Teen Gothic

I hope this is the right place to ask. I'm just a curious metalhead who's not super familiar with goth culture (though I've always thought y'all are cool), so I apologize if this is a dumb question. But I have to know.

I see many goths wearing rosaries and I've always thought it's just because it looks good, but I came across someone saying that many goths wear it to express anti-conservatism or anti-christianity. I've never heard about that before and rosaries are a religious thing, so it feels counter intuitive. So I come to you to ask, is any of this true? Can someone explain the connection to anti-conservatism and anti-religiousness?

I have searching and learning about the subculture a lot but it's only been tree years since i started. I wanted you to help me (if you want) yo still learning about bands that are not that popular, i Made a playlist but i feel like it's a long way till i finish it. On the other hand i wanted to know if someone can recommend me some films/documentaries about the subculture. I am a little bit obsessed about knowing more. Sorry, my english it's TRASH

https://www.mtv.com/news/ys31wm/goth-tiktok-mareux-awfully-sinister-dusty-gannon

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I don't pay much heed to the MTVs music blogs from past a decade or so, but seeing them writing an article about Goth music and subculture after so many years caught my eye. Though the article mentions several new goth bands it also talks about how ekids and tiktok helped goth being into trends again. I personally do not find it actually helping goth being in trends again since goth subculture has always been there thriving in music and scene (though of course not at mainstream level), but also would love to know the community's thoughts on the article 🙂

You know I always had a inner goth in me, I always denied myself as a goth despite the fact I listen to some of the music, I always thought that being a goth meant to be one in general having some traits and listening to the music, And in the end really its more of if you listen to the music you are already a goth, The first goth song I have ever listened to was surprisingly and I am not sure if this counts at all but it was the most mysterious song on the internet, Yes that was literally the song's name and I kinda got curious into its the genre since I liked it soo much, I delved into it more and found out it was gothic, And from time to time I started to listen to goth music, But what really got me in into being a goth was, The march violets – natural history, I was listening to random goth music on spotify in like 1 AM while drrawing, And I remember specifically this kicking in, Giving me the most satisfying goosebump ever.

And here I am finally getting into being goth, And posting here, I may look like the biggest conformist yet, But I am a goth from the inside and I wanted to know what completely got you in into being a goth too? Or threw you in, In that case?

I love Goth music. Till last year I was familiar only with some post-punk bands (JD, The Banshees, Bauhaus), but I've never thought there's so much great music in Goth subgenres I'll love. I was wrong. I've found so many gems – among post-punk, goth rock, coldwave, darkwave bands and artists. Also, I understood I really like mostly black clothes (though I wear white and dark blue too sometimes ), but that's secondary. I like this subreddit as well (I'm pretty active here).

Now the question is, am I some kind of the mirror character of those "gothic" guys who don't listen to any goth music (except for maybe 1-2 songs by The Cure or the SOM) but dress like Goths. I only listen to the music and participate in this Reddit community. Some black clothes, a T-Shirt with Bauhaus logo (I even put it at work haha no one ever asked me what this sign means). I don't attend events (don't have anything in my city), never visit any concerts (never had an opportunity either). I'm a casual dude who wears mostly black and posts some non-mainstream music on Instagram stories (don't think anyone listens to it anyway). Not sure I can even call myself Goth. "Post-punker" is closer to me. However, I really resonate with many Goth bands. Is my attitude somewhat contemptuous, alien, or even hurtful to the Goth subculture?

Sorry if that's kind of a selfish post, just those thoughts hit me suddenly

I was just visiting a book store the other day and noticed a lot of mediocre books on goth that still spread misinformation even though there good books that people can still buy. What are books you consider good ones and ones that's spread misinformation? This also helps newcomers avoid books and at least provides of collective sense of better stuff out there.

Conflating architecture, gothic, all things dark as goth or goth alone, a poor analysis of the music history and claims of the subculture predating the music along with conflating dark genres as extensions of goth and a strong overemphasis of the fashion and lifestyle are a few traits of misinformation books.

Good goth books imo (some are out of print):

Gothic Rock Black Book

Hex Files

Goth chic

21st Century Goth

Goth: Undead Subculture

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Misinformation books imo (some of these are still in stores or in stock online):

Goth bible

What is goth? by Voltaire

Gothic Charm School

I will preface this by saying this was a disagreement on tiktok which sounds so silly and i realize this.

Anyways, this girl posted a makeup look with dark eyeshadow and eyeliner and she put “#gothic” as one of the hashtags. People were grilling her in the comments saying this wasn’t goth, she didn’t look goth, etc. and I personally felt that was wrong. I commented and shared how goth is a music based subculture and that as long as you love the music, know the ideals and history of this subculture, you are goth! The makeup and fashion is just a plus. And I went on to say how there are plenty of folks who are goths and do not look the part (me included most of the time, thanks Covid)

And someone argued with me saying that goths follow a certain aesthetic and the one she’s dressed as is not it. And I said that I understand that but I think there should be more room for individual expression because the typical goth aesthetic is not one size fits all. And then they shot back at me saying things such as “well you can’t wear lip gloss and pink and be considered goth, etc” and I just am wondering where this whole mindset is coming from?

It was really giving off “you don’t look goth enough if you aren’t wearing x/y/z” vibes which I think could give baby bats a bad taste when first entering the subculture. Why can’t we wear pink and lip gloss and still be goths? I ended the argument with a respectful exit but I’m curious what you guys think. I personally think that since the core foundation of goth is music, it shouldn’t matter what you look like. But this is simply my opinion and any other thoughts are welcome! No opinion is wrong, we all have our points of view and I accepted hers with grace even if I disagreed

I also apologize if this is not the right space, please remove if need be!!

I prefer female singers over male ones so bands with female singers would be nice.

I’m curious on how some others got into the goth subculture/discoverd it