The Goth Guide 04: The Good and the Bad

Goth Slang Word of the Day

• Grrl:  A variant way to spell girl.  Rumor has it that it evolved from the Band, the Riot Grrrls.

Goth Band of the Day

• Emilie Autumn [Started in 1997, American]
  

As I have said many times over, no goth is truly like another, because we are our own person, and wish it to stay in such a way. However, everyone has SOMETHING in common, be it the music genres within the goth subculture, neon glow sticks for raves, corsets, or what-have-you. Because of this, the Goths have taken their society and created different types to categorize, or denominations, if you can call them that.

That's what this article is about today. I am going to be talking a bit about each type, a few groups that are mistaken as goth, and groups that are not so pleasant to mix them up with.

Now, just bear in mind that I've met and mingled with many goth individuals, as well as have read up on Gothdom.  And in my opinion, just because you add a word before "goth" doesn't make it a type.  "Oh, I'm a PyroGoth!  I love the color red, and I set things on fire!" Yes, but does it have anything to do with the music preference and style that you are trying to reflect?  Once again, in my biased opinion, that doesn't work.  So, I am simply going to be adding the goth types that group due to common ground in style and music, as well as particular aspects on life.

The original Goths to start the society, evolving from the dying punk rock music, can also be called the Corbeau Goths for the French part of the subculture, as well as the Elder Goths, being they are the ones who actually lived to see the original bands in the prime.

These goths could more than likely be found clubbing in the infamous Batcave, in Soho, London, UK. Because they had come from the ashes of Punk Rock, their style was close to such a subculture, along with the 80's puffy poosh hair going on, and everything.  These goths are what made clove cigarettes and Absinthe associated with the Goth Subculture.

Their Bands of choice are usually (Here comes some repeated names I've shown before) Bauhaus, The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Southern Death Cult, The Birthday Party, Joy Division, Fields of the Nephilim, Sisters of Mercy, as well as others.

Most of them are known to claim that goth is, inadvertently, dead.

They can also be referred to as "Bleepies" because of the nickname that was given to their subgenre of music, EBM, also called "Bleep" music because of it's mix of goth, techno, and industrial.

This type of goth is the easiest to distinguish because of their usual bright neon colors and big, hairfalls atop their head.  They can also be seen with goggles sitting perched across their forehead and a gas mask of some sort. 

They are actually the pet peeve of some TradGoths because of their new music and bright colors, but I doubt any Cyber Goth would really care.

Though the Goth subculture is all about finding beauty in death, these guys seem to be able to eloquently take it a step further. They not only see beauty, but they are more sensual, softer, and wear much more lace. A dash of Victorian here and a thread of medieval there. The Romantic Goths tend to focus and be inspired from the Romantic Era and the times of Victorian and gothic novels.

Their music usually consists of the more soft and elegant, Faith and the Muse being a good example, as well as All About Eve and perhaps even a few songs by Nightwish. They may even have a few classical composers in their mix of musical delights.

They adorn their bodies in the finest of clothing, black lace and purple satin. The style is generally corsets and princely coats, they also wear clothing that glides with their movements.

This is the sexier side of the Goth subculture.  Though Goth is about beauty and appeal alternatively, these types of Goths broaden that horizon.  They are the type who like to claim that they are kinks, and who have also given the stereotype that ALL goths are sexmongers.  We are not.  However, there is a group that wears bondage clothing as an outing attire and fashion, thus, they are the BondaGoths, or Fetish Goths.

Generally, leather is their main outfit, also embroidered with studs and spikes, as well as bracelets with just as many little silver studs.  Chains, collars, masks and piercings also associate with them.  (Fun Fact:  When a person is seen with many piercings, especially in sensitive areas, it can be a symbolism that they 'like' pain, and makes them sadomasochistic.  This is why it's a popular trend within the fetish goth group.)

Though they do not have a set selection of gothic bands that play their preference, any and all goth bands, as well as regular bands, have sung about sex at one point in time, so their is a wide selection of music for these guys to pick from.  Depeche Mode, as well as a handful of other bands, seem to focus on that subject a bit more, however.

