What we Learned from the World's Largest Goth Survey

We speak with Emma to uncover the insights gleaned from her PhD study, which surveyed thousands of goths across dozens of countries! We’ll explore the relationship of death to goth identity, what truly makes goth fashion unique, debate the role the internet has played in the development of goth culture and more.
Read her article here (Page 74):
www.aeternumjournal.com/volum...
Check out her research website:
isgothjustaphase.com/
If you enjoy the show and want to hear this months exclusive bonus episode, head over to Patreon!
/ cemeteryconfessions
Intro 00:00
Origin story 3:15
Study Results and Methodology 7:00
Role of Death and the Past in Goth 27:15
Resistance to the "mainstream" 42:23
Goth Fashion Through Plenitude 49:20
Semiotics and Appropriation 1:02:18
Socio-Aesthetic 1:14:45
The Internet 1:19:00
Aging in Goth 1:31:30
Post Show Musings 1:55:30
References:
-Goldfields Gothic: Festival of Dark Ideas
/ goldfieldsgothic
-Black Funerals in the US -Radical Death Studies
• Black Funerals in the ...
-Radical Death Studies
www.radicaldeathstudies.com/
-Cyborg Manifesto
www.sfu.ca/~decaste/OISE/page...
-Theories of Social Change
• Theory of Social Chang...
-Asking the Gothic Questions
kzbin.infocgoPQ_ar...
-Postmodernism’s Epistemological Legacies
www.cairn.info/revue-internat...
-Plenitude
www.google.com/books/edition/...
-Musicking and Communitas
www.researchgate.net/publicat...
-Paulo de Jesus
scholar.google.com/citations?...
-The Gothic and the Everyday
link.springer.com/book/10.105...
-Socioaesthetics
brill.com/edcollbook/title/23550

[@NoirVelours]

I'm an elder goth over 50, once you get hooked to the music you don't go back. I still dress in black too that never changed. The culture is not only for young people, we freakin started it! So not a phase. Elder goths don't go out as often hence why we are less seen on the streets but we still go to concerts, less in clubs.

[@NiteMareBliss]

Exactly the same here. I'm an eldergoth (goth since the late 1980s!) And I agree with everything you said. 🖤🕸💀

[@reidgelding7909]

Likewise over 50. Got into it at the end of the 80's. I still attend gigs & clubs regularly. I don't look extreme as I did in my youth as would be ridiculous (& aesthetically unpleasing) now. But it wasn't a phase...

[@rubaidaallen2764]

No it’s not a phase. I still wear black still all the time. I may not may not dress up like I used to and go clubbing every Friday and Saturday night, but I will always be Goth at heart 🖤🖤🖤

[@ostwestfalischehochmoorlei4705]

Im around 40, in a new phase of life... municipality councilman for the (big) green party of germany, local lutheran church council... passive rebellion had become active rebellion ;-) , and have made some new friends in scene around 40 ore 40+ last month and years. They have made their way through life and have become their part of work an society. Some i have met first time at alternativ disco goth night, and then made "normal" activities. Some i met first time at "normal" activities and then went to goth festival together. What i will say with it: Of course its not a phase ore it have not be a phase. Work needs us, society needs us. Dont be shy getting older and "adult" as goth with your alternativ, progressive, ore goth ideals and ideas... and even parts of (every day) look. And offen its easier older, course you can better choose the people you want to work ore live with, and dont want to work ore live with... even work and life against ;-).

[@jessiemeowser]

Great thought provoking episode and musings. Consider online in the 90s vs. online now more. In the 90s, I started to explore the scene because someone from LA told me I should because of how she saw me in connection to a known Gothic girl in her high school. Then I was told by someone else to look for gothic stuff in California. When I entered the tangible scene I learned even more what to search. This was an era that the internet in retrospect felt more homemade if you will with less options. Now people and potential baby bats are likely to have the mainstream mass media and/or algorithms to saturate them with some context of what goth is and has been. Although it might now be things that contextualize it in a way that an experienced real world goth or experienced and knowledgeable online goth may not agree with, it can be impactful to that explorer or baby bat in the making to continue to explore or stop before actually interacting or actually experiencing first hand.

[@Sanniz]

This one was really intresting to listen to. Much sounded so familiar. And I have also had people suspect, that I am goth, even when I have been dressed for work. It's intresting that we can still get those vibes! Thanks for the vlog. And will read the article too. Goth love from Sweden 🦇🖤🖤🖤🖤🦇

[@-RONNIE]

My apologies on watching this so late I had a lot of work today. I just finished & this was a really good video very insightful of the subculture & thank you all for sharing

[@thepitsofdarkness]

@63 I find I still spend most of my spare funds on the music. I never had much fashion sense and since I live rural , away from any scenes and I like to work on mechanical things I tend to keep the wardrobe simple basic black pants and shirts. But I'm here forever until the end of time. I found my place. 🖤🥀⚰🦇 edit: I've renewed my Patreon after realizing my old CC had expired and payments weren't going though. So sorry.

