goth n.
1. A style of rock music that often evokes bleak, lugubrious imagery
2. A performer or follower of this style of music
Source: The American Heritage(r) Dictionary of the English Language,
Fourth Edition
1. One who is rude or uncivilized; a barbarian; a rude, ignorant
person.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, (c) 1996
New Book on Goths, Obliterates Stereotypes
People tend to fear that which they do not understand.
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Marginalized by the mainstream, targeted by conservative
groups, labeled as devil-worshippers, goths have been blamed for
everything from school shootings to serial killings. The federal
government has even approved funding for Middle America to "combat
goth culture." While Marilyn Manson was scapegoated for the
tragic events at Columbine and The UK Guardian associates goths
with the Nazi Party, goths all over are misrepresented and misunderstood.
The goth Bible: A Compendium for the Darkly Inclined, by bestselling
horror writer and goth icon Nancy Kilpatrick, seeks to bridge this
gap and help conventional society gain a better understanding of
these individuals who have been branded as outcasts.
Starting with the Roman Empire and leading through
Victorian England, Nancy Kilpatrick traces the evolution of goth
culture, explaining its deep emphasis on individuality and the embracing
of the darker facets of life that traditional society tends to either
ignore or reject. Kilpatrick interviewed hundreds of goths, ranging
from high-school students to company CEO's as well as goth families,
replete with gothlings.
Nancy Kilpatrick also illustrates the diversity
of goth culture, describing the many different types of goth, a
few of which are listed below:
Blood Drinker---Some
goths identify with vampires, but few drink blood on a regular basis.
They might indulge in sadomasochistic erotic rituals, or simply
be obsessed with vitae and all the symbolism it holds.
Cemetery goth---Many goths prefer
graveyards to backyards. Only a very few suffer an aversion to death
and everything associated with it; most are intrigued by the concept
of demise, and find cemeteries lovely.
Christian goth---What it sounds
like-goths with strong Christian beliefs. There are Jewish goths,
and probably Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist goths as well.
Corporate goth-those who work for a living in the corporations that
rule the world.
Graver---goths who rave. Usually
goths under thirty who like to go to raves and dance to techno all
night.
Punky goth---delightful relics
no matter their age, these throwbacks provide a taste of the post-Punk
era when Punk and goth were joined at the hip like dark and darker.
Ubergoth---way over the top. The
goths who dress to the nines to run out and buy milk.
Vampire---Those in love with the
image and lifestyle of the undead. Vampires are mysterious, charming
when they want to be, sexy.
While considered mainly an underground movement, Kilpatrick demonstrates
how goth culture is in every way prevalent in popular culture, whether
it's Marilyn Manson, Robert Smith of The Cure, or cult icon Ian
Curtis. Goth culture has exerted its influence on fashion-everything
from Haute-couture Los Angeles designer Rick Owens, to the commercials
of Calvin Klein and Levi's.
A deep exploration of a rich subculture,
The goth Bible also features exclusive interviews with legendary
goth celebrities who have crossed over into the mainstream, such
as Neil Gaiman and Poppy Z. Brite. Intensely fascinating and highly
entertaining, Nancy Kilpatrick allows us to journey inside the vast
world of goths, giving us an understanding of a culture which has
in the past shown itself to be quite inaccessible.
The Goth Bible is available to purchase
online from:
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