Meet a Gothic Woman
Gothic Women and How They Evolved
She walks into the room, and immediately all eyes are set on her. It is hard to look away because her appearance is striking, from her sleek pitch-black hair to her matching dark attire. Her pale skin clashes against her dark makeup, but a hauntingly beautiful aesthetic surrounds her. Many would describe her as a gothic woman because her attitude matches her exterior. She comes across as mysterious and depressed, but at the same time, she exudes confidence about her. She is aware of herself, what she stands for and who she is as a person in this materialistic world. We have all witnessed this type of woman at some point in our lifetime, but what do we really know about this goth subculture, and what draws people in to participate in it?
GOTHIC SUBCULTURE WAS BORN
The gothic subculture started to piggy-back off the fading punk-rock era, making it difficult to pinpoint an exact starting point. Still, one event in music history has consistently been known for the turning point of the ever-growing dark and mysterious subculture to be born. In the early 1980s, the United Kingdom natives, known as the band Bauhaus, released a song called "Bela Lugosi's Dead." Their fans took this eerie song as the beginning of the subculture called goth. As one of many bands, Bauhaus is referred to as the goth movement's first generation.
Over-time, the goth subculture has evolved from just a genre of music. Listening to "dark music" is only part of one aspect of a true gothic lifestyle. To be "gothic," a term used to describe someone involved in the goth subculture, has expanded beyond any boundaries set. Gothic music has spilled over into a persona a person takes on, as briefly described earlier. Self-awareness and confidence might not be a person's first impression of the broody-looking gothic woman that walked into the store. Society today has a rose-colored glasses curtain veiled over a person's real life. There is a need to stay up-to-date on the latest fashion trends, covet the newest iphone, and create social media accounts to give off the illusion of a "perfect" lifestyle. You typically will not find a gothic woman participating in this way of living. She removed the rose-colored glasses and saw the world for what it is. It can be dark and scary but also romantic throughout all of the destruction. She dresses against the grain because she is not conforming to the masses. Instead, she makes a statement wherever she goes that she will not participate in this misconstrued culture we have just learned to accept today.
GOTHIC WOMEN AND HOLLYWOOD
Gothic women have been embedded in our society for decades. Hollywood has been captivated by this popular subculture that they have recreated the gothic woman repeatedly, especially in women's roles. Many well-known gothic female characters developed throughout Hollywood, but some stand out over the rest. Morticia Addams is one of the most popular gothic women portrayed. The Addams Family has been re-made into television shows and movies a multitude of times. It has even been recreated into a cartoon for children to enjoy. Morticia Addams has been played and re-scripted several times, and with each time, one thing that remains the same is Morticia's dark, eerie and mysterious demeanor. One will always find Morticia Addams in a black, sleek gown, dark straight hair, pale skin, and dark makeup. She is striking in her features and makes a statement in her character. Her gothic manner shines through with her unwillingness to bend to societal norms while also having a fierce grip on her family's well-being.
Morticia Addams was not the only iconic Hollywood gothic woman created in her time. The show, The Munsters coveted another gothic mother-figure named Lily Munster. Her character was similar to Morticia Addams, a well-known dark and eerie persona while also being a mother. Producers carefully crafted motherhood tendencies within a gothic mindset, which convinced audiences that they are still part of some "normal" aspects of life, like having a family. The gothic subculture is a chosen lifestyle, not just a fashion trend, even though gothic women tend to dress a certain way.
GOTHIC WOMEN’S FASHION
Hollywood's view of the gothic “look” for women would dress of a morbid and dark appeal where the color black is well-favored. Women were often draped in dark, floor-length dresses, accompanied with sleek-black hair and dark makeup. Although that fashion trend might have been chosen at one time, like most things, the gothic look has evolved through the generations. There is an array of different options to fit that gothic fashion "stereotype," and to say there is only one "look" that's simply not the case anymore. Gothic attire can range from a rockabilly girl whose attire is a darker spin of a pin-up girl to a black goddess, which is closer to that eerie and mysterious attire most people are accustomed to seeing gothic women wear.
The most important takeaway is that the gothic subculture is a lifestyle choice which comes with the evolution of gothic women. Confidence within a gothic woman is a complex concept to accept because of their moody and lack-luster personality at times. Their confidence comes from not worrying about others' judgments. They listen to music and wear clothes that are not mainstream or trendy. The gothic subculture seeks to make a statement, not to fit themselves into a box that pleases society. They are confident in their values and beliefs, making it easy for them to express themselves through music and fashion. The gothic subculture’s sole purpose is not only to cast a gloomy shadow on everything, but they also have a passion for romance and love deeply. It might not be the Hallmark version of romance, but it is love, all the same. Passion runs through everything that the gothic subculture believes in, so next time you see a striking, dark-goddess walk into a store, know there is much more to her than meets the eye.
