On Being Goth
A few times i've come across a question, both in person and on online forums; Why where what goths wear? What's with the pants? Its been on the back burner of my brain for a long time, because i didn't have an answer.
Some of it finally congealed tonight on the way home, so here's what i've got so far. It is somewhat scattered and unorganized.
The great secret of any trend recognizable enough to be stereotyped is that it about fitting in. Though no one will admit it. If these are the sort of people one wants to hang around with, this is how you dress. Or, at least, you will tend to adopt some of the styles of your friends.
I think there is a degree of 'nature' to it. Goth style is often linked to hard rock music and alternative genres like Alt Rock, Goth rock, Death Metal, ect. For some people, you have to figure that the same personality that inclines you to listen to music with darker themes and clashing growling tones also inclines you to wear dark and tough or clashing clothing. No one thinks it weird that country music lovers tend to acquire cowboy hats and boots, even if they are city-dwellers.
There are some, I assume, who are 'being goth' to get the attention (though i usually thing of that more as Emo). I know there are people using it a litmus test, to see who is open minded enough to still be part of the conversation and who moves nervously to the far side of the room. Most of those, though, seem to be equally willing to shrug off people who fail the test, so it doesn't get them anywhere, and sort of encourages the stereotyping of goths as seclusive and moody.
I suspect there is some main-stream rebellion to a lot of the original choices is dress. High school wasn't that long ago for me, and i grant you Goth has been around a lot longer. But i remember noticing that the trendy 'preppy' people had a lot of tight-fitting pants and baggy sweatshirts, bright colors, delicate jewelry. The goths i remember have big pants and sometimes trench coats (yet another re-incarnation of the zoot suit, and conspicuous consumption), always big noticeable jewelry, and while we/they didn't always wear *only* black, there is a tendency towards monochromatic color themes. Goth clothing started out as modified clothing, things people were making in their sewing rooms at home. The irony is how much the style is a manufactured trend now; its something you buy into (for as much per pants as preps are paying at Abercrombie) and i don't blame anyone! Having now removed and replaced two back jean pockets, rivets and all, i understand how blasted hard it is to modify a pair of pants that far.
To get down to a completely personal answer to the question, going goth was a part of my process of becoming an extrovert. My first year of high school i was still rather quiet and withheld. During middle school, if my dress brought any attention to me at all it wasn't good. (side note: i am extremely glad my parents let me wear whatever moved me, start to finish.) My group of people in high school were the Smart Kids, and everyone else knew it, so there wasn't ever really a chance of winding up 'normal.' Being goth seemed to mean expressing something wilder inside (chains), more mysterious (black and hints of color), and never having to wear a skirt (big pants!). And, simply, wearing goth pants made me happy and excited, and it is way easier to be extroverted and part of a conversation when you're feeling exciting.
There it is in a nutshell. Look exciting, feel exciting. Look like something people don't know how to deal with, feel like you have more control over the situation than you did before.
So i guess i wear goth because it makes people ask me why i wear goth?
Some of it finally congealed tonight on the way home, so here's what i've got so far. It is somewhat scattered and unorganized.
The great secret of any trend recognizable enough to be stereotyped is that it about fitting in. Though no one will admit it. If these are the sort of people one wants to hang around with, this is how you dress. Or, at least, you will tend to adopt some of the styles of your friends.
I think there is a degree of 'nature' to it. Goth style is often linked to hard rock music and alternative genres like Alt Rock, Goth rock, Death Metal, ect. For some people, you have to figure that the same personality that inclines you to listen to music with darker themes and clashing growling tones also inclines you to wear dark and tough or clashing clothing. No one thinks it weird that country music lovers tend to acquire cowboy hats and boots, even if they are city-dwellers.
There are some, I assume, who are 'being goth' to get the attention (though i usually thing of that more as Emo). I know there are people using it a litmus test, to see who is open minded enough to still be part of the conversation and who moves nervously to the far side of the room. Most of those, though, seem to be equally willing to shrug off people who fail the test, so it doesn't get them anywhere, and sort of encourages the stereotyping of goths as seclusive and moody.
I suspect there is some main-stream rebellion to a lot of the original choices is dress. High school wasn't that long ago for me, and i grant you Goth has been around a lot longer. But i remember noticing that the trendy 'preppy' people had a lot of tight-fitting pants and baggy sweatshirts, bright colors, delicate jewelry. The goths i remember have big pants and sometimes trench coats (yet another re-incarnation of the zoot suit, and conspicuous consumption), always big noticeable jewelry, and while we/they didn't always wear *only* black, there is a tendency towards monochromatic color themes. Goth clothing started out as modified clothing, things people were making in their sewing rooms at home. The irony is how much the style is a manufactured trend now; its something you buy into (for as much per pants as preps are paying at Abercrombie) and i don't blame anyone! Having now removed and replaced two back jean pockets, rivets and all, i understand how blasted hard it is to modify a pair of pants that far.
To get down to a completely personal answer to the question, going goth was a part of my process of becoming an extrovert. My first year of high school i was still rather quiet and withheld. During middle school, if my dress brought any attention to me at all it wasn't good. (side note: i am extremely glad my parents let me wear whatever moved me, start to finish.) My group of people in high school were the Smart Kids, and everyone else knew it, so there wasn't ever really a chance of winding up 'normal.' Being goth seemed to mean expressing something wilder inside (chains), more mysterious (black and hints of color), and never having to wear a skirt (big pants!). And, simply, wearing goth pants made me happy and excited, and it is way easier to be extroverted and part of a conversation when you're feeling exciting.
There it is in a nutshell. Look exciting, feel exciting. Look like something people don't know how to deal with, feel like you have more control over the situation than you did before.
So i guess i wear goth because it makes people ask me why i wear goth?