[@CemeteryConfessions]

It's a great feeling to know you're part of something that brings you meaning. Thank you for the support! 🖤🪦🍂

[@jessiemeowser]

As far as goths across state and international borders orders and across time - what has been goth, what is goth, and what will be goth: for those of us who can travel, LA, New York, and London are among places that travelers from everywhere are likely to visit. In LA, San Francisco - Bay Area and Fresno California in recent years, I’ve been seeing a rise if you will of Mexican American/Latin goths In California having events that not only feature band performances from Spanish speaking countries that very much fit the scene now, but also incorporating Rock En Español and Cumbia music n the dance club playlists. Additionally I see the Latin leaning “goth” events incorporating drag shows. In the 90s through now I witnessed the inclusion of industrial and the inclusion of fetish fashion shows that have become normal. What will be normal? Travelers come to LA and find drag shows and cumbia hand-in-hand as an expectation or will it radiate outside of California like so many bands like Christian Death, Cinema Strange, and so forth. Day if the Dead certainly fits here in California. But through the decades, Goth has had roots in English culture, in Western culture. And I agree that more so than ever goth is affected by mainstream. Goth scene “political problems” are an example to me of “bad” mainstream mindsets infiltrating and infringing upon typical, traditional broad acceptance and celebration of cultures and gender and sexual identities and iconography and venues

[@barbedwirerat661]

This was a great episode! Thanks Danny, Trey, and Emma.

[@gentGTR]

Loved it, please bring her back. More like this! 🖤🦇

[@NovisNoctis]

So excited to see this! Perfect way to end my Tuesday night! I actually went to university for statistics and I’ve always been so~ intrigued when you’ve mentioned studies on the subculture! I only have my bachelors, and sadly, probably, won’t go back to get any higher degree, just because of the cost~ but I did have dreams of finding some way to mesh my statistical skills and the goth scene. But lots of love to you and your guests for highlighting this work. So delighted to see fellow bats with a love for not only goth tunes, but for research and statistics 🦇🖤🖤🖤

[@megmcguigan3857]

I think one thing that isn't really being discussed right now is the rise of racism in the subculture. Over the last few years there has been a steep increase of people, mostly from the metal community, bringing their hateful rhetoric into the subculture. I actually like metal music, and I realize that not all metalheads are racist, but for whatever reason the racist ones are gravitating towards online goth communities at a growing pace. Also, there seems to be a whole lot of classism going on. People being shamed as to where they buy their clothes in this economy shouldn't be a 'thing'.

[@NiteMareBliss]

Thanks for saying this. You just gave me an idea for discussion in one of my future pods. 👏🏻🖤👏🏻 It's an important discussion.

[@reidgelding7909]

I've never experienced this in 30years of being involved with the scene. I know people from all sorts of diverse ethnic backgrounds that are part of the gig/club/goth hangout scene. It's never been an issue nor should it. The metal community is a separate entity to Goth & I suspect most of this is the usual online misinterpretations & rubbish. If you are a racist you are not Goth & not welcome in our space.

[@greekvampy3690]

I'm in my 40s & I'm goth but Identify as a vampier some times I use goth as a binary gender especily in the modern day

[@samuelpenn2973]

I never even considered what it would be like to grow up Goth in Australia. You live, you learn. (Then you die.)

[@reidgelding7909]

Australian here. 51. Go to gigs & clubs still when happening. We were labelled Swampies most of the 80's, Gothic-punks end of 80's/start of 90's. The Goth label didn't really emerge until the 90's... & for most of the 90's it was considered gauche to label yourself goth. (no I always wear this velvet cloak, draw my eyebrows on & have 13 ankhs- I'm just into post-punk, don't label me)...

[@ronvanover7690]

I am a 51 year old goth.

[@barbedwirerat661]

LOL in a few days I will be as well!

[@NiteMareBliss]

54 here!!! Will be 55 in January. Goth since late 80's!

[@CreightonChaney-io4xv]

No, it's not To me anyway You ever noticed that people who are in the subculture not just for awhile but for many years is that they age really well? They're able to express themselves, no limits, no expectations from society or others They are just comfortable in their own skin I could go on and on but to me it's not a phase but a lifestyle 🖤🪦⚰️🦇👻

[@NiteMareBliss]

Is it weird that you just described me?! LoL and yes I agree completely with all of that! 🖤

[@CreightonChaney-io4xv]

@@NiteMareBliss not only you but me and everyone else within the subculture 🖤 🪦🦇👻🎃

[@NiteMareBliss]

@@CreightonChaney-io4xv 😎🥰💓🖤

[@CreightonChaney-io4xv]

@@NiteMareBliss you got yourself a new subscriber

[@NiteMareBliss]

@@CreightonChaney-io4xv we gotta stick together! Thanks! 🖤🖤🖤