Goth is a contemporary subculture prevalent in many countries around the globe. |
It began in the United Kingdom during the early 1980s in the gothic rock scene, an offshoot of the post-punk genre |
The goth subculture is remarkable for its longevity compared with others of the same era. |
Its imagery and cultural proclivities show influences from nineteenth century Gothic literature, |
mainly by way of horror movies (particularly cinematic depictions of vampires). |
The goth subculture has associated tastes in music and fashion. |
Gothic music encompasses a number of different styles. |
Common to all is a tendency towards a “dark” sound. Styles of dress within the subculture range from death rock, |
punk, Victorian, androgyny, some Renaissance style clothes, |
combinations of the above, and/or lots of black attire, makeup and hair. |
Throughout the evolution of the goth subculture, |
familiarity with gothic literature became a significant for many goths. |
Poe, Lovecraft, Shelley, Dante and the other heralding names became just as symbolic of the subculture |
as dressing all in black, wearing the hair dramatically stylized and dyed black, |
adorning oneself with dark jewelry and body art,and carrying around a decorated tin lunchbox, |
like many other music based subcultures, goths have faced differing levels of social intolerance due mostly to |
outward stylistic appearances |
Social intolerance ranges from looks of indignation and verbal taunts to physical violence. |
A preoccupation with themes of death, romance, the supernatural, darkness, the archaic, |
and the generally macabre have occasionally raised public concerns regarding the emotional well-being of, |
mainly,young goths and general fears of cultic indoctrination. |
Though some goths gravitate toward workplaces that allow a great deal of personal expression, |
or simply do not care what employees look like others work in the corporate sector where certain dresscodes are enforced.
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They usually add a gothic twist to their ensembles; some would say they wear corporate gothwear, |
which satisfies gothic tastes in fashion without alienating more mainstream and conservative co-workers, |
as well as keeping with management policies. |
Corporate gothwear varies based on individual taste, though a David Bowie influence is often prevalent, as well as |
1920s through 1960s styles examples include, but are not limited to, a black pinstripe suit and burgundy shirt for men |
and a black turtleneck and skirt or suit with silver jewelry for women |
A recent study by Sussex University suggests that goths are likely to grow up to be doctors, |
lawyers or architects,and that goths are usually intelligent, refined and sensitive, and keen on poetry and books |
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