"Defining an explicit ideology for the gothic subculture is difficult for several reasons. First is the overwhelming importance of mood and aesthetic for those involved. This is, in part, inspired by romanticism and neoromanticism. The allure for goths of dark, mysterious, and morbid imagery and mood lies in the same tradition of Romanticism's gothic novel. During the late 18th and 19th century, feelings of horror, and supernatural dread were widespread motifs in popular literature; The process continues in the modern horror film. Balancing this emphasis on mood and aesthetics, another central element of the gothic is a deliberate sense of camp theatricality and self-dramatization; present both in gothic literature as well as in the gothic subculture itself.

Goths, in terms of their membership in the subculture, are usually not supportive of violence, but rather tolerant. Many in the media have incorrectly associated the Goth subculture with violence, hatred of minorities, and other acts of hate. However, violence and hate do not form elements of goth ideology; rather, the ideology is formed in part by recognition, identification, and grief over societal and personal evils that the mainstream culture wishes to ignore or forget. These are the prevalent themes in goth music.^[8]

The second impediment to explicitly defining a gothic ideology is goth's generally apolitical nature. While individual defiance of social norms was a very risky business in the nineteenth century, today it is far less socially radical. Thus, the significance of goth's subcultural rebellion is limited, and it draws on imagery at the heart of Western culture. Unlike the hippie or punk movements, the goth subculture has no pronounced political messages or cries for social activism. The subculture is marked by its emphasis on individualism, tolerance for diversity, a strong emphasis on creativity, tendency toward intellectualism, and a mild tendency towards cynicism, but even these ideas are not universal to all goths. Goth ideology is based far more on aesthetics and simplified ethics than politics.

Goths may, indeed, have political leanings ranging from left-wing to right-wing, but they do not express them specifically as part of a cultural identity. Instead, political affiliation, like religion, is seen as a matter of personal conscience. Unlike punk, there are few clashes between political affiliation and being "goth". Similarly, there is no common religious tie that binds together the goth movement, though spiritual, supernatural and religious imagery has played a part in gothic fashion, song lyrics and visual art. In particular, aesthetic elements from Catholicism often appear in goth culture. Reasons for donning such imagery range from expression of religious affiliation to satire or simply decorative effect."

I had never given much thought to it, but I kind of like the ideas that: a) goths are apolitical, because quite honestly I could not care less about prescribed political ideologies and b) that there is no specific definition of goth, we just make it up as we go along.  Perhaps this IS the gothic statement; we all create what is individually meaningful to us, and "decorative effect" is as good a reason for doing something as any other.  Fight the power!

The article also talks a bit about the common misconception that goths are violent - although I couldn't think why an all-black costume and studded accessories with skull jewellery could ever give that impression - and the fact that it is often in fact straight people who are violent and prejudiced towards goths.  A UK judge, in his summation of a case, apparently made the following statement:

“This was a hate crime against these completely harmless people targeted because their appearance was different to yours.” He went on to defend the goth community, calling goths “perfectly peaceful, law-abiding people who pose no threat to anybody.”

I thought this was rather beautiful, actually.  All together now:  "Allllllll we are saaaaaaaying, is give goths a chaaaaaance..."

Is there a word to describe having an irrational dislike of Anthony Hopkins?

If you are unfamiliar with classical quotations you will not understand how hilariously witty the title of this post is, but never mind*. The point is that I suddenly have a whole bunch of new black and purple clothes.  Aha!  I say - not because I have been shopping (although...oh, never mind) but because the other day I was thinking about how I wanted some more black gear to wear and it occured to me that some things I already have would be just ideal if they weren't, well, to be perfectly blunt, pink.

Hence.  A couple of environment-withering packets of dye later, here I am.  I'm hoping that the good karma I earn by not buying new clothes will compensate in some degree for all the chemicals I used in the process.

How awesome is that?  I have almost an instant whole new goth wardrobe.

*I considered all the possibilities: "Not Afraid To Dye", "Singing This'll Be The Day That I Dye" "I Was Dyeing For Some New Black Gear" etc but they were all pretty predictable so I thought I'd go for something that almost nobody will understand.  "Alea Jacta Est" is something that Julius Caesar said and means "The Die is Cast".  See, I told you I was hilariously witty.

As you may have gathered, dealing with things – temptation, work stress, conflict, housework – is not my forte.  Usually I get on by avoiding my problems and agreeing with everyone.  Look, I didn’t say I was an effective person.

Be that as it may, just for some variety life has been throwing me some curve balls recently and one of them, yesterday, was a bit of an altercation with someone at work. Here’s the thing: it’s not just that I hate conflict.  It’s the agonising afterwards, the repeated playing back of what happened, who said what to who, and, most of all, how foolish I looked, how embarrassed I am, etc. I honestly have no idea why I do this.  I was a very sad and angry person a lot of the time when I was younger, but not any more.  Perhaps the reason why I react so badly is because these days it takes me by surprise when I clash with someone, and/or it brings up old feelings .

What came to me last night as I prayed for help was the the realisation that I hold onto things too hard.  I worry and worry and worry away at things in the hopes that if I just worry hard enough, I'll be able to fix them.  The point is, it's God’s job to be God, not mine, and trying to wrestle with Him to stay in control (ha!) of everything will a) drive me crazy b) drive everyone else crazy c) get in His way and d) not work.  It would be overly dramatic (and untrue) of me to say that the heavens opened and I saw the light, but it did occur to me that God might be prepared to cut me some slack and, if I remember my Bible correctly, actually take some things off my hands.  Cynics will say that the relief I felt when I asked Him to do so was just a placebo effect but I don't think so, and also I was pretty grateful for any kind of effect at that point, so don't knock it.

Next week: my success (or otherwise) at managing not to try and take back control, through sheer force of habit.  Wish me luck....

When I was at uni one of my friends complained to me that I had a one track mind and all I ever talked about was religion.

These days I have a three-track mind and all I ever talk about is sleep, vampires and drinking.  Okay, maybe four-track; there's jewellery, as well.

Is this a step forward, or a step backwards, do you think?

I don’t really get why people cut themselves. I understand numbness and wanting to feel something – hey, I’m right there ahead of you – but why not just develop a massive crush on the sweet boy at work and suffer the agonies of unrequited affection?

You don’t need to break the skin and all those Evanescence songs will sound so much more profound.