You’ve GOTH to be joking.
What a boring place we would live in if everyone dressed the same.
You have to love South Africa and it’s diversity. Check out this introduction to ‘Goths’ and the Goth culture.
Have you ever wondered what those white people are all about that dress from head to toe in black and wear black eyeliner and have black punk shaven hair or long shaggy hair usually dressed in torn tight…
jeans and t-shirts and a scary black long jacket? Especially the old ones with black painted nails that look like they need a good style makeover and to grow up a bit?
Some people would vehemently label them as Goth’s, part of the ‘Gothic’ music scene and underground culture – they may be correct – or not. But don’t we live in a country that encourages tolerance and understanding? Last time we checked we were all supposed to not judge each other but instead respect people to liive and dress the way they like. So in order to do that, we need to understand what people are all about –
so we tried to find out a bit on what being a Goth means – these are just snippets – click on the link to read more about them:
Since the mid-nineties, after a decline at the end of the eighties and perhaps spurred on by ‘pre-millennial tension’, the Goth scene has undergone something of a revival – gigs are frequently well-attended, and there are a fair number of ‘big’ bands on the Goth scene, although few have enjoyed real commercial success. It is frequently argued that commercialisation of Goth events destroys what is referred to as the ‘family’. These events are, at times, called ‘family gatherings’… a family which does not mind that there are more black than white sheep in it.”
“The whole Goth movement is intimately linked to music. But you cannot understand Goth music if you do not know what the very heart of Goth is about.
COOL AND DISTANT
Those in the Goth scene tend to view the Goth concept rather as an expression of individuality, something they take part in because it seems comfortable and natural for them to do so, rather than because it’s something they want to be. And as such, Goth is a state of mind. As with states of mind you either feel happy/warm/hungry/angry or you don’t; you don’t wake up and say ‘Hey, I’ll feel warm this week!’. Either you feel warm or you don’t. It is not something you decide to be, it’s more like a drifting into something and realising at some point that you’ve found what you have always been looking for. Goth is not about being cool-hip, up-to-date. Goth is more about being cool-chilly as in unemotional, detached, unmoved… at least on the surface. There’s an inner calmness, tranquillity to it. A need for being given and giving the others space to be at one with themselves. Respect towards the individual – at least as long as it is a fellow Goth.”
FROM WIKIPEDIA:
“Goth is a modern subculture that first became popular during the early 1980s within the gothic rock scene, a sub-genre of post punk. It is associated with characteristically “gothic” tastes in music and clothing. Styles of dress range from death rock, punk, Victorian, androgyny, some Renaissance style clothes, a combination of the above, and/or lots of black attire, and makeup.
In recent years, the word “goth” has often been used to describe a wider group of social people, sometimes people who should not be described as such. These might include people with a tendency to wear black clothes or wear goth-style make up. Often, those labelled as goths lack many of the characteristics historically associated with the subculture, and are more correctly called mallgoths in the US, gogans in Australia, spooky kids, moshers and emos in the UK, where a surprisingly large population of gothically inspired youths reside. Emos exist in other places as well as the UK, and are a very different group of people. Many times, scene kids are mistaken for goths due to their tendency to have dyed black hair and wear black clothing. Many goths dislike being incorrectly lumped into the same category as some of these people.
wikipedia
We checked out some other fun sites:
Get your Goth name here!
Check out an alternative club featuring the Goth scene in Pretoria called ZEPLIN’S.
384 Pretorius Str. Pretoria
Email David
5 Dance Floors
7 Theme Bars
Safe parking
“Black Star has just opened in Melville. The only place to shop in JHB for alternative, punk, Goth and SA music gear is now open and very conveniently located.
“Set in The Melville terrace on Main Rd Melville, right next to The Roxy Rhythm Bar, Black Star is a clothing and accessories shop, complete with tattoo, piercing and white lining parlour. The shop Stocks the best in overseas clothing brand and fashion paraphernalia such as Lucky 13, Sailor Jerry and Nightmare Before Christmas. They also stock body jewellery, skateboards, belts, buckles, leather wear, pins and smoking paraphernalia.
“We aim to bring the best in alternative fashion into South Africa at affordable prices,” says owner John, “But more than that we want to support the local underground scene. That’s why we intend to carry as much local SA band merchandise as we can. T shirts, caps, pins, you name it”
“Traditionally the stuff we sell has been very expensive in SA” continues John,” But we are on a mission to make it available as affordably as possible. There are not many local labels catering for the Goth, punk and alternative scene, so there is a huge demand and we have access to he right people to get great gear in here. We are also starting our own label, Black Star, which will also be very affordable.”
Black Star
Melville Terrace
18 Main Rd, Melville
tel: 011 482 7972
CLICK HERE FOR SITE
Concentrating on the Goth scene we try to expose the new and old, remembering the past and embracing the future as the scene grows. We want to teach, to bring you to the roots of what was and what is the true essence of Goth. We support all genres of local and international bands spaning from Rock, to Metal, to Death Rock, Black Metal, Alternative, Goth, Darkwave and EBM.
Underground Press is an independant Local South African Web Zine, that concentrates on the local and international Alternative music scene in both S.A and abroad. Concentrating on the Goth scene we try to expose the new and old, remembering the past and embracing the future as the scene grows.
We want to teach, to bring you to the roots of what was and what is the true essence of Goth. We support all genres of local and international bands spaning from Rock, to Metal, to Death Rock, Black Metal, Alternative, Goth, Darkwave and EBM.
