Teen Gothic

Genuine question. I first wondered about this when I saw a few comments on a tiktok profile’s video, where they mentioned being right-wing and held some not-so-wonderful political views. In the comments themselves, they were adamant about being labeled as goth and alternative.

If you are conservative, or in a group that isn’t as normally conforming to political beliefs of the majority of goths (as I’ve seen in my personal life, all the goths I’ve met are left-leaning), are you really goth? Punk is a different story. But are you goth if you’re on the right-leaning side of the political scale?

As for racists, fascists, bigots, or any of those sort, I don’t believe them to be welcomed in these sorts of communities to begin with.

And to note, this isn’t for me to argue for or against anyone’s beliefs or opinions. This is a question more so about how one labels themselves in their interests, and specifically, in the goth community. Please be respectful, this isn’t to create discourse.

Peace and love, thank you.

I've been thinking about this for a while, as "listening to the music" always seems to be the criteria when people ask if someone is goth. A lot of people who dress quite goth get called posers or something like it because they don't listen to any goth bands, but don't the clothes have at least some say in the matter?

Do any of you-like me-have very vivid imagines for goth music videos? Like, you hear a song and imagine your own video for it? For me, a song like that would be "For Her Light" by Fields of the Nephilim. As I listen, I can see very clearly a sunlit church with an angelic, yet uncanny looking female figure behind an altar. There are people languishing in the pews. Among them, a young boy about 9 years old sits dressed in a suit. One by one as the figure at the altar speaks, the elegent stainglass windows crash in on themselves–and suddenly, through the heavy door comes Carl Mccoy. He is being chased by someone (or something) and is desperately searching for something inside. When Carl finds the boy, the boy doesn't acknowledge that he is there (lyrics: "You can't wake up, you can't wake up."). The woman at the altar is stonefaced yet points at Carl with conviction. Then, the thing chasing Carl "attacks" him invisibly. This causes the boy to finally notice Carl and run from the church while other zombie-like churchgoers try to stop him. As the boy leaps from the gaping doors and the song is ending, he fades into the form of McCoy, revealing that the boy IS just the younger version of Carl. Thoughts? I know it's dramatic, but c'mon that song rocks. What are the songs for you where you imagine the video? Please describe what you imagine! I'm very interested!

Hi everyone, sorry if this is a dumb question.

An acquaintance of mine is a "DJ" for an online radio station that caters mainly to "oldies" rock music from the 50s – 70s or so. It made me wonder if there is such a thing for goth music, or, maybe more broadly, alternative music that would/could include goth music.

I am aware of Spotify playlists and etc. but I am looking more for an online radio station format with DJs that play sets at specific times.

Thanks in advance!

I'm not sure what else to call it, but What "tropes" or "motifs" I guess that can be found in goth songs do you like the most? Either lyrically or sonically? For example, one of my favorite goth lyric tropes is dark romance and Sonically, when they use church bells or wolf howling.

I recently saw Twin Tribes live and really enjoyed their song Sangre de Oro. Unfortunately, that seems to be their only song in Spanish so I'm looking for something similar. Anyone got recommendations on Spanish goth bands or specific songs?

One of my favorite ways to express my creativity within the subculture is by making these MVs using my favorite songs at the time and putting them to footage of me exploring the darker corners of the world. These places are often bat caves in different cities to delve into local scenes, concerts, and record stores, old cemeteries, alternative fashion boutiques and markets, macabre attractions, and places filled with dark history. Some are concert footage or conversations around my vinyl collection. Hopefully, you all will enjoy some of my shenanigans in this creepy little world, here are some of my latest adventure:

Gothic Salem/Boston

Gothic LA

Gothic Nashville

Gothic Mexico City

Cemetery Tourism

Live Music

Some Vinyl talk