Goth 102: What isn't Goth.

Okay so real Goth is quite subjective but it is easy to identify when you encounter such a person. Therefore despite the fact that Goth is relative because of how broad it is as a lifestyle, it's easy to explain what isn't Goth, a lot better than what IS.

Goth 102: What isn't Goth.

Hot Topic: Hot Topic is(was) a 'Goth-in-a-box Kit'. This store has created more negative issues than anything even remotely positive. They help the projection of Goth, Punk, Rocker etc. as being strictly watered down trends enforced by bands like Good Charlotte, Evanescence and Avril Lavigne. These 'artists' change their image according to the demand of the media. Hot Topic is the single farthest thing from Goth, next to Brittney Spears in "Hit me Baby one more time." Hot Topic buys into the stereotype that Goths wear black, chains, baggy pants and like metal. Hot Topic sells poorly crafted clothing to teenagers for quite a lofty profit, while the 13 year olds scurry around talking about how GOTH they are and how very GOTH Amy Lee is, with so much HT gear it looks like the store vomited on them. Hot Topic helps prepetuate the Mallgoth image, but makes it even more accesable than it was in the past. This causes people who are ignorant to the real Goth scene to assume that these tacky children with eyeliner down their face, who throw up the "Devil Horns" are indeed Goth.
Mall Goths: Mall Goths are disputed as a plague among the Goth scene. However, some elders are nicer to them realizing that although these are the masses going through a phase that they should have a positive reflection or understanding of the actual Goth lifestyle. Others believe that Mall Goths shouldn't have the ability to be known as an offshoot of Goth in any form. Stereotypically these are the children who create a negative image of Goth to the masses. Many talk about how horrible 'preppies' are, how they drink blood, how they worship/ and or sacrifice to the archetype of Satan, they scowl and talk about how horrible life is and how dark their soul is, and many listen to metal music or Nu metal.
Metal Music: Goths rarely listen to metal music, some do but it's fairly uncommon. Not that there is anything wrong with metal music, just that it's so different stylistically from Goth, Deathrock and Post Punk that it turns them off of the genre. Which brings me to my point, there is no absolutely NO such thing as 'Gothic Metal', this form of metal is known properly as Black metal. Goth and Metal are too different musically to EVER form an actual Genre, not to mention it's followers and influences are too different. It's impossible.
Marilyn Manson: Marilyn Manson is not Goth. Sounds like a song title, if it hasn't been made, it should be. Onward, MM is not Goth, he's a shock rocker and at one point he was industrial. He's not Goth, and it's generally a dirty secret for a Goth to like MM. Solely because of all the repercussions the media has blamed him with and has thus formulated into a negative impact in the Goth scene. The media finds any way possible to blame someone different whose done something horrible or catastrophic in society as being a Goth, because they find Goth as a threat to their society. Fuck 'em.
Industrial: Goths can like Industrial and it's more widely found than Goths who like Metal. However, most Goths who like Industrial tend to also like Electronica or Techno. Because of this it has strong links with CyberGoths who are sometimes looked down upon in the Goth scene, by older Goths post-punkers or Deathrockers. Predominantly because their wardrobe has more of a raver influence as well as Sci-Fi and Futuristic than Goth. As well they tend to infiltrate Goth clubs and play their Electronica and Industrial during Deathrock or Post Punk "Nights". An avid fan and someone who lives their life around Industrial is considered a Rivithead. Read up on it somewhere else if you'd like a better generalization.
Black: Goths wear many colors other than or along with black, black is a staple yes, but it's not a requirement nor a restriction. Just because someone is wearing black or even all black does NOT mean that person is a member of the Gothic Subculture, that person could very well enjoy the color, after all black is a slimming color not to mention a staple of class.
Cutting/Mutilation/Depression/Suicide: This has been more linked to Goth in the modern era, thanks to school shootings most notably Columbine. These kids weren't Goth by the way. Anyhow cutting and mutilation have no direct link to Goth, yes many people who participate in these harmful acts find refuge in the Goth scene. Because they are more likely to be "accepted" as well many find Goth alluring and thus claim or identify as part of it. Very few of these kids grow up and continue to be Goths, much of it for them is a phase. As well the same is said for Depression and Suicide, no Goths aren't depressed many are realists and quite content with life. Even the cynical ones aren't really depressed, however yes some do suffer depression but every group of people has members that suffer depression. It isn't something that is solely felt by Goths and Emo kids, it's something most people go through at some point in life regardless of subcultural ties. As with Depression sometimes comes suicide, it is a melancholy thing but it cannot be swept under the rug. Some people do commit suicide after becoming depressed, some people participate in mass suicides none of these things are linked to the Gothic Subculture. Yet again people who feel depressed, or like outcasts sometimes seek refuge in the Goth scene or the Mall Goth scene. The actions of these people should not reflect or be blamed on the Goth scene, because it has no direct correlation, the actions of these people were committed of their own reason. Not because they were Goth, nor were they Goth because they committed such things.
Phase: Some teenagers do go through a Goth phase, they really cannot be considered a true part of the Subculture because many of them grow out of it by the time they reach a legal age to participate as an influence in the scene. However, for just as many people that it is a phase there are plenty who live their whole lives as a Goth, for them it is a lifestyle not a fashion statement or an act of teenage rebellion.
Satanism: Very few Goths actually participate in Satanism(Satanism is an abstract form of Atheism in which the self is worshiped. Has nothing to do with the image of Satan.) Many Goths are Christian, Pagan, Atheist or have no religion you will encounter as many different religions in the Goth scene as you will different kinds or personalities of Goth. Goth has no direct correlation to Satanism or any religion, it's often confused with the sometimes occultic images used by the bands or members of the scene.