Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with goth

No one move a muscle 'til the dead come home

Lyn Never — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:51:32 -0800

Help me gather the music of my misspent youth? Call it 1989-90, 1993-96, starting with small-town quasi-secretly-gay-dance-club (but definitely barely-post-new-wave and a little wannabe Stark Club, not radio/"dance" pop) through danceable goth/industrial. I put in my hours on the dance floor, and rarely gave up my spot, but I feel like there are huge gaps in the songs I can actually identify. Can you help? The ones that seem obvious to me: Sisters of Mercy, the more-danceable/danceremixed NIN/Tool/Marilyn Manson. Nitzer Ebb, Front 242, a little throwback Depeche Mode. The occasional Cure. And there were the dancefloor-packers: "Nemesis," "Headhunter," "Bela Lugosi's Dead" (god, that song hurt in heels, all that slow motion writhing for 14 minutes).

My personal stomping ground was The Church in Dallas (still there, went a few weeks ago, everything sounded like The Worst of Depeche Mode 2000-2007: Remixed for Elevators; get off my lawn, you damn steampunks), and my Oldies may not be your Oldies, and a lot of the music I wouldn't know unless I heard a snippet, but if you were in close proximity to a lot of eyeliner in the early- to mid-1990s and can remember actual artists and songs, I'll check them out.

Clearly I'm not going to get to hear them in public, so it's going to have to be Lyn's Kitchen Dance Party Playlist. Please hope me.

Publishing a book on rivethead culture

velvet winter — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 00:51:33 -0800

I want to write and publish a book on the industrial music scene from a feminist perspective. I’m a decent writer, but I have no photography, graphic design, marketing, or publishing experience, and no industry connections. Where do I start? I have a long-standing interest in the harsh distorted music, extreme fashion, dystopian military aesthetic, and apocalyptic culture of the industrial/dark electro/EBM/powernoise underground music scene. I want to write and publish a book focusing on the people who are involved – bands, artists, fans and supporters.

There are a few books on industrial music and culture out there already, but I want to approach my project from a different angle. I envision the book as an affectionate portrait of a selected group of unusual people, focused on certain aspects of the subculture that I particularly appreciate. Rivethead culture is commonly seen as overwhelmingly male-dominated, but I see it as much more feminist-friendly than it might appear at first glance. It’s very accepting of LGBT folks, geeks, and body types that don’t fit conventional standards, for example. It’s also one of very few places (aside from a few others like goth, riotgrrl and punk culture) where women’s anger and aggression are accepted, and even encouraged.

What I want to do is shine the feminist spotlight on rivetheads of various genders, ethnicities and sexual identities. I want bold, insightful feminist analysis. I want to feature photos of real people with a variety of body types, rather than professional fashion models. I want to highlight older people involved in the scene, to counter the mistaken idea that this is just a youthful phase that everyone outgrows. And hey…it certainly doesn’t hurt that gritty settings featuring men in eyeliner and utilikilts, or women with purple hair and spiked leather jackets, are inherently interesting to me.

Inspirations for this project include:
* AxWound: Gender in the Horror Genre
(I found this while searching for one of my childhood heroes, Lt. Ellen Ripley in Alien!)
* The work of Kyle Cassidy, author of Armed America: Portraits of Gun Owners in Their Homes (previously on MeFi)
* The work of UK journalist Mick Mercer
* The Origins of Industrial Music by Jennifer Onativia

I’ve never done anything like this before. I don't know any of the people I mentioned whose work inspires me. Though the scene is fairly small, I’m not well-connected at all – I’m not a musician, DJ, or promoter. I'm just a fan with an abiding interest (and an introverted one at that). I’m definitely not a photographer. And although some of my writing has been published in small-press zines, I’m hardly a professional writer, editor, marketer, graphic designer or publisher. So I really have no idea where to start. And furthermore, I just finished a post-bac in accounting and am currently looking for a job, which means I’m cleverly camouflaged as a semi-normal middle-aged woman and would not be able to devote myself to this book project full-time.

In any case, I would not want this to be a fly-by-night kind of thing. I'm organized, hard-working and responsible, and I’d prefer to take a professional approach. I realize that the market for a book like this is very limited, and that it would be more a labor of love than a profitable venture. But beyond that, I'm clueless. What kind of budget would I be looking at, and would I have any realistic funding options aside from tapping my own pocketbook? Would it even be worth trying to pitch this idea to a traditional publisher? Are there any specific people I should talk to, and if so, what would be the most appropriate way to approach them about a project like this?

