What Is Goth?

First things first, you must know some background information about the scene. Or would you rather go put on some black clothes, paste on some white makeup, and go around declaring yourself a goth without knowing anything about your roots?

Wikipedia describes goth as a "contemporary subculture" that was an "offshoot of the post-punk genre and developed in the early 1980s in England."  Yes, it is true babybats. Goth did come from the Punks. As it developed and emerged it was tagged "positive punk" but later renamed "goth" after Steve Keaton wrote and article known as "The Face of Punk Gothique" (February 21,1981) in the UK rock weekly Sounds.

And thus goth was born for all of us to enjoy!!

Goth means something different to different people. To some it is a lifestyle, to others a fashion, and to some a music type. Either way, both fashion and music are deeply entwined with goth. This is also a controversial issue, what is more important? The music or the clothes?

Goth Music: 

Goth music takes the guitar and synthesizer sounds of the post-punk to create "foreboding, sorrowful, often epic soundscapes." According to music journalist Simon Reynolds, standard goth music fixtures include "scything guitar patterns, high-pitched basslines that often usurped the melodic role; beats that  were either hypnotically dirgelike or 'tribal'." He described the vocal style as "deep, droning alloys of Jim Morrison and Leonard Cohen."

Many goth bands used a drum machine that did not stress the "back beat in the rhythm." Siouxsie Sioux and the Banshees as well as The Cure used the 'flanging' guitar effect to produce a "brittle, cold, and harsh sound that contrasted with their psychedelic rock predecessors."

Goth Bands That Every Goth Should Know: The Cure, Bauhaus, Joy Division, Alien Sex Fiend, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and The Sisters Of Mercy (if you like them totally depends on you, but I think you should know the bands that started the whole scene/ where the most successful.)

Goth Fashion: 

Wikipedia describes gothic fashion as "dyed black hair,black lips, and black clothes; both males and females wearing dark eyeliner and dark fingernails." 

This is partially true babybats. Anyone can wear eyeliner and paint there nails but you are not limited to black. In these days a person can be a perkygoth to an ice goth and everything in between. 

 (perky goth)

 (ice goth)

A goth's wardrobe depends on what type of goth you are. A cybergoth's wardrobe consists of neon matched with black, glow sticks, aviator goggles (worn on the head), brightly colored hair and makeup, and gas masks. While a romatigoth's wardrobe has extravagant clothes (made out of silk, velvet,lace, etc) that are based on past eras (Victorian, etc) but might not be totally historically accurate.

In my mind, fashion and music make up goth and I believe no part is more important than the other. We need the music to express ourselves and we need the fashion to become us. 

What is your opinion? What do you think makes Goth? What is goth to you?