Gothic Subculture †Sinister or Harmless? Essay

What be the worst dangers that threaten our children to twenty-four hour period? demonism? Drugs? Homosexuality? A hysteriaure of violence? Heat exhaustion? What if thither was a danger that included all of these? That danger is here, and its name is GOTH. 1 Those words, taken from the website hosted by P atomic number 18nts American Religious Organizations Defending Y step forwardh which master(prenominal) purpose is to inform and warn pargonnts against dangers related to peasantic sub civilization, best restate the confusion around the phenomenon of being bucolic. Is gothdom a sinister cult posing danger to the society or a harmless movement, atomic topic 53 among m some(prenominal)?The viridityly negative reputation of the Gothic subculture, especially among p bents and teachers, has its root in stereotypes. Stereotype is defined in the Websters New creation Dictionary as a fixed or conventional spirit or conception, as of a person, group, thinker, etc. , held by a nu mber of masses, and allowing for no individuality, critical judgment, etc. Stereotypes are usually imposed on the group of people they are applied to by others who are non within the group save are instead critical of them, actually often due to lack of under kiosking or fear.Thus stereotypes are simplified cutouts representing general ideas instead than real living human beings, depriving them of their olympian individual features. Such attitude easily leads to intolerance, resentment and vent of intercourse between general society and the subculture, hiding the real truths of alive people behind the stereotypical fiction. Among many stereotypes related to Goths, one of the most common ones is obsession with death. The commonly held view is that they are antisocial outcasts attempting suicide or desiring to kill someone else.In reality, Goths fascination with everything related to death is non as superficial as it appears at first sight. Their viewpoint on death is one o f acceptance of the fate that awaits us all rather than whistling past the dangerousyard, denying death and hoping it will just go away. Goths accept death as a natural disperse of life, part of the natural balance of things. This does not mean, however, that Goths invite death by attempting suicide or homicide instead they accept and respect death for what it is, and move on.2 Although the notion of suicide is fascinating among them, it is not accepted as a solution to their own existential problems, but as an admitted failure to their emotions of despair, loss and loneliness. In this aspect it is the self-awareness and an attempt to overcome the fear of death, an attempt to absorb a critical analysis of their own proximity to death a different attitude towards this problem, contrary to the one shown in tabloids and TV programmes, where the idea of dying is either ignored or deprived of its dignity. As Birgit Richard points outThe Gothics are one of the most conspicuous subcult ures because they work against the suppression of aging with their deathly pale faces in a time when sun-studio tanned complexions are the epitome of health. They become the terror of a deathless producing and consuming culture which marginalizes the process of dying and bodily decay to be able to inspire the ideal of perpetual youth. Putting death at the centre of their ardour and their lives becomes a provocation by a subcultural group of adolescents which cannot be forgiven by society. Youth has to look fresh and tasty it is not supposed to manner of walking around dead.In a society with an ever increase average life expectancy, dealing with death is suitable only when a certain age has been reached. Another stereotype commonly associated with Goths is that their culture is anti-Christian with its unholy motifs, mysterious clothing, overshadow jewellery and devilish music of Marilyn Manson. They are incriminate of the worship of Satan, dangerous rituals and blood-drinkin g. Being attracted to the idea of self-mutilation, they are proud of their scars and occult symbols carved with razor blades all over their bodies.The Gothic movement is considered mysterious and self-destructive, glorifying everything that is morbid, and degrading everything that is good. The truth hiding behind this stereotype is different. Although the rooms of the blacks are designed in a special manner, e. g. containing small altars with accessories analogous grave-ribbons, crucifixes, grave lamps, candles and skulls, their purpose is not to serve as a place for black masses but to reconstruct the dark atmosphere of the cemetery, its proximity to death, or serve as a cave that shelters from a threatening exterior world.3 The colour black which dominates the style of clothing does not stand for their attraction to Satan but expresses a sense of despair, ascetic closing off and is the symbolization of inevitable death. The same meaning is vital for hair washed-out black, speci fic make-up with black eye-shadow, lipstick and nail polish, and a calcareous white face. Since Goths are attracted to everything related to death, their favourite motifs in jewellery are skulls, skeletons and bones, which serve as memento more rather than provocative items. opposite popular accessories, such as crucifixes, stars of David, ankh, the pentagram and the cross turned top side down, do not serve as symbols of Satanism but as distinguishing feature from the institutionalized church or a protective talisman against evil eye. Symbolism rejected by as irrational by other parts of society enables them to express dissatisfaction with the institutionalized church and the whole rationalized modern civilization.Also their favourite venue, cemetery, has a completely different give out than the stereotypical one, considered as a place for morbid Satanic rituals, since it serves as a symbol of mortality, silence, isolation and mourning. To the majority of society Goths are ab solute deviants and worshippers of Marilyn Manson and other dangerous music which inspired the tragic Columbine shootings 5. The titles of the songs only when are enough to show just what kind of music this is shadowy Sunday, The Order of Death, Draining Faces, Laughing Pain, Haunted, Movement of Fear.These are dangerous songs, performed by dangerous bands. One band for example is called Type O prohibit a blood type, and clearly a reference to Vampirism. 6 spell it may be true that many Goths enjoy Marilyn Mansons music, close all of them agree that he is not Goth as the debatable shock-rock star with the satanic leanings and violence-tinged music has never been a part of their Goths community, artistically or philosophically.7 Besides, Manson probably borrowed from the media portrayal of the Gothic movement which predates his stardom by at least a decade, as its origin is usually set(p) in 1979. In conclusion, it must be said that evaluating the whole subculture by means of stereotypes may be more sinister than the communitys rules themselves as it shows no respect for the individual, leads to intolerance and finally creates a ample chasm between the general society and the Gothic community.It should not be forget that Goths have to cope with the same pressures that non-Goths encounter social anxieties, family problems, every day failures and stresses. The only thing that differs is their way of dealing with those problems a darker one and more introspective version of normal. Tolerance and understanding is what Goths long for, as is stated by one representative of the subculture One way or another, those of us in the Gothic community demand to exist with as many rights and as much respect as is given to any normal human being.Our population are millions worldwide, and we laugh, cry, and live just like anyone else. We are your doctors, your counselors, your grocers, your teachers, your students, your librarians, your favourite authors, your fathers, your daughters, and your friends. We may choose to revel in the shadows, but we smile with those who would rather live in the light of day. Being Goth is not a phase, it is not dangerous, and it is not going anywhere. Everyone deserves a chance to simply be. This is all we ask let us be. BIBLIOGRAPHYCovelo, Benjamin. The Goth Music Death Machine. 28 May 2004http//redmusic.com