{"id":5212,"date":"2026-05-22T14:58:06","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T13:58:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/?p=5212"},"modified":"2026-05-11T09:59:48","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T08:59:48","slug":"world-goth-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/2026\/05\/22\/world-goth-day\/","title":{"rendered":"World Goth Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

World Goth Day<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n

May 22<\/span>nd<\/span>\u00a0is\u00a0<\/span>World Goth Day<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0a chance to celebrate all things gothic from music and film to fashion.\u00a0It all began in 2009\u00a0when\u00a0BBC Radio 6 Music ran a series which spotlighted different subcultures. Goth music was featured on 22<\/span>nd<\/span>\u00a0May,\u00a0and\u00a0the event has taken place on that date each year since.\u00a0<\/span>There will be events locally, such as\u00a0Midnight Solar Market,<\/a> and more worldwide.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the\u00a0beginning..<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span>Some bands, such as\u00a0Siouxsie and the Banshees,<\/a>\u00a0tweaked their sound and style to appeal to a new audience, and along with emerging bands such as\u00a0Bauhaus,<\/a> soundtracked the new subculture.<\/span>\u00a0Clubs 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.\u00a0Goth\u00a0subculture\u00a0also embraces\u00a0literature,\u00a0film\u00a0and art.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fashion<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

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.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Film\u00a0and tv<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

There\u2019s\u00a0a wealth of\u00a0goth films\u00a0and tv\u00a0series which\u00a0explore the\u00a0themes of love, loss, and the supernatural that define the genre.\u00a0They are typically\u00a0set in\u00a0strange,\u00a0eerie locations\u00a0with an air of mystery\u00a0such as\u00a0a gothic mansion or\u00a0in\u00a0areas like\u00a0Transylvania.\u00a0If you dare,\u00a0here are some recommendations to\u00a0view to get\u00a0a feel for the subculture:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dracula (1931)<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Beetlejuice\u00a0(1988)<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Crow (1994)<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bram Stoker\u2019s Dracula (1992)<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sleepy Hollow (1999)<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pan\u2019s Labyrinth (2006)<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Addams Family (1964-1966)<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Literature<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Gothic literature has been around\u00a0a bit longer than the music and subculture we are used to today.\u00a0Its\u00a0origins are in\u00a0the late 18<\/span>th<\/span>\u00a0century\u00a0and\u00a0there are\u00a0key elements:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Typical settings are\u00a0castles,\u00a0mansions,\u00a0ruins, isolated landscapes.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Suspenseful atmosphere:\u00a0Decay, darkness, mystery, family\u00a0secrets\u00a0and curses.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Characters: Female in danger or distress,\u00a0repressive male, doppelganger.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Supernatural elements:\u00a0Ghosts, vampires, strange events, shadows.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Psychological\u00a0terror: Nightmares, madness.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here is a list of novels which set the gothic mood:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n