My mom thinks I’m some poser goth because I’m not this angsty teen who rebels, shops at Hot Topic, and worships Satan. How can I get her to understand that Gothic is a subculture and goths are intelligent people who like to embrace themselves through art? (I know it seems like I don’t know what goth is, but I do. I’ve just never been really good at explaining it.)
I want a better way to explain it, though.
Hot Topic is a poser goth store and I hate it with the passion! I can’t believe I’ve even step foot in there.

My mom thinks I’m some poser goth because I’m not this angsty teen who rebels, shops at Hot Topic, and worships Satan. How can I get her to understand that Gothic is a subculture and goths are intelligent people who like to embrace themselves through art? (I know it seems like I don’t know what goth is, but I do. I’ve just never been really good at explaining it.)
I’m not really into telling people I’m goth when they can just look at me and see it, but I’ll get questions, like, "Why are you goth?" and "What is goth?" So I wanted a better way of explaining it to people. Anyway, you helped a lot, and I appreciated your answer. Thanks!

My friend is doing a project for his sociology class on goth subculture, and he asked me to make him a cd of bands that influenced goth music. So far I have bauhaus, sisters of mercy, siouxsie and the banshees, the cure, and alien sex fiend. Is there anything I’m missing?

NOT stuff like AFI and My Chemical Romance.

I went to high school and was friends with a few gothic folk (all white)… but my hs was very diverse. I have been called emo, and have wanted to dress as they do…

Just curious… Have you ever seen a black/ bi-racial/hispanic/asian,etc…. goth or emo person?
Princess Loves Obama- get off your high horse… I’m from Brooklyn, NY… it doesn’t get much more diverse and melting pot-esque than NYC! At my school, there were Black kids who dressed sorta goth but I didn’t want to make any assumptions.
Teddy- of course people can adopt the thoughts and ideas the fashions of various subcultures regardless of race… but with race often comes culture… and certain cultures are more inclined to adopt the ideals of a subculture than another….

People that don’t dress ”goth” however have the same ideology and listen to gothic music and like dark art/poetry and horror movies. Do you think these people belong to the subculture? And if they do why the need to label themselves as something? If they don’t why not?

I don’t call my self goth but I do dress like it; I just don’t really see why people have to label things all the time. But it will take forever to explain! To me it’s a way of expression and how one chooses to see the world and among other things. Being goth or punk doesn’t have to do with worshiping devil. Even though people will find some goths that aren’t Christians. This will clarify the subculture. “For people with the gothic personality, their involvement is not merely a rebellious phase, but part of their inner self. Those likely to become interested in Goth and remain involved in it will usually possess most of the following characteristics and traits beforehand: individualistic, reflective, artistic, creative, introspective, emotionally focused and driven, sensitive, non-violent, moody. They are likely to have distaste for authority, possess above average intelligence, and be social misfits. Most are interested in the beautiful, the mysterious and the supernatural”.