A Study of Gothic Subculture: an Inside Look for Outsiders

I was half disturbed and half amused when I first saw the sensationalistic way that the media has portrayed the Gothic subculture. In response, I wanted to offer a thorough examination of Goth in all forms, on all levels, aimed at people who are in no way familiar with it. I have done extensive research on the subject; and I have been a part of the culture for sixteen years. I want to represent a realistic view of Goth to eliminate some misconceptions. It's a complex entity that can't be fully represented by simple answers. Use the Table of Contents or Search feature below to find out more. If you still have questions not covered in this site, or if you would like to share your own ideas about gothic culture, visit the Message Board. For those of you Goths reading this site, feel free to explore and add your views to the message board. If you like it, please link to it or make a donation. However, I want to emphasize that this site was not created for Goths.

A Study of Gothic Subculture Table of Contents

What Is Gothic?	FAQ's, the origins of Goth, common culture, critical analysis and what bands say.
Pictures & Profiles	A look at those involved in the Salt Lake City area scene and their lives. Also, profiles from all over the world.
News Articles	Goth in the media -- Newspaper and magazine articles from the Salt Lake City area and nationwide, commentary included.
Definitions	A short glossary of idiosyncratic subculture-related terms you may or may not know.
Music	An attempt to map and describe the many relevant music classifications surrounding Goth.
Drugs	How much drug use goes on? An anonymous sample from those featured in the profiles and their comments.
Occult	Some definitions and an overview of different occult groups. An interview with "occult knowledgeable" police captain Randy Johnson.
Vampires	"Vampire: The Masquerade" role playing game, the "Vampire Clan" murders, blood drinking.
Religion	An examination of what role religion plays in Goth. Some Wiccan religion basics, as well as some misconceptions regarding Satanism.
Gangs	Definition of a gang. Are Goths a gang? Material from the Salt Lake Area Gang Project and commentary.
Advice for Parents	Don't overreact to your child being Goth. What parents can do to help any child, gothic or not.
Information on Me	Who am I? How do I know these things? Browse my web page -- The Ninth Circle.
Copyright	If you want to use material from this site, these are the required guidelines.
Goth Links	Other quality links for more informational resources on Gothic culture, humor, aesthetics and more.

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General Disclaimer

I do not claim to represent the true, correct, objective or definitive answer about Goth. It would be impossible to do so because of its ambiguity, the many differences of opinion and conflicting information, as well as the measure of individual interpretation and creation that is essential to Goth. Keep in mind that any generalizations made about Goth are likely to never be entirely correct. There are many statements made here which should be prefaced by "Most Goths," "My observation leads me to believe," or "As a general tendency." Because I have omitted those qualifiers from the text, do not assume that any statement made is universally true.