 1999; the killers were reported to have worn dark trench coats and listened to angsty rocker Marilyn Manson. Wrongly perceived as Goth, they were explained away as worshippers of evil--and members of the Goth community weren't pleased.

Comments

[Cooper]

The Columbine guys were not wearing Marilyn Manson shirts. No, no, they were not. Marilyn Manson is a beautiful person who should not take the blame for some kids with issues. His message is "Be yourself and don't be anyone's fool." And when I tell people that, I get labeled, mocked for my clothes/fave music, and harassed. Stereotypes f*cking hurt, people. Don't be j*ckasses.

[ashley]

labels will always be around. we don't have to pay attention to them. it's up to ourselves wether we want to label what we are or not.

[ztef]

who cares we all Love rock. and we shuld unite. i mean ive alweys only talked to ppl into rock, not caring about labels that dont exist.

[Nina]

omg all my cousins call me goth just because i wear eyeliner,dress in black sometimes and i like rock music.It is so annoying they are always like oh your going goth. Its really annoying because im not depressed to be emo or goth in anyway. Im one of the happiest people you can ever meet.(And im not trying to offend and really goth and emo people )

[bobette]

I think labeling can be good if you don't use it to be mean. My friends call me the prep of the group, but I don't mind when they say it. If someone else did, I'd get really mad.

[lyss:D]

I don't think it's actually labeling that is a bad thing. I see a label as a group of people that you fit in with or act like. But I also think that no person can be limited to a label. And I think that discrimiantion against ANY label is wrong.

I think it's kinda weird how many people don't like somebody because of what they wear or listen to. It's all just kinda stupid. But, I don't think I can change anyone's mind about that. It's their opinion and they have a right to express it.

And about goths, I think it's wrong how people could do that. Stereotype them like that.

Stereotyping any person is just wrong.

[someoneinspace]

hey,im a person.who cares what people are? labels are for soup cans.end of story.just because i say weird stuff,i write poetry n shit,does that mean im a emo/goth/whatever stupid thing you can label me? no.whats the obbsesion with putting people in groups? i reacon this whole world is crazy! why is it so damn crazy?will i ever know?

[emily]

goths and emos arent the same.

bohos

&&
hohos

r the same

lollololol

[purple_vampire]

yea sure that pisses me off but what do you expect? some people are just so ignorant they don't know how to handle things they don't know about so they make up crap.. this i think is a pretty good way of explaning it.. but i would add that being "gothic" is about just being yourself. so what if it seems weird ?

[Melissa s]

Fuck u Mina Mina

[kk]

"One of the latest blows to the Goth reputation followed the Columbine High School shootings in 1999; the killers were reported to have worn dark trench coats and listened to angsty rocker Marilyn Manson." now that is stereo type who pays attention t what kinda music a mass murderer listens to uh.. NO ONE!

[Minamina15]

Wow..i love it how ppl are like
"I hate how they lable me when i go to public places..blahblah"
and then later in their comment theyre like
"Im emo with a little goth"
stupid.
If you dont want ppl to lable you...dont lable yourself imbicils.

goth is a genre of music.
the end.

[Melissa S.]

People think I'm gothic and it makes me so pissed . I should not use that language but it is the absoulte truth! My friends think Edgar Allan poe is stupid but he rocks!

[Muncho]

I think Label It would be cooler if they delved even deeper into these labels and brought light to all the different subcategories. I mean there is so much more than just "Goth." You have the Trad Goth, Romantic Goth, Cyber Goth, Victorian Goth, Vampire Goth, Cabaret Goth, Fetish Goth, Gothabilly, and that is to only name a few. And each and everyone of these subcategories has it's own particular set of characteristics and such. I think it would be much more fun to discuss the subcategories. I mean "Goth" is just to broad of a term for me. That's just my opinion though. =)

[Anjolene]

Hi I suppose I can call myself emo, but I'm a bit of a goth too actually. And by the way, what's wrong with these people who's labelling you?? These people should think again. I mean, we are what we are, labelling doesn't mean that you can change us anyway. I'm emo and I'm proud of it.

[rachel]

ive been "goth" since 5th grade and i went to catholic schools im not catholic and we had "free dress day" and i would wear my pants w/ the chains and what not... well i was accused being a satanist i thought it was quite funny acutally and i didnt really like anyone there soo majority of em stayed away from me so i liked it i really dont give a shit if people think im "dirt" or "poor" they should try to afford the stuff i wear it isnt cheap

[xxAllTheLostSoulsxx]

ok, time for my rant!
I went to the county fair over the summer and of course...down here in kentucky(middle of nowhere/boondocks)all there is are preps/richies/jocks/rednecks...no emo people(eccept me,and mi friends)goths(unfortunatly only few)or punks...but they all looked at me like i was a pile of shit! just because i wore all black that day ...i mean what the hell!!!??
now my rants over...someone else want a shot?

