Gothic influences
continue to thrive in contemporary culture; music, movies, television, music
and fashion, all have become outlets for gothic-ness. This fascination with the
dark and macabre has been with us for extensive period. Nowadays younger people
seem deeply involved with this trend especially in terms of fashion.
Goth fashion
generally consists of black clothes and accessories such as the hair dyed a
greasy black, excessive eyeliner, nails that are painted black (most times with
a sharpie), topped off with Elizabethan style clothes, music tees, baggy pants,
and wrecked converse or combat boots. Gothic fashion is gothic because it
relies on an aesthetic that is morbid and dark. It is a style that does not
welcome outsiders or optimists.
This may be why teens
are enraptured by this style, because it highlights their angst, confusion and frustration.
The gothic genre emphasizes the darker facets of a person. This is something
young people tend experience harshly once entering that middle ground of their
childhood and the reality of the world. When translated to a mass of teens it
is debatable whether or not every one of them truly understands the purpose of
gothics and its stores like Hot Topic that capitalize on the Goth genre;
carrying a breadth of corsets, trip pants, anarchy shirts and faux piercings
Questioning the
authenticity of gothic fashion to its philosophy is dependent on the
wearer/user. The clothing is simply meant to eternalize these darker thoughts,
allowing the gothic to make their beliefs known while allowing outsiders to
question said choices. Or it could simply be “cry for attention” from angsty
teens hoping to stick to the man with their less “savory” fashion choices.
