goth
Along with some history thingy about Vikings or another. Goth is a shallow label stuck onto some consumerist subculture originally cultivated as an architectural design, but has grossly mutated into a fashion statement for slightly alienated teens (and occasionally adults). I have read a lot of these definitions, and most of them define the "true" goth and the "wannabe" goth. Let me just say this: There is no difference. It doesn't matter if someone spends $500 a week on mass-manufactured Hot Topic merchandise, or sits in their room for hours reading nihilist literature and/or casting spells from Barnes and Noble spellbooks. There is no label for it. And no, there aren't different "subcategories" of the "goth" sphere. There are those that call themselves "goth", but how are they worse than those who call themselves "true" goths? Why not just be yourself and to hell with the labels? There is no point saying "Most are teenage losers who need to validate themselves with fashion, but I, of course, am a true GOTH." It makes you sound just as arrogant and presumptuous. Shop at Hot Topic, Abercrombie and Fitch, Value Village, wherever, just... Don't bother categorizing everything, most especially fashion statements.
Wannabe: "I dress in black all the time and listen to Cradle Of Filth." True: "I wear darker colors, most often black and medieval styles, and like to study philosophy and art. Wannabes suck." Me: "I dress in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, black, white, silver, and all colors and 'styles' in between. Is an emergency vest 'gothic'? My friends are the same ways, so give up the labels.
By Bumpy