Goth Tag

Stealing from here.

I've been wanting to do some quizzes like those ones that used to go around online years ago on sites like DeviantArt (and MySpace, presumably) and I think this scratches the same itch.

1. How long have you been goth?

It's hard to say. Since I was a teenager, but I went through a hipster phase for a while in high school since I often got bullied for how I dressed and I guess I decided to just hop to a more mainstream subculture for a while (~2012). I started getting interested in goth subculture in middle school, but I ended up being emo/scene instead...which tracks considering the time period (~2008). If we're counting my emo/scene phase as my baby bat phase, then...~15 years? Roughly? With a few years off to dabble in being both a normie and trying out being a girly girl. Considering I'm both goth/alt and a dude...

2. How were you introduced to goth?

My mom listened to a lot of Bauhaus and the Cure when I was a kid. Both of my parents were alt (though I didn't really know my dad, I'd rather not trauma dump about it here though lol) and my grandparents who raised me were rather permissive (as long as a didn't dye my hair) so, it was inevitable that I would've ended up in some subculture or another. I have dual citizenship though, I honestly participate more in punk subculture. It's just more accessible where I live. Goth is sadly absent in this area (or just harder to find, perhaps).

3. What gothic subgenre would you put yourself in?

I dislike the whole "types of goths" thing as a part of subculture identity. I think it's funny as a community in-joke or meme, but not as a real thing to identify with. If I did have to pick one, I guess trad goth?

4. What do you believe to be the bases of the gothic subculture?

It's a music based subculture, so music is the most important thing. Many people say politics, but I think it's time we confronted the idea that there just are conservative goths. Music subcultures tend to have a specific type of politics associated with them and goth did grow out of the punk scene (so, the politics tend to be more progressive), but...Dead Kennedys didn't write Nazi Punks Fuck Off because everybody who listened to punk music was an anarchist, that's all I'm saying. After music...probably the fashion (though it isn't necessary to actually dress goth), an appreciation of the dark and macabre...there's certain genres of fiction that are associated with the subculture as well. 

5. What do you dislike about being goth?

How difficult it can be to actually dress goth. I don't want to buy too much fast fashion, but I'm also not particularly good at DIY (yet).

6. What do your parents think of it?

I am 28 years old.

7. Eyebrows or no eyebrows?

Eyebrows for me, personally.

8. What is your favorite band?

Bauhaus is my favorite classic goth band, along with Joy Division. If other goth-adjacent genres are allowed, I'm quite fond of Patriarchy, even if their recent AI fiasco was kind of embarrassing.

9. Your opinion on Marilyn Manson?

As far as his music goes, it's not really for me and I know this is included because of debates about whether or not goths "can" listen to his music decades ago lol. You can listen to other genres, it does not matter if he's goth or not. What does matter is that he's a fucking piece of shit.

10. What were your baby bat days like?

Really cringe. I had usernames like xXx[Death Note reference]xXx and I was on Gaia Online all the time and LiveJournal and I had those clip on striped hair extensions and I was always wanting to go to Hot Topic.