“What is goth?” More often
than not I find that goths who answer this question are out to prove that goths
don’t consider themselves vampires (untrue in some claims), aren’t
depressed (untrue in many cases), and just want to be accepted for
who they are (untrue in probably most cases, if they were to consider
it without bias). Romanticized depression and ennui (Thank you Neil
Gaiman for dusting off this word for us in your first Death comic series)
have been on the forefront of all things goth almost as long as the
subculture has existed, and this makes sense in the same way a
professed preoccupation with death and insanity find their place.
Normative society already had decided that these things were unusual,
often unhealthy. Embracing them made for an easy
passive-aggressive rebellion. Of course goths aren’t really always
depressed, of course they’re not all suicidal; the culture would
not have lasted long if we were and anyone believing such moronic drivel simply isn't worth our time.
More recent goths are likely now fighting this self-imposed presumption that we want acceptance in order to, once again, have something to passive-aggressively rebel against. Essentially, the easiest way to be an individual within the goth community is to profess something un-gothic in nature but which doesn't disinclude oneself from all the other aspects of being goth. Seeking acceptance appears to be the easiest way to go about this. The idea that goths wish to be “accepted” for just being who they are is laughable. Acceptance would mean that goths would blend into the mainstream and that’s a direct contradiction to the subculture’s desire to remove itself from the very same mainstream. Acceptance would mean that goths weren’t special, unknowable or magical in any way. Anyone with even just a basic understanding of the underlying psychology of the goth culture knows that acceptance from greater society can never be a successful end goal. Those speaking the mantras of acceptance are either likely out of touch with what goth is, making excuses for themselves for liking gothic things, doing a lousy job of justifying their choices to non-goth friends or family, or they’re looking for something to rebel against within the culture. The latter typically spend their time trying to convince other goths that the culture should want acceptance rather than the society beyond ours.
More recent goths are likely now fighting this self-imposed presumption that we want acceptance in order to, once again, have something to passive-aggressively rebel against. Essentially, the easiest way to be an individual within the goth community is to profess something un-gothic in nature but which doesn't disinclude oneself from all the other aspects of being goth. Seeking acceptance appears to be the easiest way to go about this. The idea that goths wish to be “accepted” for just being who they are is laughable. Acceptance would mean that goths would blend into the mainstream and that’s a direct contradiction to the subculture’s desire to remove itself from the very same mainstream. Acceptance would mean that goths weren’t special, unknowable or magical in any way. Anyone with even just a basic understanding of the underlying psychology of the goth culture knows that acceptance from greater society can never be a successful end goal. Those speaking the mantras of acceptance are either likely out of touch with what goth is, making excuses for themselves for liking gothic things, doing a lousy job of justifying their choices to non-goth friends or family, or they’re looking for something to rebel against within the culture. The latter typically spend their time trying to convince other goths that the culture should want acceptance rather than the society beyond ours.
What is almost
never examined is the idea that definition of anything social must
be based on generalities. Sports fans have vastly different
favorite players, teams and sports. Artists have wide ranging
and differing preferences in medium, subject matter and purpose.
Yet we use the loose terms “artist” and “sports fan” with an
easy assumption of their definition and implied meaning.
Because of this many generalities must be made about goth
culture in order for such a discussion to even take place: that many participants wear black, that they like supernatural things,
that they’re pre-occupied with death, that they’re Satanist or at
least unorthodox in their approach to religion, that they listen to dark music… the list goes on. By nature (wishing to be
undefined and, intrinsically undefinable) goths tend to deny the
generalities because of our extremely strong sense of individuality, but this denial should be placed into its proper
context, and not be assumed to define what goth is or is not.
When a goth is denying that goths are different from other people, the denial alone should stand as an example of their individuality - their goth nature - rather than as evidence that goths are actually the same as everyone else. We're not.
When a goth is denying that goths are different from other people, the denial alone should stand as an example of their individuality - their goth nature - rather than as evidence that goths are actually the same as everyone else. We're not.
Anyone
who rants on about how Goth can’t be defined because one or two goths (usually themselves) don’t conform in some way to the
generalities is doing a disservice to what being goth is all about.
That time and attention from the mainstream should instead be spent cultivating how outsiders view us in a
manner befitting our culture. When someone says goths love Marilyn
Manson, simply smile and ask, “do we?” And leave it at that.
When you’re asked for the 1000th time if you own any
clothes that aren’t black, answer, “it wouldn’t be any fun if I
did.” Answering in these ways will actually help undefined us in
the eyes of those outside our culture, and that’s a glorious
achievement. Only by enhancing the mystery surrounding us, only by darkening our shadows can we become closer what the soul of goth is.
No comments:
Post a Comment