Many people define goth differently, and there is constant debate even within the community about what is and is not acceptable. Essentially, goth refers to both a post-punk music genre with a dark or gloomy sound and subject matter, as well as the subculture that arose from it. It is influenced by Gothic fiction from the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as horror films from the early 20th century. Goths are known for their affinity for the color black and all things morbid, but they are a diverse group of individuals.
In the late 1970s, goth music emerged as a spin-off of punk and new wave, and it grew in popularity in the 1980s. Different pieces of music with this name may sound quite different, with some being melodic and ethereal and others being more driving and frenetic, but they are all downbeat and dramatic. The importance of the lyrical component cannot be overstated. It’s described as introspective and depressive, with macabre imagery and literary and religious allusions aplenty.
Because goths as a group tend to reject labels, it can be difficult to categorize certain bands as goth. Many bands, such as The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Sisters of Mercy, who heavily influenced both visual and acoustic elements of the aesthetic, do not identify themselves with the term and often find it limiting.
While music is at the heart of the goth subculture, there are other important aspects. Members are frequently noticed because of their attire. The dominant color is black, but other dark shades such as purple, gray, and blood red are also prominent. White, despite its rarity, can be a gothic color because of its dramatic appearance and evocation of a burial shroud. Males and females alike favor black make-up, nail polish, and heavily teased hair.
Much goth fashion, inspired by Gothic literature and music, harkens back to a bygone era, especially Victorian and Renaissance styles. Religious symbols like crosses and ankhs can also be found on many outfits. Because personal expression is valued in the culture, many goths bend the rules to fit their own unique style.
Goth is more of an aesthetic than an ideology, and no single religious or political viewpoint can be said to be representative of the subculture. Goths are known for their tolerance of others and their tendency to look inwards rather than outwards. Though they have a bad reputation for being violent or dangerously anti-social, the majority of them are creative, thoughtful, and passive, if pessimistic, people.