QandAs: Buzz

What is Goth?

Answer:
Goth is short for “gothic,” and

refers to a fashion style, music style and subculture in the west. Goth style is characterized by wearing predominantly black clothing and accentuating one’s paleness of skin. Goth style also includes black-dyed and extremely and fantastically shaped hairdos as well as piercings, tattoos and striking makeup.

Goth style is also sometimes charactized as being morbid, macabre and erotic. Goth music arose from punk in the 1980’s, which has proven to be a time when punk birthed many different styles of music, including emo.

The term Goth has a long history. It originally referred to a Germanic people group, and the term came to be derogative referring to pagans and/or barbarians. In later times, Gothic style preceded that of neo-classical style, because Gothic art was seen as passé. However, it was only in the 18th century where the term started to resemble its modern sense, coming from literature that focused on themes of death, decay, the supernatural and melodrama.