These are the angst-ridden people of the goth society.  There are some that don't take themselves seriously at all, and these are the ones that are TOO serious.  They drench themselves in a gloomy disposition, and never smile.  Their make-up is usually the darkest, and Black is their one and only color that they generally wear.

Their musical taste is also a bit like BondaGoths, with no one select group of bands, but rather simply listen to the even darker and gloom-dripping songs that are sung by goth bands.

A MopeyGoth can be taken as a "Gother-than-Thou" type, who always over-do things.

While the MopeyGoth is the overly angsty group, the Perky Goths are laid back and a little too happy for the common goth to take.  Though, this is probably not as true as one would believe.

Their wardrobe can contain a combination of dark and bright colors, pink being a key choice for a perkygoth, as well as a hair color choice.  They are the ones with the buttons and hello kitty temporary tattoo on their arm.

They are the type that aren't gloom and doom hardly at all, yet still enjoy some goth bands such as Alien Sex Fiend, Adam and the Ants, Strawberry Switchblade, as well as a few others.  These are the ones that are generally the most spirited and fun.  They also sometimes are known to wear lots of glitter...

These are usually kids who are 16 or younger, and are a bit confused about the goth society or are just unfamiliar with it, yet are still interested and are trying to be goth. The KinderGoth, or the Baby Bat, can also be called different things, depending on where they are and what they listen to.

Their attire is generally from trend stores, and will also give them the name MallGoth. Hot Topic is generally the place for them to retrieve their clothing, as well as other mainstream shops. They will also tend to over do the make up a bit, going for "spooky" rather than "goth", like something for halloween.

For example, a KinderGoth can also be called a Mansonite if he or she listens to a lot of Marilyn Manson, who, in turn, is not honestly a gothic artist. The same rules apply for avid listeners of the bands below:

• Nine Inch Nails = NINny
• Evanescence = Schweppervescent
• His Infernal Majesty = HIMaphrodite
• Alternative band that is not Goth (Fall Out Boy) = AlternaTeen

Though the goth society is crude to the baby bats, this is only because they are not properly educated. Anyone who grew after the 80's and became goth probably went through a bit of a KinderGoth phase. I know I did. It's a bit shameful to admit, but if you can remember back when you weren't sure what to do, and you see a Baby bat, take them under your 'wing' so to speak. Teach them. They will grow into proper goths with time.

This brand of goth is a twist of Romanticism and science fiction. Generally, when I see these groups, I think of the "Fable" video game series.

Bronze and black, as well as other sepia colors make up their wardrobe, as well as copper trinkets, like keys, clocks, gears and other industrial-time low tech items.

However, a lot of their music is a bit like a RomantiGoth's, consisting of Faith and the Muse, Emilie Autumn, Rasputina, and a few others.  The Victorian age, and the time of Mary Shelley is also something that they have in common.

The Ethereal Goth, or otherwise known as the Fairy Goth and even the Candy Goth, are another branch-off of the RomantiGoth into a celtic and fantasy aspect.

These flighty creatures are known to wear elagant silk and lace, just as the Romantics do, but however, also dash along themselves pastel hair color and glitter, much like the perky goths, yet, carry a whimsical and mysterious atmosphere about them.  They also are known to adorn themselves with fairy wings and flowing, long outfits.

Music within their genre is generally the trances of The Changelings, as well as the Cocteau Twins, and for the harder, more metal fae Goths, Nightwish and Within Temptation.

They are the more eloquent of the Goth Society, and, just as Steampunk evolved by means of Science fiction, Ethereal Goths were brought out and created by the lore of the faerie.

Although they used to be just as underground as the rest of Gothdom, because of vampires being popular in this decade, these creatures of the dark are being mimicked and posed by a large band of tweens and young teens because of the popularity of them. 

Generally, a VampGoth is seen wearing bloodred clothing, or even purple and sapphire colors.  They also possess a few different eye contacts that give their eyes the colors of either red, white, or amber, and probably ranging from more vampiric styles.  I've even known a few to buy the cliche vampire fangs to pop on.  No, not the little toys you get for Halloween.  The aesthetic ones you can stick onto your molars.  If these items interest you, you need only click here.

