GARGOYLE In architecture, a stone waterspout in the shape of a grotesque creature or chimera, often found atop such churches as Paris’s Notre Dame Cathedral. In Goth abodes, a most popular garden accessory. Knowing that a purely decorative gargoyle is actually called a grotesque is worth considerable GOTH POINTS; however, using a plastic grotesque obtained from a dollar store at HALLOWEEN year-round is minus five Goth Points.
GASMASKS See: Masks
GAUNTLETS A type of glove, produced in a variety of styles but most commonly covering the forearm in imitation of MEDIEVAL armour or fencing gloves. Quite versatile really: fingerless armbands made from fabrics such as lace, VELVET or PVC as worn by teen MALL GOTHS may be referred to as gauntlets, as are studded or spiked wrist or leather armbands favoured by metal types. Also a popular STEAMPUNK accessory, commonly made of leather affixed with brass or other repurposed metal tchotchke.
GAWTH Alternate spelling of Goth, used snarkily in online whining about non-Goths or MALL GOTHS who think they are GOTHER THAN THOU.
GENITORTURERS American INDUSTRIAL shock rock band and performance troupe founded in Florida in 1991 and led by medical fetishist singer Gen. Rose to some infamy amongst the underground in the mid 1990s alongside MARILYN MANSON and Jim Rose Circus Sideshow and best remembered for their S/M theme live performances. Song “Lecher Bitch” included in videogame VAMPIRE: THE MASQUERADE — Bloodlines (2004).
GERMANY It all started with the Visigoths and the OSTROGOTH, those rampaging tribes from East Germany who sacked Rome in the fourth century. Then, after a long break, came Weimar cabaret and expressionist silent films of the 1920s. Actually, those things probably have nothing to do with the modern Goth’s fascination with Germany, and vice versa, but for some reason, the country has always been a hotspot for the scene. Not only does it host the world’s largest Goth festival — WAVE-GOTIK-TREFFEN — but clubs and clothing shops and magazines and new bands abound.
GERRARD, LISA Australian singer (b. April 12, 1961) famous as the female voice of the group DEAD CAN DANCE. Her mournful contralto vocals draw from diverse musical traditions and express a mystical quality; she often sounds as though channelling spirits in several languages, including new ones she invents herself. Since the break-up of her band, she has released several solo records, including The Mirror Pool (1995). She is an accomplished Chinese dulcimer player and has worked on many film scores, including Gladiator, for which she won a Golden Globe Award. In concert, often appears dressed in a long white gown and barely speaks to the audience. Gothdom’s most angelic diva.
GHASTLY MAGAZINE Music and culture magazine published by Nosferatu Productions out of L.A. in the early 1990s. Editors’ nasty feud with Sean Brennan and his band LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT not exactly the height of journalism.
GIGER, H.R. Swiss visual artist (b. February 5, 1940). Best known as creator of the titular creature for Alien (1979), which was based on a painting from his collection Necronomicon (1977) and his subsequent original designs. His dark fantasy paintings and sculpture display a perverse preoccupation with penetration of a biomechanical kind. Possibly the first CYBERGOTH.
GLOOM COOKIE See: Doom Cookie
GLOOMIE A sad or mopey teenager, not quite Goth. Not widely used.
GLOOM, RUBY Fictional PERKY GOTH girl, star of the animated kids TV show of the same name about “the bright side of the dark side,” broadcast on Canada’s YTV from 2006 to 2008. Originally created as an EMILY THE STRANGE–type brand to sell stationary and backpacks, Ruby is the “happiest girl in the world” who is surrounded by gloomy pals like Skull Boy, her cat Doom Kitty and three ravens named Edgar, Allan and POE. A sure sign that Goth has become an archtype in mainstream culture.
GOFF Mispronunciation of Goth used deliberately as a joke to demonstrate one’s self-deprecating wit, particularly in the U.K.
GOGGLES CYBERGOTHs love these things. What most people see as practical, protective eyewear used for swimming or welding, they see as the perfect accessory to be worn not on the eyes but on the forehead, usually over some neon hair FALLS. You probably can’t see out of them anyhow, what with the biohazard symbol or spikes covering the lenses. One of the most striking pieces of hardware to be seen on the scene, they come in every colour and fit every size. STEAMPUNKS love them too, although they tend to make their own out of brass and leather, aviator-style.
