Goth Subculture

Subcultures, according to the criminologist Albert Cohen, are made up of individuals who came together to resolve social status problems by developing new values, based on shared characteristics. To be part of the subculture, one must first be labeled as such and must be excluded from dominant society (e.g., an outcast). Those within the subculture then rely more and more on each other for social interaction and validation of their way of life and shared beliefs. Paul Hodkinson argues that a subculture should include four criteria: identity, commitment, autonomy, and consistent distinctiveness. These four criteria are not definitive elements of subcultures but are contributing factors and, when taken together, assist in determining what should be considered a subculture. Based on these characteristics, Goth should be considered a type of subculture rather than a more fleeting youth movement concerning fashion, style, and music. With Goth, there is a sense of shared identity and music, adherence to identifiable styles, preferences, consumption practices, production of subculture-specific magazines and blogs (e.g., Gothic Beauty Magazine), participation in specialist events and social scenes (i.e., Goth clubs, Gothic Weekends, World Goth Day), and use of Goth slang (e.g., babybat, mundanes). All these reflect various social interaction and ways to validate the lifestyle and shared beliefs of the subculture. Goth subculture has been around for more than 30 years and can be found in almost every part of the world, sustaining itself much longer than similar subcultures arising around the same time, while also continuing to evolve.

However, Goth subculture remains elusive and still largely an underground movement/culture, where those involved prefer to avoid publicity. Despite mainstream culture attempting to appropriate bits and pieces of Goth fashion and style (e.g., fashion designers incorporating Goth elements into clothing lines), Goth characters in popular TV and films and/or “Goth-friendly” TV/movies (e.g., Abby Scuito on NCIS, The Matrix [1999], Lost Girl [2012]), the [Page 306]mainstream has not seriously capitalized on Goth. Goth continues to be, and most likely will remain, a marginal subculture composed of outsiders alienated by the status quo, intentionally nonconformist, misunderstood, considered evil or violent, and prejudiced against and sometimes even abused.