In areas like sociology, anthropology and cultural studies, a subculture is a group of people with a culture (whether distinct or hidden) which differentiates them from the larger culture to which they belong. According to Wikipedia, if a particular subculture is characterized by a systematic opposition to the dominant culture, it may be described as a counterculture. But anyways, Im here to present the subcultures commonly misunderstood, and these subcultures have few things in common. To wit, they are the Gothic and Punk subcultures.The photo depicted here is a topview of the Harajuku Station in Japan where goths usually can be seen moving freely never caring for anyone's judgement.
Ideology
Defining an explicit ideology for the gothic subculture is difficult for several reasons. First is the overwhelming importance of mood and aesthetic for those involved. But I will just tackle this subculture in its overview, don't wanna get involved for things that is very sacred to many.
But to wit, I have here 5 points that many of us should know about the Gothic community and its followers. These are the only things I can think of as of this minute while I'm writing this article. Hope I could add some more. But I'll try to update this entry in the following days. ^^,
1.) Goths, in terms of their membership in the subculture, are usually not supportive of violence, but rather tolerant. Many in the media have incorrectly associated the Goth subculture with violence, hatred of minorities, and other acts of hate.
3.) The goth subculture has no pronounced political messages or cries for social activism. Goths may, indeed, have political leanings ranging from left-wing to right-wing, but they do not express them specifically as part of a cultural identity it's a personal choice and all goths respect that.
4.) The subculture is marked by its emphasis on individualism, tolerance for diversity, a strong emphasis on creativity, tendency toward intellectualism, and a mild tendency towards cynicism, but even these ideas are not universal to all goths.
5.) Religion, is seen as a matter of personal conscience. And therefore not all goths are affiliated to the so-called demonic or satanic cults. The gothic community is well-diversified although there are a few followers of Satanism and the likes but we dont have the right to judge their practices if we really haven't had any good understanding about their philosophy. So basically, everything is just about tolerance, respect and acceptance.
6.) Goth fashion is stereotyped as a dark, sometimes morbid, eroticized fashion and style of dress. Typical gothic fashion includes dyed black hair, dark eyeliner, black fingernails, black period-styled clothing; goths may or may not have piercings.
NOTE: While involvement with the subculture can be fulfilling, it also can be risky, especially for the young, because of the negative attention it can attract due to public misconceptions of goth subculture.
History
The goth subculture is a contemporary subculture found in many countries. It began in the United Kingdom during the early 1980s in the gothic rock scene, an offshoot of the post-punk genre.
The goth subculture has associated tastes in music, aesthetics, and fashion, whether or not all individuals who share those tastes are in fact members of the goth subculture. Gothic music encompasses a number of different styles.
Late 1970s, there were a few post-punk bands labeled "gothic".
The bands that began the gothic rock and deathrock scene were limited in number, and included Bauhaus, Specimen, Siouxsie & the Banshees, The Damned, The Birthday Party, Southern Death Cult, Ausgang, Sex Gang Children, 45 Grave, UK Decay, The Virgin Prunes, Kommunity FK, Alien Sex Fiend and Christian Death. Gloria Mundi, The Cure, This Mortal Coil, Dead Can Dance, mittageisen, early Adam and the Ants and Killing Joke have also been associated.
By the mid-eighties, the number of bands began proliferating and became increasingly popular.
By the mid-1990s, the term "goth" and the boundaries of the associated subculture had become more contentious. Styles of music that were heard in venues that goths attended ranged from gothic rock, death rock, industrial music, Gothabilly, EBM, ambient, experimental, synthpop, shoegazing, punk rock, to 1970s glam rock.
Recent years have seen a resurgence in the early positive punk and death rock sound, in reaction to aggrotech, industrial and synthpop, which had taken over many goth clubs.
Today, the goth music scene thrives in Western Europe - especially in Germany, with large festivals such as Wave-Gotik-Treffen, M'era Luna and others drawing tens of thousands of fans from all over the world.[7] However, North America still sees large scale events, most recently, Chamber's Dark Art & Music Festival
Ideology
Defining an explicit ideology for the gothic subculture is difficult for several reasons. First is the overwhelming importance of mood and aesthetic for those involved. But I will just tackle this subculture in its overview, don't wanna get involved for things that is very sacred to many.
