What Is Goth?

by Aurelio Voltaire

Book Overview

What is Goth? dispels the false stereotypes and reinforces the true ones surrounding Goths and Goth culture. Readers learn how to identify the anatomies of different kinds of Goths, properly dance the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1578633222
• ISBN13: 9781578633227
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Weiser Books
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 0.46 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.0" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

Morbid Curiosity

This little hardcover (and its compnion, Paint is Black) is beautifully produced, as appropriate for its aesthetic-minded target audience. It includes black pages and black-and-white-and-red innards, elegantly designed and loaded with quality photography. A brief history of the word "gothic" covers the evolution of the term through history, from the Germanic tribal Goths and Gothic architecture, to the "Romantic Movement of the 19th century [which began]abandoning reason and searching the dank crevices of all things mysterious, supernatural, and emotional in the name of exploring the darkness of the human soul." (Sounds like a good idea to me!) And on to early horror movies, the fracturing of the Punk Rock movement -- which spawned black-clad legions -- and early bands of the nascent Goth genre such as Joy Division, Bauhaus, and Siouxsie and the Banshees. "The Many Faces of Goth" chapter describes permutations such as Romantigoths, Death Rockers, Cyber-goths, Vampyres, and more, alongside photos. Voltaire's wit peppers this chapter and enlivens the whole volume. In "Goth Looks for Boys and Girls (Gone Horribly Wrong)," Voltaire hilariously diagnoses fashion disasters such as "The Gay Pirate" and "The 'Maybe If I Get Enough Extensions and Stick a Bunch Of Crap On My Face No One Will Notice What a Big Dork I Am' Look." Voltaire writes on choosing an appropriate name for one's "persona," with brief chapters devoted to a "Gothic Name Generator" (a "Gothic Poem Generator" is included later on), "Gothic Philosophy," and "Vampires (and those who act like they are)." Photo spreads show various appropriate dance moves, a Gothic Makeover, and the wardrobe items which comprise the various Goth looks. "The Sad Truth About Goth" dismisses various mainstream misconceptions: "Most people think that Goths are volatile freaks obsessed with death and gore" and concludes: "The truth is that very few Goths actually kill themselves -- they'd much rather contemplate suicide and then just write a really bad poem about it." Besides a delight for Goths and the "Gothically Inclined," "What is Goth?" would make a fine, reassuring present -- or book to leave lying around to be read -- for parents traumatized over their little Tiffany's morphing into an Elvira.

AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF THE GOTH TRIUMVIRATE

which I deem: 1) "What is Goth?" by Voltaire For spelling out the basics to looky-loos, kinderbats, or insiders who aren't afraid to laugh at themselves (for fear of exposing the adhesive-stripes along the gumline of their fake fangs)... 2) "Cottonmouth Kisses" by Clint Catalyst For its sinister and gorgeous first-person account of life within the nightclub netherworlds. I've known many a Goth girl over the years who's had her share of Clint "pin-ups" and "shrines," and the fact that he's lived a life so far beyond the margins of Hot Topic and mainstream acceptability (and SURVIVED it) is more "Goth" (i.e., barbaric -- i.e., AUTHENTIC) than any paint-by-numbers impostors out there... 3) "21st Century Goth" by Mick Mercer For its role as an informative compendium of the international scene in all its varied shades of shadow. There is no easy answer, no singular attempt in this book to pigeonhole Goths -- in fact, it does the opposite. Plus, I mean, it's MICK MERCER, who's been reporting on the scene longer than most batpackers these days have been alive. Pay your respects to the grandaddy of Goth! And ALL HAIL THE TRIUMVIRATE!

A Fun Read for Grown Up Goths

I've been on "the scene" since I was fifteen years old. I'm 26 now, and to my mother's dismay, I am still "going through that black crap phase." (Although I also wear burgundy, purple, blue, green, and occasionally rose). At a certain point in a goth's development (hopefully prior to club-going age) the decision must be made to stay or go. Those who stay will one night reach the ultimate conclusion of goth-hood. Goths are silly. And Voltaire wrote a book for us. The best goths, the ones who have cosmetics permanantly buried in their pores, the ones who secretly wear granny panties for more booty coverage under their black clothes, the ones who understand that Hot Topic (while certainly no Black Rose or Drac-in-a-Box or Ipso Facto or ShadowFae) is a pretty good place in a pinch for some fishnets and some Tripp, are the ones who will enjoy this book the most. Wee baby bats are the ones who will find the book offensive, because it "labels" them and therefore destroys their "individuality." If a book can destroy your individuality or give you a label, then you need to get a life. Too much concern over what other people think is dreadful for your health. (But dying is sooooooo goth, so g'head and keep being concerned.) "What is Goth?" addresses many of the finer aspects of the spooky life, such as goth club snipeing (very true), goth cosmetics, typical goth looks (vampire accountants NEED to visit Hot Topic more often), goth music, and the goth propensity for picking names that include a title. (Another mark of grown-up goths is that they go by their real name, even if it's Susie Happypants Shineyfluff.) The best aspect of this book is the section on gothic dancing. (It is usually watching a packed floor at a dance club that makes one realize that goths are silly.) My friends and I read that section, screamed with laughter, and pointed some fingers. I am guilty of "Gathering the Cobwebs" whenever I listen to Wolfsheim. We then went to the club and watched other goths pull the evil taffy, kick the hobbit, and wonder who spilled Coke on the dance floor. There is an absolutely wonderful section written for people who love a goth, explaining to them what the whole thing is about and assuring them that the person they love is still under all that make up and hairspray. Voltaire also addresses the "Manson Issue" and he truly shines here. For baby goths who take themselves too seriously (or even toddler goths, teenie goths, and mopey goths), this book will piss you off. For people who want to understand the gothic subculture, this book will be mostly comprehensive and rather helpful. For those of us In It For the Long Haul, the book will promote that gleeful snicker that makes us kick up the heels of our pointy boots. As much as I dislike just how mainstream the goth subculture is becoming, I am firmly of the opinion that the exposure is a good thing. No only does it make shopping a twee bit easier, but the prominance of the subcu

Oh My Goth!

This book is Hi-Larious! Okay...I know that labels are for soup cans, not people...but I think a part of the charm of this book is that it makes fun of the fact that this subculture does have to label itself, and how silly it really is. It shows that all "Goths" aren't just sad little Prozac poppers. It shows that they are also capable of incredible humor. The book is wonderfully written. I was not a fan of this man until my boyfriend got me hooked. Voltaire is a rather clever fellow. There are good articles and pictures. How to do make up. Hair, the different categories of Goth, and what their advantages and disadvantages are. How to travel as a Goth. How to have a Goth conversation (this one is rather funny.) How to dance Goth. the pictures are total eye candy too. I liked the fact that instead of a white page with black letters it is the other way around. This book has style.

Once Again A Treat From Voltaire

Voltaire does it again. A totally cool volume in his delightful gothic series. I sound so happy because Voltaire makes goths laugh by poking fun at not only goths, but everyone else. I got three great additions to my "goth library" lately. The others being "The goth bible" by Nancy Kilpatrick, and "The Grey Garden" by Brandon Neil Ragan. This one is by far the funniest. A must for any old-fart goth or spooky kid.