what is goth? I've got a young adult daughter who's talking alot about goth clothes, etc...?

Answer 1

TELL HER TO SNAP OUT OF IT...its not a good way. Im a freshman in college and i know all about it. THey were all back all the damn time its horrible. They listen to music such as Aiden, Senses fail, godsmack, slipknot, etc. Basically SCREAMING music. Quite attractive huh? Next thing you know she'll be hopped up on drugs! Its the truth. Good luck

Answer 2

Goth is short for Gothic. It's a style of dress, and in some cases an attitude. If all she is talking about is the clothes, then look for dark colors (black in particular) and rich fabrics (brocades, silks, velvets, suedes, etc are prized) Cotton is also great. You can buy synthetic, but they should look and feel authentic. Most that dress goth do it in a less extreme way and stick to the dark colors and band t-shirts with less emphasis on the actual fabric.

You may want to check out hot toppic http://www.hottopic.com/?AID=10366692&PID=1413356&SID=b1 so you can get a genral idea of the clothes and style.

Google defines it as : a modern subculture that first became popular during the early 1980s within the gothic rock scene, a sub-genre of post punk. It is associated with gothic tastes in music and clothing. Styles of dress range from gothic horror, punk, Victorian, fetish, cybergoth, androgyny, and/or lots of black. Since the mid-1990s, styles of music that can be heard in goth venues range from gothic rock, industrial, punk, metal, techno, 1980s dance music, and several others.

Oh, and please don't listen to those who say this will ruin her life. I was goth for a long time, no problems, no trouble with the law, drugs, self mutilation, or any of that. Neither did my friends who were goth also. It is not goth that makes people this way (just ask the sucidal cheerleaders) but life and people themselves. I am currently a A student working on my second degree, and still mostly goth to this day -tattoos and piercings included.

Answer 3

I never really got into the whole goth thing, but I had a lot of friends in high school that did. Goth stands for Gothic, of the Gothic Era in history. You know . . . dark castles, gargoyles, fantasy, stuff like that. People who are into goth will wear lots of black clothes and make up. There's Gothic music, which sounds pretty dark to me, but some people like it. Most teenagers get into goth because the music and clothes are cool. Most of them will grow out of it by college, when their teenage rebellion and depression ends and hope is restored. Others become goth and believe in it, almost religiously. When goth is taken to the ext ream, the person may believe in vampires and witch craft.

Answer 4

PLEASE READ THIS ARTICLE:

"Goths are just nice teens with a dark sense of humour
By Matt Barnwell
(Filed: 20/03/2006)

Parents need not worry if their teenagers become goths. A university study shows they are likely to become doctors, lawyers or architects.

The research found that "bourgeois" goths are a class above other youth cultures and get their kicks from books rather than drugs.

The Sussex University study says goths, recognised by their black clothes and hair, pasty faces and morbid taste in music, are middle class to the core.


Dunja Brill, 32, who has a doctorate in media and cultural studies, studied goths in Brighton, Edinburgh, Berlin and Cologne.

"They won't like me saying it, but their lifestyle, unlike the punk scene, is a middle-class subculture," she said.

Her research shows that goths share a dark sense of humour.

"The values of the goth subculture are very high-brow," she said. "They tend to enjoy old poetry, books and the arts.

"It is a peaceful subculture - drugs and anti-social behaviour do not play a big part.

"Many parents worry because they think their children may be depressed or suicidal when they start wearing black but this is not usually the case.

"They tend to have a sarcastic sense of humour and be able to express their feelings.

"Another worry is the fetish fashion of some goths, especially with the females. But my research shows that the girls are not overtly sexual.

"In fact, they are usually believers of love and romance, not one night stands."

Miss Brill says goths were given a bad press after the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in Colorado.

Lyrics penned by the singer Marilyn Manson were blamed for inciting the shooting in which 12 students and a teacher were killed.

"Most goths don't think of Marilyn Manson as being part of the subculture," she said.

"But even though he and some goth bands do push the boundaries with their lyrics, these are not usually taken too seriously.

"Goths are not satanists. They are usually intelligent youngsters who have rejected the idea that teenagers must fulfil certain criteria.

"Many teenagers carry on being goths into their adult life, wearing toned-down clothes, having good jobs, a mortgage, a car and children."

Answer 5

I used to be one. I used to dye my hair black, but now it's back to it's original blonde and I've taken out my piercings recently (I had 13 at one point). I think it was a bit of a phase for me, but then to some people, it's a way of life.

The term "Goth" is used to describe people who have a deep admiration for death and darkness. This doesn't mean that they want everyone to die, but they respect the fact that it happens. "Coffins are cool." "Vampirism is sexy." Oh, and they wear a lot of makeup too (some look beautiful with it on, some... well... don't.)

A lot (not all, mind you) of goths are into the occult... but many don't look into it that deep and just like the style of clothes. The dresses, admittedly, are amazing. www.blackrose.co.uk has a lot of dresses (some stuff on that website is pvc and tacky, ignore those, they aren't gothic!) and other stuff which is quite cool.

Colours goths commonly like are: black, reds, dark purples, deep blues, emerald greens- mostly dark colours. But some (like me) like white as well. Spikes, lace and lots of metal jewelry are common.

Really, the term "goth" means a lot of things to a lot of different people. Very rarely are they ever moody, manic depressive, self harmers or suicidal- no more than the youth of today, anyway. But in all honesty... it's better to be a goth and seem kinda strange (personally I see it as a compliment being called "wierd") than to be "normal" spraying walls and smoking on street corners.

Answer 6

Gothic is black clothing, collars, studs, those spikey looking things,e tc etc. Black lip stick, lots of makeup and other stuff. My sister went gothic. Gothic Unfortunalty usually leads to alot of other problems. A few other syptoms of going goth (not always but usually) would be 1. drugs, 2. self mutaltation ei: cutting ones self or contepmting sucidadial thoughts, 3. stealing/ theft of others properties, 4. drinking adult drinks, 5. smoking, 6. hanging out with lower classes of people. If you can prevent her from going goth- I highly recommend you try now. Because my sister and all her friends whom i know have gone goth, lead horrible lives as far as I can see. They have no respect for themselves or for their standard of life. Thats not always the case...but I have seen enough go goth- including my sister, my brother in law, my cousin, and alot of people from high school to know that its no way to go.

Answer 7

Goth is sort of like Madonna was in the 80's. Dark colors, piercings, skull accessories, punk and heavy metal, crazy hair. Nothing wrong with it really. They eventually see how ridiculous they look and grow out of it. You don't see to many goth grannies running around.

Answer 8

Goth is a subculture usually defined by dark (black on black) clothing and makeup.

There is a goth music genre that your daughter might be referring to, which is a post-punk heavy metal or rock type music.

Answer 9

Black clothes, black eye make-up, darkness - skulls, etc. My niece got into it in high school (before she quit school). She's 18 now and in jail (drugs, at temped robbery). Oh, and her parents are professionals - one's a school teacher. She got into all the evil parts of it. There can be. I think some kids are just trying to get attention. Of course, she'd dress all goth and look awful -- then say in her whiny little voice "why is everyone staring at me."

Answer 10

Uh Oh! Be careful...watch what she does...her friends...where she hangs out..this is usually the beginning of trouble. It's like they have this little cult that everything in it must be black (color).

They are always in dark makeup and dark clothing with extreme piercings and try to portray a silent mysterious aura.

Remember Columbine?...those kids that shot up the school were into Goth!

Answer 11

goth is sort of a fascination with morbid like make-up, clothes, ideas, etc. Short for gothic. But not all goths are satanists.......really its just a style to push the envelope.....