Teen Gothic

Me and a friend are going and we’ve both never gone to an event like that before. Anything we should know ahead of time?? We’ve both been into the music and fashion for a few years but this is going to be the first actual goth event we’ve gone to.

Why is goth considered a strictly music based subculture? This is a genuine question I’ve been curious about. I don’t mean to offend or devalue the importance of goth music, but it seems like being goth was a thing before the music came into play but there just wasn’t a name for it. It says online that it started in the 80s (though the term gothic rock was coined in 1967), but what about gothic literature and architecture from the 19th century? Or some aspects of the victorian era? Another small example, a lot of people consider Elvira goth and she took inspiration from the Vampira show (1950s).

I really favor this subculture over all others, there’s so many aspects I love especially the fashion and architecture. I feel disappointed I can’t be apart of it if I don’t favor the music above the other things (I do like it, but I like many other genres better I don’t have much time to get into it. I also have a hard time finding songs with lyrics I like, I like heartfelt songs). Please inform me, I’d love to know more. Again I’m just genuinely asking because I love goth!

I noticed a lot of questions in this group pretaining to being Goth. Can Goths like this, Can Goths like different music, Can I be ____ and still be Goth…it seems everyone seems to get caught up in what a person who considers themselves Goth to be…like they have to fit a mold perfectly or be a stereotype. Is there that many people that feel that they can't be Metal, Goth, Punk, ect and like anything outside that image? If so, what makes someone feel that way?