What is “Goth”?

The term “gothic” (as applied to art, rather than the name of a Germanic tribe), was originally coined as a description of a particular medieval style of architecture used in the construction of cathedrals and public buildings. Elaborate stone ornamentation such as flying buttresses and gargoyles are characteristic of this architectural style, and are still being reproduced today in such monumental works as the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, still under construction after 100 years.

In the early 19th century, “gothic” came to describe a new form of literature that focused on folkloric topics such as ghosts, vampires and other mysterious or supernatural themes. A hallmark of such literature was to set the stories in the ruins of medieval buildings, such as Carfax Abbey in Bram Stoker’s “Dracula,” and (with tongue firmly in cheek) Jane Austen’s “Northanger Abbey.” “Gothic literature” was born. The term then began to transcend literature, being applied to any artistic creation featuring dark or macabre subject matter.

A new style in art was then also sweeping the Victorian world, with themes drawn from classical mythology and medieval legend. The New Romantic School included artists such as John Waterhouse and Edmund Blair Leighton, who painted numerous scenes from the Arthurian cycles. Poets and writers ranging from Lord Byron to Oscar Wilde became associated with the New Romantic movement, and were known for their elaborate fashions based on medieval and Renaissance styles, and for their ability to find poignant beauty in topics their contemporaries found morbid, such as thunderstorms crashing over blasted heaths, ancient, crumbling cemeteries, and elaborate grave markers and statuary.

By the 1970’s, the punk music genre was sweeping the world. An offshoot of punk music developed, featuring chords in minor keys, dark, moody vocals, and often dealing with macabre subjects. The musicians and fans began to dress in black, silver, and jewel tones to complement the mood of the music. They were also drawn to the art and literature of the New Romantics, and became their cultural heirs, dressing in more and more elaborate fashions based on medieval, Victorian, or early 20th century vintage styles. The term “gothic” was then applied, not only to the music of this era, but to its eccentrically-garbed fans. The modern “Goth” artistic movement was born.

Today, a large number of highly creative individuals identify themselves as “Goth,” or work with artistic themes that are decidedly gothic in nature. Some of their creations are only publicly acknowledged at Halloween (such as the artists who design haunted attractions and horror movie sets), whereas others, such as filmmaker Tim Burton or artist Amy Brown, are considered mainstream and have become quite famous. Nephilim United Productions, Inc. seeks to promote and encourage such creative individuals, provide exposure for their work, and educate the general public in the history, intricacy, depth and beauty of this artistic genre.

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