goth

--The words Goth and Gothic have had many, largely unrelated meanings: the name of the Germanic Visigoth tribes that overthrew the Roman Empire. From this source arose the concept of a Goth as an uncivilized person, a barbarian. 4 --a style of architecture in Western Europe which was popular from the 12th to the 16th century. --a style of horror/mystery literature that is dark, eerie and gloomy. --Goth, as a modern movement, started as one component of the punk rock scene. As the latter faded, Goth survived by creating its own subculture. --The first use of the term Goth in its present meaning was on a British Broadcasting Commission (BBC) TV program. Anthony H. Wilson, manager of Joy Division described the band as Gothic compared with the pop mainstream. The name stuck. --Their use of black clothing was originally "something of a backlash to the colorful disco music of the seventies." 5 It also stuck. --The movement first became established in the Batcave, a nightclub in London, England, in the early 1980's. 3 --Spreading to the U.S., it first became popular in California. --Goth is featured in The Crow horror movies (1994, 1996). Other Gothic movies are the original Nosferatu, the color remake Nosferatu the Vampyre, and the Cabinet of Doctor Caligari. --Popular music bands are the Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, the Sisters of Mercy, Dead Can Dance, and many others. ***Stereotypes: People have accused or described Goths as being: Depressed, Unusually bigoted, Violent, Suicidal, Involved in illegal drugs, Vampires or believe themselves to be vampires, Sado-masochists, Satanists, Musicians, painters, and other artists, Computer programmers (although there seem to be a lot of them) Wearers of black (some wear white and gunmetal), Dyers of their hair, Users of white makeup. 4