GOREY, EDWARD American writer and illustrator (1925–2000). Oh, how do we love thee? For thy Gashlycrumb Tinies (1963), your tale of children meeting strange deaths, one for each letter of the alphabet (“A is for Amy who fell down the stairs / B is for Basil, assaulted by bears”). For thy set design for the Broadway production of DRACULA (1977). For anagram pseudonyms such as Ogdred Weary. For thy devilish VICTORIAN English sensibilities, and all the cats and BATs and PARASOLs in your illustrations. For thy pop-up books. For paving the way for TIM BURTON. For showing the world that a sick sense of humour can be poetic and nonsense can be art. For having your ashes scattered in the sea, to be with us, always.
GOTH See: This Book
GOTHABILLY 1. Style of punk rock music combining horror movie imagery and rockabilly as practiced by bands such as THE CRAMPS, Tiger Army and Nekromantix, also referred to as PSYCHOBILLY. Originated in the late 1970s in ENGLAND, peaking in North America in the mid 1990s and still going strong in Europe. Music is generally fast-paced, raw and may feature an upright bass rather than an electric bass; lyrical themes involve monsters, damsels in distress and assorted dead things. 2. The accompanying fashion style: slick black pompadours and CREEPER shoes for men, vintage 1950s style dresses and pin-up girl hairdos for the ladies. TATTOOS, skulls and tattoos of skulls for all.
GOTH AS FUCK Extremely, exquisitely, most definitely Goth. Commonly referring to a person but sometimes a place or thing. Equivalent of “Queer as Fuck.” Origin unknown but usage widespread since around the turn of the century, when it became a popular slogan for Tshirts and buttons. Generally complimentary, a sign of admiration and respect, although it may be used negatively to describe someone believed to be stuck-up or otherwise a bit too Goth for their own good. Abbreviated in writing to GAF. Compare: Gother Than Thou
GOTH AUCTIONS Online auction site catering specifically to the Goth community. You won’t ever mistake it for EBAY: it’s designed in black and purple and the “about us” is a detailed list of their servers and network protocols, with photos!
GOTH BIBLE, THE Book on Goth culture, written by NANCY KILPATRICK and published by St. Martin’s Press in 2004. One of the only sociological studies of the Goth scene to actually come from the inside, drawing on extensive first-person interviews with actual Goths.
GOTH CARD Imaginary membership card that friends will threaten to revoke for embarrassingly non-Goth behaviour (e.g., possession of a Nickelback CD).
GOTH-CURIOUS A non-Goth person, usually a teenager but not always, with an interest in becoming Goth. The Goth-Curious are generally encouraged to make contact with Goths either in person or online, to ask questions and find ways to express themselves. Not to be confused with a non-Goth person who lurks in Goth bars looking to pick up or the old lady on the bus who asks you why you wear all black.
GOTHDOM The state of being Goth, encompassing all of what is good and evil about the culture.
GOTH DRESS CODE Informal code of dress implemented at certain Goth nightclubs or events in order to restrict entry to perceived true denizens of the night. Most common rule would be “all black clothing,” although more likely a list of unacceptable items (e.g., no white Tshirts or sneakers) imposed arbitrarily by the door staff as opposed to a strict definition of appropriate Goth attire. While it seems hypocritical and silly for those who fight not to be judged on their appearance to exclude others based solely on their appearance, such policies do ensure guys in EYELINER and girls in LATEX bras are safe from drunk jocks out to gawk at the FREAKs and pick up “kinky VAMPIRE chicks.” This is a good thing.
GOTHER THAN THOU 1. A put-down referring to a self-righteous
Goth who considers him/herself superior to others by way of greater time spent in the scene, knowledge of music or commitment to Gothly appearance. Equivalent of “holier than thou.” 2. Card game parody developed by Savant Garde Entertainment in 2000 in which the normally imaginary GOTH POINTS actually are counted.
GOTH GRANT American federal grant awarded to a youth outreach organization in Blue Springs, Missouri, in 2002 to study Goth culture in order to “combat” its ill effects in the wake of the COLUMBINE massacre. The $273,000 was provided to help identify “Goth culture leaders” that were “preying” on kids allegedly involved in “self-mutilation and animal sacrifices.” As taxpayer watchdog groups were quick to point out, there were no such kids in this area and most of the money was spent on administration and shopping at HOT TOPIC. The community had little interest in attending Goths-are-people-too seminars; funding cancelled in 2004.