What else should I know that I probably haven’t considered?

Any advice would be very much appreciated, particularly from those who've successfully completed projects of similar scope. Thanks!

Looking Not to Melt in New Orleans in August

extraheavymarcellus — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:33:05 -0800

My erstwhile traveling companion and I are going to visit The Big Easy in the dead of August, specifically the 13th - 18th. What would be some activities we could do during the daylight hours to keep cool and out of the sun and are there still any Goth nights or the like to entertain us after dark? We are pale, Gothy types who have been to NOLA a few times but never this time of year.

Must See in D.C.

misha — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:21:58 -0800

Cheap eats and must-sees in D.C. for three adults and three teens? Bonus for any vegetarian-friendly options! We're taking our guys and heading to D.C., where we'll be joining our oldest son's girlfriend and her Mom for five days. We have tickets to the Capitol tour and plan to stop in the Holocaust museum, but we need suggestions for inexpensive places to eat (girlfriend is a vegetarian), as well as your picks for must-sees in town. I'd prefer places you've actually visited, thanks.

Also, I've always enjoyed the Smithsonian--any suggestions for exhibits our teens might especially enjoy as well? We have goths, metalheads and gamers to entertain in the party.

Gift for a goth wedding?

velvet winter — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:35:59 -0800

Help me choose an unconventional wedding gift for a goth couple. Friends of mine are getting married this Halloween. The bride and groom are in their late thirties, and they've both been in the goth scene for many years; the groom plays in a goth band. The ceremony is a masquerade affair, so all the guests will be attending in costume, and the bride, groom and attendants will be dressed in black. Though I can't attend the wedding, I'd like to send them a small gift that fits with their theme. But what should I get?

They've lived together for years, and they don't really need any start-a-household items. They already have large music, movie, clothing, and board game collections. They haven't registered anywhere, so I'm on my own in choosing a gift, which would be great if only I could think of something!

I want to get something creative and unconventional that won't strain my grad-student budget too much. I'd like to avoid sending cash or gift certificates, and I don't think I will have sufficient time to do anything crafty or handmade, unless it's something really simple.

I'm drawing a blank. What kind of wedding gift might be suitable for a couple like this? Any ideas would be welcome. I'm in Portland, OR, if it matters.

Reading Rainbow

Parasite Unseen — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:55:23 -0800

Help a friend survive in Reading, PA. Due to an unfortunate set of circumstances, a friend of mine has been forced to move back in with her parents in Reading, PA. She's grateful that her parents are giving her a hand, but she's starting to go a little bit crazy and she feels very isolated. Her life prior to this was in Los Angeles and New Orleans, so she's away from her friends and experiencing a little bit of culture shock. Please help me find things nearby that will ease the ache of homesickness for her.

The lady in question is in her mid-twenties. She doesn't have drive, so anything will need to be within biking distance or easily reached via public transportation. Her interests veer towards the nerdy (roleplaying games, comic books, science fiction and fantasy), she has a strong artistic streak, and her previous social circles seemed inclined to gather in goth/fetish clubs. Local businesses, museums or groups that cater to that sort of crowd would be appreciated (also, let me know if any of them do gift certificates, as I may be in the market to send her a little something to increase her cheer level). Also, please keep in mind that her funds are very limited right now. This isn't to say that you shouldn't make a suggestion if something perfect happens to cost a bit, but cheaper is definitely better in this case.

I know that this is a bit of a long shot, Hive Mind, but I'd be really grateful if you could help me help her feel a little bit less cut off from the world that she loves.

help me understand goth/punk

viva viola — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:24:33 -0800

My 15 yo daughter’s style is becoming increasingly goth/punk - black clothes, metal chains and belts, skulls and daggers, thick black eyeliner, and she recently colored her hair blue. I’ve been cool about it so far though I don’t like the whole darkness/hardness of it all. She’s starting high school this year. She’s an honor student and a thespian. None of her friends dress like this. Should I be worried, or is this just a stage?