Most goth bands have played a couple of songs about vampires, but the bands that are most popular to these goths are Inkubus Sukkubus and Nosferatu.

The difference between a real VampGoth and the poseurs wandering around in this day and age is how seriously it's taken.  Though the younger generation will babble on about vampire books and movies for what feels like hours, and claims that their teeth are 'real', an actual VampGoth will take it as how any goth would take the subculture, and not make a big deal out of it.  It's just their style and what they are interested in.  That's all they will really need to explain if asked.

You've more than likely seen the cute anime girls with the curly pigtail hair styles and the maid's outfit.  This is simply one style for the J-Goth, or Japanese Goth.  While the women dress like the little innocent Lolitas, men take on a "Visual Kei" appearance.

Their music is also macabre in lyric (if you can speak Japanese to understand what they are saying), and the bands consist of X-Japan, Dir En Grey, Alice Nine, as well as Malice Mizer.  Women will usually wear a maid outfit, sometimes torn at the seams, with ripped stockings and high boots.  Men will take on a feminine outfit, whether it look a bit like a business suit or a small half jacket with nothing under but their chest.  They even go as to dress androgynous and the colors generally mix with black and pastel.

Their hair usually is spiked or puffed up everywhere, as well, a bit like a traditional goth would wear their hair, but in a bright color, or even white.

Did you ever wonder what Elvis would be like if he was goth?  Well now, you don't have to as much, because Gothabilly is just what that is.  In a sense, that is.  Gothabilly seems to be more of a scent mixed with Las Vegas, Ed Hardy tattoos, and fiftys poodle skirts that's been dipped in black dye.

These Retro Goths are usually seen clad with the sporty greased hair and leather jacket, and possibly even drive a motorcycle or an old car.  Women can be seen with those lovely black polka-dot dresses and their hair in an up-do and a striped scarf.  With this scene into play, some even play on the category of zombies, and equate that also into their style.

The music is usually a clash of those fifties music, as well as gothic bands, the Hillbilly Zombies and the Vampire Beach Babes.  Another game reference here, but this group gives me thoughts of "Fallout" in all honesty.

Everybody has to grow up eventually, and some of us still like to wear our goth attire to work.  This is where being white collar...or in this case, black collar, has it's advantages.

It's the easiest to get a desk-job and still carry your gothic fashion sense to work, by means of pinstripe suits and black pencil skirts.  Even dark make up, however, in less of a quantity, just to make sure you don't get into trouble.  If it is allowed, then their area is generally decorated with small knick-knacks like little spiders or bats to adorn the desk as well.  Their suitcase may even be cladden in something of a logo of a favorite band.

The music genre however, can be whatever this goth pleases.  This group focuses more on fashion and career than music taste, though it is generally traditional, romantic, or even fetish.

Though there are goth-compatible groups, as well as not-so-compatible groups, this does not mean that they are goth just because of similar style.  Here are a few examples.

• LARPGoth:  A LARPGoth, or a roleplaying goth, is generally not a goth at all, but simply a poser and someone who doesn't take it seriously at all, feeling like their attire and attitude is just a game.
• MetalHeads  Although I myself have had a few headbangers for friends, they and I didn't listen to much of the same music.  However, because of their camo and black band t-shirts, people assume that their are goth as well.
• RivitHeads:  Never knowing one personally, I can tell you that they are listeners of Industrial and dances of EBM.  Though they may listen to a few songs that are from goth bands, and a few of their own bands are listened to by goths, this does not make them a gothic subgenre.
• DeathRockers:  Some people will argue the point that they are a gothic group, but only because they are also an evolution of Punk.  They are generally people who are "Toxic Punk", people who are more "Sick and Napalm" than "Death and Beauty."
• Emos:  I have brought this up many times that Emos and Goths are NOT the same, because I've been accused of being in this group.  I'm sure all goths have.  Though they both share the color black, Emo kids are a bit more of a rebelling teen, wishing to simply anger the parental authority, and sometimes have a tendency to overeact about too many things.

I'm sure that there are a few other goth groups around the world, but these were the ones that I was most familiar with, and whom I have had the pleasure of knowing.

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