Goth:

Dispelling the myths

By Christiane Truelove

What is Goth? There are certain preconceived notions of what is Goth in the minds of the public. Like all stereotypes, they are wrong.

It is easier to define Goth by what it is not than what it is. Goth is not Satanism, although there are Goths who claim to be Satanists. Goth is not witchcraft, although there are Goths who practice Wicca or other “new age” religions. There are Goths who are born-again Christians and fervent Catholics, as well as Jews; there are agnostics and atheists. Religion does not define Goths.

Goths are not vampires, although there are those who claim to be 800 years old and turn into bats (and a conversation with someone like that easily is an evening’s entertainment at a club, but then you hope they go away and never come back). There are modern-day “vampyre societies,” but even the members of these do not all claim to be Goths.

Goths should also not be defined as those with more outré sexual practices. S&M is not Goth; there are Goths who do participate in fetish events, but not all fetishists are into the gothic lifestyle and culture. Many Goths are in committed relationships. And with the “aging” of the subculture, many of those who partied furiously in their teens and 20s have started families and settled into corporate careers. Yes, there are corporate Goths.

Then what is Goth? The generally agreed-upon definition is an affinity and understanding and appreciation of the darker aspects of life. Goths acknowledge and find inspiration in these things, but they also acknowledge the light. Goths mostly hold themselves apart from mainstream culture. Many Goths find creative inspiration in the fashions and writings of the past — Victorian, Renaissance, Medieval, Art Deco — and in other cultures — Japanese, Middle Eastern, Indian. Some Goths find themselves gravitating to visions of dystopian futures. “Cybergoths” sport PVC clothes and bright neon accessories, and their “rivethead” brethren sport dark militaristic styles. Most Goths are highly intelligent, sensitive, and cultured.

Gothic music tends to range as much as Goth fashion does. Sounds can be swirly, dreamy, ethnic influenced, or hard-edged and replete with electronics.

So what is gothic bellydance? Just as an Egyptian-style bellydancer would use traditional or newer Egyptian pop and orchestral pieces in her dance and costume herself in the latest Egyptian bellydance fashions, gothic bellydancers find inspiration in their culture for music and costuming. In their dancing, gothic bellydancers take the skills they have learned in traditional Cabaret or American Tribal Style Bellydance classes, and fuse it to the music and the fashion.

Can gothic bellydancing be taught? Not as such; but a good gothic bellydancer should have a solid grounding in a “traditional” bellydance style. Ak-Ana teaches American Tribal Style bellydance because all of the members have studied this form, which provides an exciting framework for improvisational group dancing. Ak-Ana members hope that those they teach will find ATS a useful frame for their own inspirations.