Too mainstream

[Aleister1]

Is it just me or has gothic music(or more accurately, the whole gothic genre) become entirely too trendy or mainstream? Once upon a time You would have had to travel miles upon miles to search out clothes to wear to the club. Now all you have to do is go to the MALL, it's there right next to GAP and across from Eddie Baurer. Why go anywhere else? Forget the hour drive to go to Noir Leather. That is no longer neccessary. Not that I'm Completely Knocking Hot Topic or anything, It's is a good store for cd's or general stuff. It's just the idea of where it's located and easy accessibility. Gothic was, I thought, a little more obscure. out of the norm, a society all it's own.

[Guest Game of Chance]

I wouldn't know. I'm not a goth.

But I'll tell you this much. Their stock was up 8% today.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=hott

Edited since I would have to clear any additonal commentary with my Compliance Officer.

[Rayne]

Is it just me or has gothic music(or more accurately, the whole gothic genre) become entirely too trendy or mainstream? Once upon a time You would have had to travel miles upon miles to search out clothes to wear to the club. Now all you have to do is go to the MALL, it's there right next to GAP and across from Eddie Baurer. Why go anywhere else? Forget the hour drive to go to Noir Leather. That is no longer neccessary. Not that I'm Completely Knocking Hot Topic or anything, It's is a good store for cd's or general stuff. It's just the idea of where it's located and easy accessibility. Gothic was, I thought, a little more obscure. out of the norm, a society all it's own.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I completely agree with that, but you already know.

[phee]

Is it just me or has gothic music(or more accurately, the whole gothic genre) become entirely too trendy or mainstream? Once upon a time You would have had to travel miles upon miles to search out clothes to wear to the club. Now all you have to do is go to the MALL, it's there right next to GAP and across from Eddie Baurer. Why go anywhere else? Forget the hour drive to go to Noir Leather. That is no longer neccessary. Not that I'm Completely Knocking Hot Topic or anything, It's is a good store for cd's or general stuff. It's just the idea of where it's located and easy accessibility. Gothic was, I thought, a little more obscure. out of the norm, a society all it's own.

This is totally true, but not really a new concept. Any subculture that actually has a backbone is generally for a small period homoginized into the mainstream. Take Punk for example, in the late 70's and early 80's, it was revolutionary, something to be reckoned with and even feared by some... But after a while (Green Day, Rancid, The Offspring) it get's neutered by pop culture. The same thing happened to Techno, Heavy Metal, even Jazz.

It will pass

[kellygrrrrrl]

Yes.

BUT that is just what happens with ALL forms of style and clothing.

One day it's mohawks and percings, the next it is stripped stockings and platforms.

Next it will be hmmmmmm...let me make one up...I'll call it "Thunk"

1/2 punk - 1/2 Goth

or you could call it Ponkth? :erm

Yep, I am bored

[Paper Hearts]

It's this Emo junk, making the whole world watered down and stupid.

[saechalyn]

I suppose so, but I never cared much what was trendy before HT came along, and I don't now.

[Head Wreck]

yes. blame emo

lousy worthless whinging C U Next Tuesdays with legoman haircuts and moping because thier girlfriend isnt realy bisexual after all and turned out to have slept with all the guys at the bar/club/pub they were kicked out of

[headlessgoth]

i think the coroporate idea of the scene has hit main stream to make $ all those normals you meet trying to be like us is flattering at the same time insulting they think a black pair of pants and some eyliner makes them part of our scene its rediculous. i think it would be better for them to not look at our clothes and see how we all live our lives and that is makes us goth

[EvilEve]

... the only thing that comes to mind is Voltaire's song 'If I Only Were A Goth.'

this is a phase, it will pass, this is a phase, it will pass, this is a phase, it will pass, this is a phase, it will pass....

it'll all go back to being what it was before, hidden away in the back broom closet like a dirty little secret that no one wants to know about, and soon enough they'll all have moved onto something else that 'adds more meaning to their life' and things of that sort, blahdy, blahdy, blah!

[phee]

... the only thing that comes to mind is Voltaire's song 'If I Only Were A Goth.'

this is a phase, it will pass, this is a phase, it will pass, this is a phase, it will pass, this is a phase, it will pass....

it'll all go back to being what it was before, hidden away in the back broom closet like a dirty little secret that no one wants to know about, and soon enough they'll all have moved onto something else that 'adds more meaning to their life' and things of that sort, blahdy, blahdy, blah!

Yup.... remember when "Industrial" became popular, you had your NIN, and then it was followed by Gravity Kills, Filter, etc... ?

It's all gone now,

[Soulrev]

I don't think I could say it's becoming mainstream. Maybe that it's becoming more popular to wear black, but to be honest with you just about every kid around here who I thought (by looking) was into gothic, industrial music, has no idea who any gothic/industrial bands are. In a sense, most people around here are oblivious, still, to the real scene.

Not calling them posers, because a lot of them are cool people.

I try not to judge or label any one, because in the end it always comes down to some stupid contest about who's cooler or who's a "poser". Everyone has their own thing. Like me, all I wear is black (soon to change, in the Army) but I don't always wear fishnets and makeup.. In fact I haven't worn any makeup for a while now. In general, these days I just look like a normal guy that wears black, has tattoos and wears combat boots 24/7 with his pants tucked into them. I don't really care about how I look anymore, I just like to sit in my room and listen to music, smoke pot on occasion (which I can't do that anymore, either), and I even have a graveyard that I go out to all the time to relax and look at the stars and be at peace.