[Rose]

I am goth, and I'm tiered of going to a public place(i.e. the movies,festivals,mall, ect) and having people look at me like I'm dirt! I hate how people will just turn their noses up at me. People look at me like I'm a devil worshiper or something.
I am a Catholic
Ok my rants over, anybody else?

[Ebony]

People shouldn't say people are worshipers of satan if they don't even know what worshipers of the devil actually do!

[genevieve]

oh and serena not everybody who labels themselves that are posers i listen to real punk so i guess im punk. (iggy pop, carbonas, heavens to betsy)

[genevieve]

people say im goth all the time, im not. i salute to all the goth out there!!! it has got to be hard i mean people are so annoying to me they call me goth (im not though) and stare at me in the hall. they say goth people worship satan and wht do ya know that went around to. im am a worthy alternative whatever, not goth. but i do admire all those goths people are pretty harsh. i mean they will pont and whisper at the mere sight of me when im looking at them! god. i hate my middle school.

[xxallthelostsoulsxx]

I LUV JHONNY DEPP

[Rach]

To be honest, it sickens me to see people shot down by others for being who they are. I'm called a goth a lot...I don't care...but to be labeled bothers me..

[kelly]

i know.i say that to people all the time.even if someone gives me a dirty look i'm like"what are you looking at?do you have a problem?"i like giving people dirty looks.its fun haha

[Gabby]

black is sickkk
vamps are kick ass
screw wat ppl say
and b urself

i get called goth or emo all the time
but i dont really care
im not a wannab emo or goth w/e
im just myself and if u dont like it i really dont give a crap

[kelly]

i know.i love in vampire movies how they ALWAYS kick ass.they just come out of nowhere and attack.its like"oh crap!where did you come from?"and then they make that person become a vampire.its awesome!!!:-D

[xxallthelostsoulsxx]

VAMPIRES ROCK

[XXallthelostsoulsxx]

u really do make a good point

[kelly]

you make a good point!;-)

[waynebradyhater]

because hes a goddamn retard that hosting a goddamn show that noone has heard of because he hasn o life and he should kill himslef

[kelly]

ya.there are some that worship the devil and do witchcraft,and some that don't.usually you see something like that in movies or on tv,but the point is that you don't have to do any of that stuff to be goth

[XXALLTHELOSTSOULSXX]

goth people do NOT have to worship the devil!
som goths may but me, im emo, a lil bit punk, AND goth(and a lil bit redneck, not like that matters!) but i believe in God! not all goths are satanic

[Ericka]

I thought Goth was like when people for one
- wear black all the time
- and like worship the devil or sumthin like that..practice witchcraft n stuff...

but after readin all this i guess im wrong?
im confused now

[kelly]

apperently ya.why do you hate him so much?i'm not saying i like him,because he's really annoying,but why?just curious!

[xxallthelostsoulsxx]

family guys awesome, and waynebradyhater, u really do hate him...ALOT dont u?

[waynebradyhater]

did u know that wayne brady ate up kelly osbourne so therefore hes a goth?

[kelly]

you're welcome!hehe.i watch too much family guy hahahahaha

[xxAllTheLostSoulsxx]

well kelly thanks 4 that

[amanda]

omg...who cares what you are?! everybody is very different and they all like different things!n e ways..lables are stupid and thats just my opinion..

[kelly]

oh ya!i forgot!fuck,shit,ass,bitch,whore,damn,cunt,fuck,fuckety,fuck,fuck,fuck! aren't i pleasant?haha

[xxAllTheLostSoulsxx]

at least u didnt cuss me out this time!

[kelly]

and don't worry.obviously,you're not my favorite person either!

[kelly]

ya.well at least we agree on one thing.

[xxAllTheLostSoulsxx]

ok i really dont like you kelly cuz of the emo thing, but at least u dont like preps either.

[xxAllTheLostSoulsxx]

GOTH ROX

[kelly]

goth is cool but sometimes i think people take it too far and they kinda scare me!but i do know a few goths cause my sis used to be one and most of them are pretty nice.i guess you really cant judge a book by its cover......except for preppies who say omg and wear pink all the time.....theyre just annoying.....

[Signe]

Hey, I'm goth and I just HATE those "gothier-than-thous" who think everybody else is less goth than them!

[Louisa]

I'm like, totally gothsome.

[kelly]

i agree with haley:)

[kelly]

just kidding.goth labels are really offensive!its not rite