h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I originally just tapped onto this article to inform those who don't know about Gavin Baddeleys new book *Goth Chic* which this piece provides quite a good basis for. I am only halfway through the book itself, but I would recommend it to anyone who wants to discover more about Goth culture to go annd beg/borrow/steal a copy. It's a very well written book...as is this article, so all "props" to Tube...

Now however, I feel like I need to make a few comments myself...having read 90% of all postings put up here! I don't consider myself a goth, but I seem to have incorperated a lot of what seems to be "gothic" into myself over the past 5 years or so...but I can't really be bothered to put a title on myself, because it is really only for the benefit of everyone else. If you want to know, then go and check out my personal space...

One thing I do notice (and yes, I AM guilty of it myself) is that there is an awful lot of snobbery in the goth scene...once something takes on a mind of it's own and exceeds tjhe presupposed limits of *gothliness* it's immediately deemed to be obselete. The main victim of this happens to Marilyn Manson, who IS one of my greatest influences (and I am NO moron I assure you)...if, as Tube has so kindly put, it is mind over matter then there is no doubt that Manson is goth...you only have to pick up any interview or book with his input in to discover he is a highly intellectual, well read and dark individual. But that I guess is a choice some people have. To break the barriers down and be subversive once more, or stay in their own little trenches with their Alchemy Gothic catalogues and Sisters Of Mercy albums. I am not in the least putting this type of behaviour on all goths, or non-goths...but I do smile when I see people who claim to be subversive, are in fact just sticking tight in a rut. Because being subversive, in my mind, is essentially what Goth is...not specific music, clothing or whatever. As Tube so gracefully explained...it is a mind set over anything else. If you find beauty in decay...well then you are more than likely part of the goth culture...be it books/music/art(something often ignored) or fashion?

Anyway, that's all I have to say. I find it too frustrating to delve too deep into the practices of people...I am one of those people sat on a wall with a bag of sweets, watching the world go by. Quite happy in my isolation thankyou!!

Saturnine...

would you like to share my strawberry sherbert suckies?
TIF

Sure! Do you have any Hubba Bubba Lime Bubble Gum perchance?

Let me rumage in my deep sweety bag...
(rumaging sounds)''@''
I have one left!
catch.


TIF

Ooh! You ARE generous.


What do you want?

DO you have a spare zebra by any chance?
TIF

Not that I know of...

*rummages around pockets*

Let me get back to you!

Here's the list of Goth books within the UK.


THE DARK REIGN OF GOTHIC ROCK (In The Reptile House with The Sisters Of Mercy, Bauhaus and The Cure)
Dave Thompson
Paperback - 320 pages (November 2002)
Helter Skelter Publishing; ISBN: 190092448X

GOTH CHIC
Gavin Baddeley
Paperback - 288 pages (15 August, 2002)
Plexus Publishing; ISBN: 0859653080

GOTH: Identity, Style and Subculture
Paul Hodkinson
Paperback - 229 pages (1 August, 2002)
Berg Publishers; ISBN: 185973605X

21st CENTURY GOTH
Mick Mercer
Paperback - 256 pages (1 May, 2002)
Reynolds and Hearn; ISBN: 1903111285

HEX FILES
Mick Mercer
Paperback - 192 pages (5 October, 1996)
B.T. Batsford; ISBN: 0713480335

ALL YOU EVER NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT GOTHIC ROCK
Mick Mercer
Paperback - 150 pages (21 October, 1991)
Pegasus Publishing; ISBN: 1873892012

GOTHIC ROCK BLACK BOOK
Mick Mercer
Paperback - 96 pages (31 December, 1988)
Omnibus Press; ISBN: 0711915466

Good books coming this year by Canadian Horror writer Nancy Kilpatrick, and a good visual French guide.
Info often available about new titles in the Books section at:

http://slashgoth.org/

cheers!

Mick Mercer

In my experience, Gavin Baddely is the far superior writer out of the lot...

manson might be a goth, but his music is not. have been a goth for years and years, and the main argument is not about him as a person, really, buit his music, and his music isn't goth in the sligthest. his image isn't goth either, more shock tactics. and though manson maybe a goth (though i don't think he is) his fans certainly are not, because if they are fans of his music, and his music isn't goth, then they aren't goths etiher, and dressing like him wont' suddenly make them goths, anymopre than putting on black and dying your hair black makes anyone a goth. being a goth is a lot more than that.

But being a goth isn't really anything to do with music...so Marilyn Manson doesn't come into it - unless you consider the aspects and concepts and images he uses. Which are certainly Gothic in nature. Just brought up to date with the mechanical/medical element of the modern day.

And I've never met a goth with such poor writing aesthetics. Are you sure you really *are* a goth?

who died and made you all high and mighty on the goth thing?

dont matter what you listen to or wear goth/punk/rock/alternative/industrial all comes from inside!!!!!


not what you look like....its people like you that get me annoyed tuting at people that walk past coz you dont like what there wearing.

when i want to know "how to be a goth" i'll ask untill then leave people to be what they want there are no set rules on how to be gothic

Ok ok, i have some thing to say on this.Im a 15 year old goth girl (Yes i lable my Self a goth),I dont think its Any thing to do with what music you listen to at all!.Goth is a state of mind there is no Grand High goth to say who is or who isn't goth.
I know alot of people who consider them selves goth and who Dress what Socity class as Perfectly Normal!.
I know Alot of goths who are in there 30's-40's who Listen to Pop music.I also Agree with what one of you said about the goth sean being a very Bitchy (If i may say so) sean.But i just think of people who are like that to be very Self Obsessed with there own state of Mind!.
On the Subject of Marilyn manson i am a big fan of his and his music also but that dosent make me any less goth than the next person..They way i see it is if you have the right state of mind and know who you are & what you are then why let any one elce tell you who you are.

Dollyxx

i don't really consider myself a goth, since i don't really dress in black all the time or wear the makeup. I'm a goth by society's standards and not really my own. I listen to goth bands and i do believe that Marilyn Manson is a goth, and his music is dark. If you read his interviews, you will find that he is actually a very well read, if dark individual. I'm straight edge, and some how this seem s to make society think i'm more of a goth. I guess i am, but i don't hang around many other goths, so my friends are rather varied. I don't really care what society thinks of me, and by the way, here's a bit of candy from my own hoard...enjoy! Blessed be everyone

I've never known anyone to associate sXe with the goth scene. In fact, it's the total opposite...



You must know some odd people.

yea i have y u want it?