Does that make me goth? I don't know.. Don't really care.

Here's a question. If "gothic" became mainstream, would you dip out of the scene? How does it effect you?

I don't care as long as there is still good music to be heard from it.

[phee]

I don't think I could say it's becoming mainstream. Maybe that it's becoming more popular to wear black, but to be honest with you just about every kid around here who I thought (by looking) was into gothic, industrial music, has no idea who any gothic/industrial bands are. In a sense, most people around here are oblivious, still, to the real scene.

Not calling them posers, because a lot of them are cool people.

I try not to judge or label any one, because in the end it always comes down to some stupid contest about who's cooler or who's a "poser". Everyone has their own thing. Like me, all I wear is black (soon to change, in the Army) but I don't always wear fishnets and makeup.. In fact I haven't worn any makeup for a while now. In general, these days I just look like a normal guy that wears black, has tattoos and wears combat boots 24/7 with his pants tucked into them. I don't really care about how I look anymore, I just like to sit in my room and listen to music, smoke pot on occasion (which I can't do that anymore, either), and I even have a graveyard that I go out to all the time to relax and look at the stars and be at peace.

Does that make me goth? I don't know.. Don't really care.

Here's a question. If "gothic" became mainstream, would you dip out of the scene? How does it effect you?

I don't care as long as there is still good music to be heard from it.

Good question... For me, I simply like what I like if it became popular, well then some of my favorite artists might get more production money and raise the recording quality so.... there you have it.

[Soulrev]

Also like to add-

Noticed a lot of people like to contradict themselves on this topic, as well.

I'll just put this plainly, and know that I'm not criticizing anyone here..

Example (fictional, not quoted from anyone) -

"Why does everyone think just because I wear all black that I worship Satan or that I am evil?"

.. and then you may hear ..

"Oh no! Goth is becoming mainstream! I hope it goes back to being a mysterious culture that nobody understands!"

... ... ...

-B

[phee]

Also like to add-

Noticed a lot of people like to contradict themselves on this topic, as well.

I'll just put this plainly, and know that I'm not criticizing anyone here..

Example (fictional, not quoted from anyone) -

"Why does everyone think just because I wear all black that I worship Satan or that I am evil?"

.. and then you may hear ..

"Oh no! Goth is becoming mainstream! I hope it goes back to being a mysterious culture that nobody understands!"

... ... ...

-B

:woot:

[DarkVampire]

Ya buddy

[Msterbeau]

Good question... For me, I simply like what I like if it became popular, well then some of my favorite artists might get more production money and raise the recording quality so.... there you have it.

The only part of this equation that sucks is that they becaome more difficult and more expensive to see live. It was fun seeing someone like the Chillipeppers at the Nectorine Ballroom. 10 years later you had to pay a zillion dollars and see them at the Silverdome. Blech!!

[Lilith]

My hope would be that the whole mainstreaming of the scene would make it easier for those who have not found a place to "fit" in to get aquainted withthe scene and find a palce that makes them feel accepted.

Have'nt goths adn other sub culutres been fighting to be accepted and not feared? I would think this would be part of that resolution to that question. People usually poke fun and fear what they are un informed about, well hopefully if the mainstreaming of the scene can enlighten those who are not goth at heart that *COUGH WE are Regular Normal People who just happen to dress and listen to difrent music, just as a person from another country would if they moved here. perhaps it would save My child or some one elses from being ridiculed or harassed or thought to be the one to blow up the school.

Being mainstream of course has its pros and cons ya have to take the good withthe bad as with anything else in life.

Just think of it as the newest 101 Course offered By life, and we are the teachers for once.

[Hellion]

:devil Alot of the stuff I have I made or fabricated, you would never see my goth jewelry at HT or anything else I have. Itry to stay away from the mainstream nonsence.

[Nienna]

I like alot of the more gothy stuff coming out in music and I LOVE the current fashion trends. In my mind, the fact that it has become "trendy" is irrelevent, because I am not interested in the gothic subculture to be "different" but because it's aesthetics greatly appeal to me. Since this is my reason to like things goth, it's actually GOOD if it becomes more commonplace for awhile. I can listen to the radio without cringing, and I can find clothes in actual stores. It's amazing and wonderful. Don't worry.. it'll phase out eventually and then we'll jsut have all this new "gothy" stuff that was easier to get than usual. =)

[TomCat]

look at me. I'm as goth as any real goth ever neede to be. Thats all you need to know.

[Head Wreck]

dont care if it goes mainstream.

gothic women are hot.

except the mopey baby bats. i lioke happy people

[phee]

dont care if it goes mainstream.

gothic women are hot.

except the mopey baby bats.  i lioke happy people

Amen Brotha HW couldn't have said it better myself

[TomCat]

Anyone who'd shun their roots if their passion went mainstream, never really "was" all about it then, now were they?

[DarkVampire]

dont care if it goes mainstream.

gothic women are hot.

except the mopey baby bats.  i lioke happy people

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Indeed they are.