goth

1. A Germanic peoples that likely originated as a minor ethnic group in Scandinavia and grew as they spread across Europe roughly two thousand years ago. Upon settling in areas around the Black Sea, they encountered the Roman Empire, and in the fourth century AD, sacked the city, putting the nail in the coffin for the mighty empire, and that was the end of that. 2. Short for 'gothic,' a musical and stylistic movement that came off the punk scene in the late 1970s with such bands as Bauhaus and Siouxsie and the Banshees. Popularity has waxed and waned since but the movement has remained intact to this day. Probably one of the most visually distinct subcultures around, characterized by a preference for dark clothing that is often influenced by Victorian, medieval and BDSM ascetics, among other things, and/or make-up, a pale complexion and some pretty interesting footwear. Since events like Columbine that sparked a witch hunt, goth culture has been accused of corrupting minors with Satanism, vampirism and violence. In truth, a great number of goths are actually intelligent, articulate and conscious people who, despite the foreboding appearance, are for the most part, more stimulating to be around than any of the varieties of chickenshit conformist that dominate the world today. 3. An angsty, angry suburban teenager who needs a great way to rebel against his or her unfair parents. What better way than with a Marilyn Manson t-shirt, a terrible black hair dye job and matching lipstick? Claiming to be 'gothic' because they listen to angry nu-metal bands like Slipknot and Korn, they often think their issues like drugs and self-mutilation contribute to their gawthick-ness. They will probably grow out of it in a few months and find something new to piss of their parents with. Until then, they'll just give the rest of us a bad name.