But to wit, I have here 5 points that many of us should know about the Gothic community and its followers. These are the only things I can think of as of this minute while I'm writing this article. Hope I could add some more. But I'll try to update this entry in the following days. ^^,
1.) Goths, in terms of their membership in the subculture, are usually not supportive of violence, but rather tolerant. Many in the media have incorrectly associated the Goth subculture with violence, hatred of minorities, and other acts of hate.
Latino goths by Jeaneen Lund Photography
2.) Violence and hate do not form elements of goth ideology; rather, the ideology is formed in part by recognition, identification, and grief over societal and personal evils that the mainstream culture wishes to ignore or forget. These are the prevalent themes in goth music.
Goths in Whitby's "The Elsinore" pub
Charming, friendly and wonderfully dressed people who come
to Whitby for the October and April Goth weekends.
Photographed by Kjartan Poskitt
3.) The goth subculture has no pronounced political messages or cries for social activism. Goths may, indeed, have political leanings ranging from left-wing to right-wing, but they do not express them specifically as part of a cultural identity it's a personal choice and all goths respect that.
Japanese Goths in Harajuku Train Station
4.) The subculture is marked by its emphasis on individualism, tolerance for diversity, a strong emphasis on creativity, tendency toward intellectualism, and a mild tendency towards cynicism, but even these ideas are not universal to all goths.
Filipino Goth Rock band "The Late Isabel"
attending the MTV Style Awards 2004
Nominated as Most Stylish Video Photography by Daniel Tan
5.) Religion, is seen as a matter of personal conscience. And therefore not all goths are affiliated to the so-called demonic or satanic cults. The gothic community is well-diversified although there are a few followers of Satanism and the likes but we dont have the right to judge their practices if we really haven't had any good understanding about their philosophy. So basically, everything is just about tolerance, respect and acceptance.
American goths attending church in their gothic outfits
6.) Goth fashion is stereotyped as a dark, sometimes morbid, eroticized fashion and style of dress. Typical gothic fashion includes dyed black hair, dark eyeliner, black fingernails, black period-styled clothing; goths may or may not have piercings.
Cybernetangel99 aka Gothic Rose fashion sense showcased
NOTE: While involvement with the subculture can be fulfilling, it also can be risky, especially for the young, because of the negative attention it can attract due to public misconceptions of goth subculture.
History
The goth subculture is a contemporary subculture found in many countries. It began in the United Kingdom during the early 1980s in the gothic rock scene, an offshoot of the post-punk genre.
The goth subculture has associated tastes in music, aesthetics, and fashion, whether or not all individuals who share those tastes are in fact members of the goth subculture. Gothic music encompasses a number of different styles.
Late 1970s, there were a few post-punk bands labeled "gothic".
The bands that began the gothic rock and deathrock scene were limited in number, and included Bauhaus, Specimen, Siouxsie & the Banshees, The Damned, The Birthday Party, Southern Death Cult, Ausgang, Sex Gang Children, 45 Grave, UK Decay, The Virgin Prunes, Kommunity FK, Alien Sex Fiend and Christian Death. Gloria Mundi, The Cure, This Mortal Coil, Dead Can Dance, mittageisen, early Adam and the Ants and Killing Joke have also been associated.
By the mid-eighties, the number of bands began proliferating and became increasingly popular.
By the mid-1990s, the term "goth" and the boundaries of the associated subculture had become more contentious. Styles of music that were heard in venues that goths attended ranged from gothic rock, death rock, industrial music, Gothabilly, EBM, ambient, experimental, synthpop, shoegazing, punk rock, to 1970s glam rock.
Recent years have seen a resurgence in the early positive punk and death rock sound, in reaction to aggrotech, industrial and synthpop, which had taken over many goth clubs.
Today, the goth music scene thrives in Western Europe - especially in Germany, with large festivals such as Wave-Gotik-Treffen, M'era Luna and others drawing tens of thousands of fans from all over the world.[7] However, North America still sees large scale events, most recently, Chamber's Dark Art & Music Festival
Related Sources:
Wikipedia.com
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