I need music for my Mage game

mr_book — Wed, 21 May 2008 18:40:48 -0800

Help me find appropriate music for my Mage: The Ascension game set in 1997. Alright, so i'm running a game of Mage: The Ascension (OWOD) set in 1997. The characters are all recent high-school grads who, once friends, have reunited after their first year out of school. I want to play this game to appropriate background music for the time period and, also, for the characters (meaning late teenagers).

I was there myself, and I remember a lot of music that fits this style; however, I came into the greater portion of my music-fu after the turn of the millennium and thus only remember a fraction of what was there. What I do remember was the stuff that got blasted over the radio. I'm looking for the music that was between the cracks, the kind you would have heard while you were getting high in your friends basement or while romancing that amazingly hot girl in her bedroom while she played riffs you'd never heard of before. Non-mainstream, but awesome, that kind of thing. Early grunge bands, under-the-radar goth rock, decent techno, sweet hold-over bands from the 80's, etc.

Also, anything that has to do with that quiet, impending apocalypse that all teenagers were told to expect in the 90s works. And, of course, anything Mage-appropriate would be helpful if you know what that is.

Kinky Couture

Ambrosia Voyeur — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 12:56:18 -0800

Where are the good, exciting online fetishwear sites? *shrug*

I guess if I'm looking for any particular thing, it's just the unusual and the versatile. From lingerie to outerwear to accessories - what's striking, creative, and hip?

Help me find baroque-rock music!

thedaniel — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 18:04:51 -0800

I enjoy the old Japanese goth band Malice Mizer, mostly the stuff from later in their career. I can take or leave their fancy outfits, but I like the musical style - this is a prime example: ( youtube video ) What other bands play music that is similarly 'cathedral rock'?

I just don't know WHAT to call it!

matty — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 18:59:13 -0800

What is the visual 'style' of this video called? It's a youtube video of Tori Amos's "Tear in Your Hand" by some place called Chalkmark studios and someone called Symmetrian.

While I've always been a big Tori fan, this rendition of her song for some reason captivates me.

Is it Goth meets Steampunk?

Can someone tell me if this is a genre, or an art form, or just someone's disturbed mind? I find it compelling, and would like to explore the genre (if it indeed exists) further.

Here's the vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQ81Snm45I8

Fashion resources for South Asians

divabat — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 08:22:21 -0800

What good fashion/style/beauty resources are out there for South Asian (Indian/Bangladeshi/Pakistani) women that aren't all about saris and lenghas? Thanks to the response to this question, I have been investigation fashion and style a lot more that usual, and am developing my personal tastes further. (I'm keeping a log of what I like; link's in profile.)

One thing that's struck me, though, is that none of the models are South Asian - none of them look like me. They're all mostly white and skinny (and often blonde). When they bring "people of colour" in there are no South Asians, and plus size is way too big for me (I'm a 12-14 with a typical South Asian belly). So it's hard for me to tell if anything I've seen would actually look good on me because there's no one to compare it to.

My tastes run towards the gothic (Velvet Garden is AWESOME), geeky (injoke tees), businessy (I LOVE suits), and ethnic (not just South Asian). I've been thinking of trying out mod, after seeing a photo of Edie Sedgwick, but she's the complete opposite of me bodywise and I have a feeling the typical mod dresses are going to make me look pregnant.

It's harder to find makeup because I have no idea what colours would suit me. I hardly wear makeup but when I do (for very special occasions) I like to be dramatic, particularly with my eyes. However, all the talk about warm/cool/yellow/blue skin tones confuse me. Some websites have pictures or notes of people whose skin I'm supposed to match, but none of them are ever South Asian! I can't even tell for myself because my skin tone can change - right now it's on the fair side because I'm hardly outdoors, but my face can get quite dark, especially when standing next to fairer people.

Searching for South Asian fashion resources is difficult, because I keep getting stuff about saris and lenghas and salwhar khameez. They're nice, but that's not all I want to wear!

Are there any sites or places that tackle South Asian people but have a more Western idea of style?

you're like, too old for this, man

Firas — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 02:08:06 -0800

Guess who needs boots like Marilyn Manson?! Yours truly! Here's the problem, it seems to be a very standard design but we need to try them on and take them home rather than buy them online and wait/pray it works out. Where (greater boston)?

