There is a distinct difference between the terms "Goth" (noun) and "gothic" (adjective), even without me being too anal about it. A person can be referred to as "a Goth", and a dress can be described as being "gothic". I prefer the idea of using adjectives to describe oneself, as the term "gothic" is much less limiting than defining yourself as merely a Goth. That seems very two-dimensional and boring. Now that we have got that settled, I will collate a nifty little assortment of everything gothic, a metanode of sorts.
Gothic books
- The classics
- Vampire, fantasy, horror, sci-fi novels
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- Gothic films
- The Hunger - a vampire film with David Bowie and Susan Sarandon.
- Rocky Horror Picture Show - cult classic.
- Hellraiser and all its sequels.
- Dracula - from Bela Lugosi's version to the Francis Ford Coppola version, it's a very big classic.
- Heathers - a lovely 80's movie with Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, and Shannen Doherty; a black humor about high school and killing.
- The Crow - starring Brandon Lee (who was accidentally killed during filming). Murder, revenge, love, urban decay. Graveyards and an elaborate church.
- Edward Scissorhands - Johnny Depp as a strange hedge trimming genius.
- The Nightmare Before Christmas - two words: Tim Burton.
- Beetlejuice - with Geena Davis, Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder and as the spooky girl Lydia.
- [Batman Returns - very icy, and Catwoman's fetish catsuit makes it gothic.
- The Craft - not categorically a very good film, as far as gothic films or indeed any films go, but still gothic inspired nonetheless.
- Gothic - About the night that Mary Shelley first came up with the idea for Frankenstein. Ghost stories, hallucinations, horror and madness.
- The Lost Boys - with Corey Haim, Corey Feldman and Keifer Sutherland One of the classic 80's teenage renegade vampire films, with a kickass soundtrack.
- A Clockwork Orange - ultra-violence.
- Gothic clothing and style
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- anything black obviously (white or any dark colour like deep red are also popular but less common.)
- silver jewelry
- pale skin (there are many reasons for this preference; some Goths want that sort of undead look; or they want to embody the Victorian aesthetic that says pale skin is a sign of nobility; or because tanning causes skin cancer. Mostly though, Goths view paleness as prettier than being tan, whether or not they have a definitive reason why.)
- dyed hair (Black, platinum blonde, red, or purple are very common.)
- bad makeup: [black and white; white foundation, black lipstick (although most stick to deep reds and plums), black eyeliner
- thin, plucked eyebrows or shaven eyebrows (drawn on).
- bondage and fetishwear; leather, PVC, latex, rubber, vinyl and bondage gear, corsets
- crushed velvet or regular velvet
- beatnik poet shirts; those white ones with a few ruffles around the cuff, the collar, and the front.
- chokers, dog collars with spikes, velvet ribbons tied around the neck, etc.
- pentacles
- lingerie that shows (garters, teddy, bustier, slip, camisole)
- capes
- opera length gloves, either satin or latex (shorter length gloves as well, usually vinyl)
- crucifixes (Christian symbolism)
- fishnet stockings
- black and white horizontal striped stockings like the Wicked Witch of the West
- chains
- spikes/studs
- tattoos and piercings, depending on the person.
- pointy toed shoes, buckle boots, high heels, combat boots or Doc Martens
- a leather jacket (often with designs painted on it), black trenchcoat, black vinyl raincoat-looking jacket, or velvet jacket
- Miscellany
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- art (Most Goths are dabblers in black and white photography, music, painting, writing, drawing etc.)
- the humanities in general (literature, history, philosophy etc.)
- clove cigarettes
- cats
- candles
- fairies
- gargoyles
- Bettie Page
- spider webs, spiders
- skulls, skeletons
- coffins
- Egyptian symbols, Christian symbols, Pagan symbols such as a cross, ankh, etc.
- drinking blood
There is also an excellent node on gothic music. Go there.
Credit goes to the cute goth Alicia from gothic.org