Goth Subculture

Goth subculture is a contemporary subculture of the modern western world, generally considered as a middle class subculture which began in Britain during the early 1980's. Goths pride themselves on their sense of individuality and their freedom to visually express their identity with their alternative, historical and fantasy animated sense of style. Influenced by Gothic horror literature, incorporating elements of Renaissance and Victorian era fashion, and often inspired by fictional creatures such as vampires.

Gothic inspired fashion image wearing a Victorian style, black, Gothic, mourning dress and black lace umbrella, usually a popular Gothic style accessory

Another Gothic fashion image. Black Victorian style dress, possibly a wedding dress

Possibly more suitable for daytime Gothic woman wearing Gothic black corset, Shiny faux leather type fabric usually popular in bondage type outfits and Gothic inspired clothing

A Goth Man and Woman showing off their beautiful Victorian inspired look.

the quote underneath refers to judegments or misconceptions frequently associated with Goth subculture.

Goth values derive from their romanticized and apolitical view of the world, disconnecting themselves from the more materialistic, judgmental and mundane views of the general widespread society.
During the early 1980's, when the punk rock scene, which had previously been the predominant influence of British youngsters began to diminish, the goth subculture began to emerge. Goths have traditionally had an interest in subjects such as the possibility of life after death, and the world of the supernatural, with the major influence of "Goth" of course being Gothic Horror literature, hence their name. Goths generally consider themselves to be emotionally deep and often openly romantic. They therefore enjoy expressing this emotion through art forms such as music, poetry, art in the traditional sense wether it be drawing/sketching/painting, theatre and acting,
 Due to members of this subculture openly having an interest in horror literature and the world of the supernatural, not to mention their dark/alternative/horror inspired appearance, it is a sad but common occurrence that Goths are frequently mistaken for or labelled as satanists, and associated with extreme morbidity and having an obsession with death. However this is NOT the case, of course it cannot be ruled out that there may be the minority of Goths who do develop such  interests or beliefs, but satanism is no more prevalent in Gothic subculture than any other, and whilst accepting death as inevitable and viewing it as beautiful and sometimes even romantic or poetic, again this does not mean the whole basis of Goth culture is built around the subject or that they are obsessed, it is purely one of the beliefs they hold which disassociates or detaches them from the "norms" of mainstream society, and can unfortunately result in them becoming targets of victimization of uneducated opinions and judgments.
Artistic and historical influences most commonly associated with goths include Gothic rock music, Victorian era fashion, Victorian and Gothic architechture, Gothic horror literature, Horor films, Edwardian fashion and Renaissance fashion, the use of contrasting dark and pale cosmetics, leather and bondage type attire.

Bibliography

Norm (sociology) (no date). Contents. Available at: http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Norm_%28sociology%29.html (Accessed: 30 January 2015).

Part 1: The Goth culture: Quotations; why discuss Goth culture here? Description. History. (no date). The Goth culture: its history, practices, stereotypes, religious connections, etc. Available at: http://www.religioustolerance.org/goth.htm (Accessed: 30 January 2015).

Sedgwick, M. (2013) ‘How are goths and emos defined?’, BBC Magazine, 4 April. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22026044 (Accessed: 30 January 2015).

Tickle, L. (2011) ‘Growing-up for goths’, The Guardian, 24 October. Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/education/2011/oct/24/goth-culture-research (Accessed: 30 January 2015).

(no date a). Goth Subculture and Cultural Theory. Available at: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.fereday/macs01.htm (Accessed: 30 January 2015).

(no date b). Extract from Goth. Identity Style and Subculture by Paul Hodkinson. Available at: http://www.paulhodkinson.co.uk/publications/gothextract.htm (Accessed: 30 January 2015).

(no date c). Social Norms, Sociology Norms, Basic Concepts of Sociology Guide. Available at: http://www.sociologyguide.com/basic-concepts/Social-Norms.php (Accessed: 30 January 2015).

Bibliography

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Norm (sociology) (no date). Contents. Available at: http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Norm_%28sociology%29.html (Accessed: 30 January 2015).

Part 1: The Goth culture: Quotations; why discuss Goth culture here? Description. History. (no date). The Goth culture: its history, practices, stereotypes, religious connections, etc. Available at: http://www.religioustolerance.org/goth.htm (Accessed: 30 January 2015).

periodvintages (no date). periodvintages. Available at: http://periodvintages.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/gothic-victorian.html (Accessed: 30 January 2015).

Sedgwick, M. (2013) ‘How are goths and emos defined?’, BBC Magazine, 4 April. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22026044 (Accessed: 30 January 2015).

Tickle, L. (2011) ‘Growing-up for goths’, The Guardian, 24 October. Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/education/2011/oct/24/goth-culture-research (Accessed: 30 January 2015).

Veracious and Goth (no date). Veracious and Goth. Available at: http://veraciousgoth.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/goth-confessions.html (Accessed: 30 January 2015).

(no date a). Goth Subculture and Cultural Theory. Available at: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.fereday/macs01.htm (Accessed: 30 January 2015).

(no date b). Extract from Goth. Identity Style and Subculture by Paul Hodkinson. Available at: http://www.paulhodkinson.co.uk/publications/gothextract.htm (Accessed: 30 January 2015).

(no date c). Social Norms, Sociology Norms, Basic Concepts of Sociology Guide. Available at: http://www.sociologyguide.com/basic-concepts/Social-Norms.php (Accessed: 30 January 2015).

(no date d). GOTH.NET - What is Goth? Available at: http://www.goth.net/goth.html (Accessed: 30 January 2015).

(no date e). Available at: https://www.pinterest.com/Doctoredlocks/goth-hair/ (Accessed: 30 January 2015).

Citation

(no date a)

(no date b)

(Sedgwick, 2013)

(Norm (sociology), no date)

(no date c)

(Part 1: The Goth culture: Quotations; why discuss Goth culture here? Description. History., no date)

(Tickle, 2011)

(no date d)

(periodvintages, no date)

(Linking Horn: Links for the Jolly Red Man, no date)

(Veracious and Goth, no date)

(no date e)

(no date d). GOTH.NET - What is Goth? Available at: http://www.goth.net/goth.html (Accessed: 30 January 2015).

Citation

(no date a)

(no date b)

(Sedgwick, 2013)

(Norm (sociology), no date)

(no date c)

(Part 1: The Goth culture: Quotations; why discuss Goth culture here? Description. History., no date)

(Tickle, 2011)

(no date d)