GOTHIC 1. A 1986 biographical film about LORD BYRON, staring Gabriel Byrne and directed by Ken Russell, recounting the story of Byron and the Shelleys’ infamous weekend at Villa Diodati in Switzerland, which resulted in the writing of Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN. Russell’s gorgeously lurid, enthrallingly hallucinogenic portrayal of the events may be far from historically accurate but it took the breath away of the ROMANTIGOTHs and remains essential viewing. 2. The easiest way to describe something Goth, for example, everything in this book. 3. A great number of things from fonts to moths that have nothing to do with Gothdom. Please see your copy of the Oxford English Dictionary for details.
GOTHIC BEAUTY American magazine with an emphasis on fashion and beauty, featuring photo shoots and profiles of alternative models and designers, as well as product reviews and music interviews. Founded in 2000 by Steven Holiday and based in Portland, Oregon, it has become the pre-eminent Gothic publication in North America and now enjoys wide distribution through mainstream bookstore chains such as Barnes & Noble. While it’s no Vogue in the high-quality journalism and art photography departments, it’s a tireless supporter of independent Goth businesses and, with its eye-candy cover shots, the gateway into Gothdom for many a Goth-curious teen. Since the deminse of PROPAGANDA magazine, the most influential print publication out there.
GOTHIC BELLY DANCE Style of dance fusing traditional Middle Eastern belly dancing with contemporary tribal belly dancing, cabaret dancing and gothic aesthetics and movement that gives a whole new meaning to “snake arms.” Goth Girls have always loved Cleopatra (or at least her EYELINER) and overly theatrical dancing, but gbd is a relatively recent phenomenon, presented often as a special attraction in fashion shows or other nightclub events. While it has attracted the wrath of some belly dancing purists, a growing network of resources, including dedicated classes and instructional DVDs, are available for those who prefer their hip skirt made out of FISHNETS. May also be referred to as Raks Gothique.
GOTHIC CHARM SCHOOL Website run by self-professed Lady of the Manners, Jillian Venters, offering etiquette advice for the dark set, who she refers to lovingly as “Snarklings.” Of particular interest to BABYBATs, a place where dilemmas like “Help! My parents won’t let me dye my hair black!” are taken seriously and responded to with earnest concern and common sense. An accompanying book, An Essential Guide for Goths and Those Who Love Them, was published in 2009.
GOTHIC CRUISE 1. Theme cruises marketed to Goths. Essentially a floating weekend festival, activities include live bands, masquerade ball, fashion shows and other non-cruise-like events. SPF 1000 not included. 2. American documentary film (2008) following selected Goths on one such cruise, directed by Jeanie Finlay.
GOTHIC FICTION A genre of English literature thought to have originated with the 1764 novel The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole. Its blend of psychological terror, romance and the supernatural in a sublimely atmospheric style of storytelling is most associated with long-dead writers from the VICTORIAN era (POE, STOKER) but remains popular with contemporary authors of modern horror and thrillers, from Shirley Jackson to ANNE RICE. Typical gothic fiction tropes include haunted houses, madness and grief-stricken women in frilly nightshirts. Not to be confused with adolescent journal scrawlings about VAMPIRES who sparkle.
GOTHIC LOLITA Style of dress combining VICTORIAN gothic and Japanese Lolita streetwear, originating in Japan where Lolita is a widespread and multi-faceted subculture. In Japan it is known as “gosu rori,” the most widespread of the Lolita styles; in North America and Europe, “GothLoli” or “LoliGoth” remains a fringe/fetish subset of the Goth scene but is increasingly popular with youth raised on anime. Typical outfit for girls may be a black-and-white lace dress with petticoat, frilly knee socks and PARASOL — a romantic costume in the style of a living porcelain doll; for boys, elegant aristocrat coats rule. Not actually connected with the Western Goth movement: it has a completely different musical scene and lifestyle activities include fancy tea parties or shopping, not nightclubbing. See also: Mana
GOTHIC & LOLITA BIBLE Japanese magazine devoted to Gothic and Lolita fashion launched in Tokyo in 1999. The world authority on the scene’s latest styles, featuring photo spreads from streets of Tokyo, tutorials and sewing patterns. English language version was launched in 2008.
GOTHIC MARTHA STEWART Website spoof of domestic diva Martha Stewart, run by “Martha Gothic,” filled with tips on creating arts and crafts projects for the Goth abode. Covers the standard “good things” — drying roses, stamping candles, VELVET curtains and the like.