Please help me grasp at the last threads of my fading youth

veronica sawyer — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 09:08:14 -0800

I'm looking for a pair of boots that I've wanted since 1988: Black leather 10-strap winkle pickers. The thing is, I've found them--but I don't want to buy them from the UK. NOT UKist The reason why I want to buy them in the US--either online or in a brick and mortar store within the NYC vicinity--is because I have difficulty finding boots that fit over my calves. I want to be able to return them without having to pay a buttload of money.

But I can't find them anywhere outside of the UK (or Germany), and I'm a pretty adept googler. The closest I came was a store in PA (can't find the URL now) that used to carry them, but alas, no more. I've noticed this season that high boots with buckles seem to be in style, but I haven't come across anything I really like.

I'd be cool with a pair of boots that meets some if not all of my criteria. Here they are in order of importance: 1) Black leather 2) Multiple straps with buckles 3) pointy toes (aka winkle pickers or pikes) 4) low(er) heels 5) mid-calf height. (Oh, and also, I don't want the nu-goth style boots with giant platform heels; I'm already too old for the ones I want--nevermind those.)

This is an incredibly specific and possibly quixotic plea, and I'm willing to accept that my demands are impossible. If so, can anyone recommend a good US shoe store that carries different styles of winkle pickers?

Help me get my Goth on.

donovan — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 19:50:56 -0800

Help me get my Goth on. "Let's see what you've goth! Get dressed in your finest moody goth clothes and come to the GothBQ/housewarming this Saturday starting around 4. Eat bats and whatever you bring to throw on the grill."

Beyond a black tee shirt and eyeliner I goth . . . nothing.

Please help me assemble a suitably impressive outfit in the next 36 hours. And bonus points for creative grilling/potluck ideas.

Surrealist Scrapbooking

evilcupcakes — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 19:56:42 -0800

I am making a scrapbook for a friend of mine. The challenge? Neither one of us is the type to groove on the tacky "Precious Moments" aesthetic of most scrapbooking materials available. What's an aging goth to do? I am looking for craft and scrapbooking materials and ideas that are more Dark Victorian, Weimer-esque, Art Nouveau, and antique-y than "cute n' country". My idea is to make something that looks like an antique Dadaist/Surrealist art book out of the photos I have. I have scoured the internet, local second hand stores and craft shops for months, with little success. My stock of "found" items is limited at the moment and mostly too contemporary for my needs. Any suggestions for where I can get cool materials online or in the Seattle area would be appreciated. Thanks!

What is that sound in "Hollow Hills?"

Pope Guilty — Wed, 23 May 2007 11:22:21 -0800

Toward the beginning of Bauhaus' "Hollow Hills" (right after the guitars kick in), there's a noise that sounds weirdly like one of the door-opening noises from the original Doom. What is that sound?

Looking for quality goth clubs in NYC

kenoshakid — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 08:06:32 -0800

Looking for quality goth clubs in NYC, or clubs in NYC with a quality goth night.

Are there good avoidance or coping strategies for fainting at blood?

dmz — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 18:08:29 -0800

I faint all too easily at blood/gore. How do I avoid or at least cope better? I've got the whole vasovagal syncope thing in response to blood. I'll be watching a movie and see something particularly horrible and I'll have a couple seconds before I'm out. If I see it coming, I can get away and lie down/walk it off/etc, but the problem I'm increasingly facing is that I'm in situations - writing workshops, particularly - where someone will be reading along and drop some bloody scene in there and I'm charging out.

My problem is that I can make that clear going in, but no one seems to actually believe me, or they think the bar is way, way higher than it is. For instance, someone who writes goth horror will warn if there's extended gruesome torture, but a detailed description of a decapitation or two doesn't get them to think of warning me, and... you see where that's going.

On that front, I'm trying to be honest and specific about how bad it is, but what I'd really like to know is -- has anyone found good ways to not drop if a surprise is dropped on you ? Like in the middle of a movie where it's too far to the doors and there's nowhere to lay down?

Mitigation strategies? Anything?

old chicago goth store

ArcAm — Mon, 25 Apr 2005 13:43:02 -0800

In the 90s there was a small store specializing in industrial and goth music a few doors down (east) from the Abbott hotel on Belmont in Chicago. It is no longer there but I don't know when it went out of business. Does anyone remember the name of it?