World Goth Day 

May 22nd is World Goth Day – a chance to celebrate all things gothic from music and film to fashion. It all began in 2009 when BBC Radio 6 Music ran a series which spotlighted different subcultures. Goth music was featured on 22nd May, and the event has taken place on that date each year since. There will be events locally, such as Midnight Solar Market, and more worldwide. 

In the beginning.. 

Musically, the goth subculture started out as a movement celebrating a style of music that followed punk, new wave, and the new romantic movements of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Some bands, such as Siouxsie and the Banshees, tweaked their sound and style to appeal to a new audience, and along with emerging bands such as Bauhaus, soundtracked the new subculture. Clubs began opening, playing the music of the new genre, and fashion fans began refining their look with their own style of make-up, hair, and clothes. Goth subculture also embraces literature, film and art. 

Fashion 

Many subcultures have their own fashion style, and the goth movement is no exception. Influenced by the Victorian cult of mourning, it combines black clothing with the odd flash of purple or red, black dyed hair, black eyeliner, nail varnish and lipstick. The clothing fabrics used are often lace, velvet, fishnet, and leather, with long dresses, corsets, frock coats, and top hats. 

Film and tv 

There’s a wealth of goth films and tv series which explore the themes of love, loss, and the supernatural that define the genre. They are typically set in strange, eerie locations with an air of mystery such as a gothic mansion or in areas like Transylvania. If you dare, here are some recommendations to view to get a feel for the subculture: 

Dracula (1931) 

Beetlejuice (1988) 

The Crow (1994) 

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) 

Sleepy Hollow (1999) 

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) 

The Addams Family (1964-1966) 

 

Literature 

Gothic literature has been around a bit longer than the music and subculture we are used to today. Its origins are in the late 18th century and there are key elements: 

Typical settings are castles, mansions, ruins, isolated landscapes. 

Suspenseful atmosphere: Decay, darkness, mystery, family secrets and curses. 

Characters: Female in danger or distress, repressive male, doppelganger. 

Supernatural elements: Ghosts, vampires, strange events, shadows. 

Psychological terror: Nightmares, madness.  

Here is a list of novels which set the gothic mood:  

  • Frankenstein (1818) – Mary Shelley: The classic tale of scientific, existential horror. 
  • The Vampyre (1819) – John Polidori: The story that created the modern, aristocratic vampire trope. 
  • Wuthering Heights (1847) – Emily Brontë: Intense, brooding romance set on the Yorkshire moors. 
  • Jane Eyre (1847) – Charlotte Brontë: Features a young governess, a brooding master, and a dark secret. 
  • Dracula (1897) – Bram Stoker 
  • Rebecca (1938) – Daphne du Maurier: A young bride is haunted by the lingering presence of her husband’s first wife. 
  • The Woman in Black (1983) – Susan Hill: A young lawyer travels to a remote village and discovers a vengeful ghost is terrorizing the locals. 

 

 

Whitby 

This town in the north of England has become a destination of choice for goths. With a strong connection to Bram Stoker’s Dracula (he set the opening of the novel there after visiting in 1890), along with ruined architecture dominating the skyline, eerie fog rolling in off the sea and local legends of ghosts and witchcraft it meant that it became the perfect place to visit and celebrate their culture. It has also become the setting for the Whitby Goth Weekend. Held twice a year it attracts thousands of gothic individuals from across the globe.

This 3 day long alternative festival celebrates the goth subculture through a series of displays, stalls, and live music events. Additionally, Whitby jet, an organic gemstone formed from fossilized wood, is found in the area and during the Victorian era was fashioned into mourning jewellery. Due to its black colour and the association with mourning it became a natural choice of gemstone for goths and there are several shops in Whitby selling the gemstone jewellery. 

The Sophie Lancaster Foundation 

On 11th August 2007 Sophie Lancaster was attacked by a group of boys simply because, as a goth, she looked and dressed differently. Her boyfriend was also attacked and survived, but 13 days after the attack Sophie died. Sophie had often been subjected to abuse due to the way she looked and dressed. Her mother, Sylvia, made it her mission to promote tolerance and acceptance of others from different subcultures. In 2008 the Sophie Lancaster Foundation (SLF) got up and running with the aim of educating, celebrating and stimulating conversations about accepting alternative people in communities. 

The Foundation also campaigned to extend UK Hate Crime legislation to include people from alternative subcultures. In 2013 Greater Manchester Police (GMP) become the first police authority to record and monitor hate crimes and incidents against people from alternative subcultures. 
GMP stated: ‘Crimes against people from alternative subcultures will be recorded as a crime by GMP in the same capacity as disability, racist, religious, sexual orientation and transgender Hate Crime to provide better support to victims and repeat victims.’ 

Today, the charity works with anyone aged 7 and above, delivering workshops and presentations, raising awareness of alternative subcultures, and preventing judgment of others based on their appearance. 

Sophie’s killers were brought to justice and received lengthy custodial sentences. At present one of Sophie’s killers is due for release, but SLF feels that rather than comment on the decision they would prefer to honour Sophie’s memory by carrying on with their work to Stamp Out Prejudice, Hatred and Intolerance Everywhere (SOPHIE) and to remember all victims of hate crime. 

Sophie’s story has been turned into a stage play which in turn was made into a BBC drama which can be viewed using the Box of Broadcasts database available using Library Search 

 

 

How to celebrate World Goth Day 

Attend a local event such as an art or fashion show or a music event. 

Host your own goth party with relevant music, clothes and decorations. 

Read a classic Gothic novel. 

Watch a movie featuring goth characters. 

Listen to some goth music. 

Make a donation to the Sophie Lancaster Foundation which campaigns against image-based prejudice. 

Check out all the gothic material available to Edinburgh Napier staff and students using Library Search 

 

By Vivienne Hamilton

Photo by Alexander Grey Unsplash