GOTHIC MATCH Online dating service targeting Goths looking for black-hearted love. The company’s ubiquitous banner ads on pretty much every Goth website in the world ensure a steady supply of sinister-minded singles. If you’ve always dreamed of finding your “Lucretia666” or “DarkVamp,” this is the place.
GOTHIC METAL Subgenre of heavy metal music as typified by bands such as TYPE O NEGATIVE, Paradise Lost and LACUNA COIL. Generally featuring slower tempos, more melancholic/melodramatic lyrics and a greater presence of female vocalists than typical heavy metal. Sub-sub-subgenres include symphonic gothic metal, gothic black metal and so on. Considered part of the metal scene, not necessarily the Goth scene. Gothic metal bands may dress like Goths and read the same books as Goths, but Goths generally do not listen to Gothic metal music. Neither of them listens to EVANESCENCE.
GOTHIC ROCK The most popular and influential style of Goth music, and, let’s face it, the reason we’re all even here. BAUHAUS birthed it with “BELA LUGOSI’S DEAD” in 1979 but THE SISTERS OF MERCY adopted it, raised it, released it (mercifully) into the universe. An offshoot of U.K. POST-PUNK, it stripped that genre of its avant garde art school ambitions down to the core themes of sex and death and then, borrowing some of the macabre dressings of the BATCAVERS, presented its guitar-driven dirges with the most melodramatic of flourish. It landed in California, where CHRISTIAN DEATH took it even more seriously, and a whole new generation of American DEATH ROCKERs ran with the torch. (They haven’t put it down since.) When THE CURE and Bauhaus and The Sisters say they’re not Goth, they mean they are not just Gothic rock, but if it wasn’t for their efforts, we wouldn’t have it. While many gothy-looking kids enjoy MARILYN MANSON and Rammstein and CRADLE OF FILTH, and INDUSTRIAL is also an important part of the legacy of the subculture, essentially Goths can be defined as those who listen to Gothic rock.
GOTHIC SLUTS Website featuring erotic and/or pornographic photography of authentic gothic and punk models, launched in 1999. See also: Blue Blood
GOTHIC TWO-STEP The original Goth dance move: take two small steps forward, then two steps back, eyes cast downwards. Hands may rest behind the back or swirl around the head as if batting away cobwebs. Rumour has it, originated at a club in LEEDS called THE PHONO where the dance floor was so small you could only take two steps in any given direction.
GOTH JUICE 1. The most powerful hairspray known to man, made “from the tears of ROBERT SMITH.” So joked the British comedy TV show The Mighty Boosh. 2. Actual hair gel produced by Lush Cosmetics that smells like a fo
rest. In regulation purple, natch.
GOTH KIDS Fictional characters in the South Park animated TV series. The four Goth Kids are Goth Leader, Red Goth, Henrietta Goth and Kindergoth, all of whom have a stereotypical Goth appearance and the cliché habits of smoking, writing poetry in graveyards, raging against “conformists” and dancing while looking at their shoes. First introduced in the 2003 episode “Raisins,” in which main character Stan Marsh temporarily becomes a Goth, nicknamed Raven. They are steadfastly Goth and offended to be mistaken with EMOs or VAMPIRES.
GOTHLING A Goth child or, more likely, a child of a Goth. Not widely used.
GOTH LOLI See: Gothic Lolita
GOTHMINISTER Norwegian INDUSTRIAL metal project of Bjørn Alexander Brem (Lawyer by day! Prince of darkness by night!), founded in 1999. With a name like that, and a debut titled Gothic Electronic Anthems (2003), the missive was pretty clear. And even though the music is heavy guitar based and verging on straight metal, the dramatic make-up and skull microphone, à la Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, push live performance over to the Goth side.
GOTH.NET Website resource for the Goth community. Registered in 1997 by “Raven” in Texas, it initially provided free email addresses and webspace, published gothic writing and art from its members and collected links to Goth communities worldwide. Today, mostly visited for its popular forums where more than 7,000 Goths share tips on where to buy the best black lipstick, how to deal with conservative parents or employers and, of course, What is Goth? Compare: Net.goth
GOTH OR NOT Humour website to which users upload a photo of themselves for others to rate their level of “Gothness.” A spoof of the site Hot or Not created by Brit Jonathan Belial Jenkyn.
Encyclopedia Gothica Page 8