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[mitochondrialme]

An Explanation: This poll is intended to assist in a paper for a studio art class on the subject Elvira. If you consider yourself to be gothic and would be willing to take the time to fill out this survey, any response would be greatly appreciated.

I appreciate and invite any and all response. If you need more space, leave your answers in the

Comments

[yashakizu]

I'm putting my answers here, petite since the poll cut many of mine off for length. ♥

1. Define "goth"

Goth: Anything relating to a certain style/era of architecture, writing (primarily Victorian) or other things dealing with the macabre. OR Goth: a subculture primarily concerned with being "different" and influenced by subjects most mainstream people would deem "morbid"

2. What are your thoughts on Horror hostess Elvira, Mistress of the Dark?

She is a classic staple of the B-movie vampiress! I think she's campy and fun and very sexy!

3. Do you have any thoughts of her influence on horror hosts or gothic culture since?

I think she has influenced things in the past 20 years, though many came before her. She definitely set the standard for the big-titted vampiress and titillated young boys who watched her TV show or movies, but as for influence...many came before her that most likely influenced her style, though most modern people might not know the earlier stuff, so in a sense Elvira is helping continue and embellish the tradition. She is definitely one-of-a kind in personality and appeal though the dress might be borrowed.

4. To what degree do you believe that the gothic movement draws upon mainstream or outside ideas?

I think any subgroup hates to admit it (and WON'T admit it) but they draw heavily on mainstream culture/outside ideas and then REJECT them in an effort to appear "different", what this creates is simply another group with the same set of values and beliefs and essentially create their own "mainstream" culture.

5. How do you feel that stores such as Hot Topic attempting to make the "gothic" subculture more mainstream have effected the pre-existing subculture?

Hot Topic is simply a business making money on a popular culture/fad. You can find some fun things in there, but I definitely hate seeing my subculture (the Japanese culture/anime/manga scene) suddenly being put on big black t-shirts and sold for $40. But, people can make money on anything and Hot Topic is definitely a store raking in the dough. I don't think they're trying to make the gothic subculture mainstream as much as to capitalize on it.

6. How do you classify yourself?

I hate "classifying" myself, but at one time I was totally into the vampire scene. I would have called myself a Victorian/Romantic goth. As for now? A Modern Oscar Wilde (tm). ^_~

7. What bands/musicians do you think have most influenced the gothic subculture?

Punk has always seemed like a precursor to some of the style/attitude of the goth culture. But currently? I'd say the Misfits, Rasputina, Lorelei, Rob Zombie, NiN, etc are definitely a part of the scene. As for older music? Beethoven and Wagner come to mind readily. It should be noted that European music definitely had a heavier influence on the goth scene than any US stuff. Germany, France, and Eastern Europe come to mind for Euro goth influence.

8. What artist/writers do you think have most influenced the gothic subculture?

Artists: Bosch, comic book artists, anime/manga artists. Writers: Edgar Allen Poe, Byron, Shelley, Keats, (any writer/poet from the Romantic or Victorian eras), Oscar Wilde; Lovecraft, Bram Stoker and other horror writers; and then in more modern speaking: gothic/vampire story writers like Anne Rice, Laurell K. Hamilton; or others like Neil Gaiman and Jhonen Vasquez.

9. Do I have permission to reference you in my paper, and if so, how would you like to be referred to?

You have permission to use my real name, ma petite. ♥

10. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Now, I don't consider myself a goth, though I still follow certain goth subcultures/cultures like the vampire/vamprye culture and the music of the indy goth scene, and also have lots of friends either in the scene or on the edges. I have a lot of clothing that would be considered goth and like to indulge in gothic things...so in a sense I am goth, but certainly now on a daily basis do not appear as one on the outside.