When did Goth and Metal split-up?
It’s a packed train carriage and I squeeze myself next to this heavy-set Goth guy.
This guy has gone all out today and it’s only 10 a.m. He’s wearing a black pin strip suit, leather wristbands and chunky silver bracelets. Goth guy has his hair bleached orange (It’s in between peroxide white and sunburnt Lohan colour) and it’s gelled into the best Mohawk I’ve seen in a while.
He doesn’t smile and has a distinct “Fuck off” attitude. Ah, to be Goth again. I give him the biggest, widest smile possible. Who would have thought five years ago people were calling me Ms. Anthropy.
It was an hour long ride and halfway through, my book wasn’t getting any more interesting. I asked Goth guy if he listens to metal.
He says “No. R&B.”
I say “But you’re wearing all black and your hair…” gesturing to his looming gel-frozen Mohawk locks.
“Yeah” he replies “I just like fashion, but I have a friend who listens to Bullet for my Valentine.”
Internally I’m screaming “what the fuck!?!” but on the outside I’m calm and placid “Oh ok, I wasn’t aware it had changed to a fashion statement.”
What more could I say? It was like asking a friend how her boyfriend is, not realising they just had a nasty break-up that involved three girls, one guy, a toaster and a donkey.
I thought heavy metal and Goth went hand in hand, just like long-haired men = metal. But no. Suddenly Goth and metal is reduced to fashion. I don’t know how to handle it.
How are you supposed to tell?
My sister wears my metal shirts out in public and gets comments on them. She hasn’t got a clue about the genre and normally attributes the reference to me. Would I get irritated if I took the effort to say I like the band only to get rebutted? Of course. It’s rare enough that someone else appreciates said band, we don’t need impostors.
She claims the large metal shirts (small female sizes, keep dreaming) are comfortable. Isn’t that a justifiable excuse to wear the clothes?
The issue of poser versus true fan becomes blurred when you personify the themes. It’s a moral dilemma because I like my sister and I don’t like the train-riding Goth guy.
I’m sure he has a sister or brother that likes him. They might even let him borrow their clothes.
In the meantime, I’m going to be a walking contradiction; judging those I don’t know and excusing those I do.
This guy has gone all out today and it’s only 10 a.m. He’s wearing a black pin strip suit, leather wristbands and chunky silver bracelets. Goth guy has his hair bleached orange (It’s in between peroxide white and sunburnt Lohan colour) and it’s gelled into the best Mohawk I’ve seen in a while.
He doesn’t smile and has a distinct “Fuck off” attitude. Ah, to be Goth again. I give him the biggest, widest smile possible. Who would have thought five years ago people were calling me Ms. Anthropy.
He says “No. R&B.”
I say “But you’re wearing all black and your hair…” gesturing to his looming gel-frozen Mohawk locks.
“Yeah” he replies “I just like fashion, but I have a friend who listens to Bullet for my Valentine.”
Los Angeles Fashion Week models
Internally I’m screaming “what the fuck!?!” but on the outside I’m calm and placid “Oh ok, I wasn’t aware it had changed to a fashion statement.”
What more could I say? It was like asking a friend how her boyfriend is, not realising they just had a nasty break-up that involved three girls, one guy, a toaster and a donkey.
I thought heavy metal and Goth went hand in hand, just like long-haired men = metal. But no. Suddenly Goth and metal is reduced to fashion. I don’t know how to handle it.
How are you supposed to tell?
My sister wears my metal shirts out in public and gets comments on them. She hasn’t got a clue about the genre and normally attributes the reference to me. Would I get irritated if I took the effort to say I like the band only to get rebutted? Of course. It’s rare enough that someone else appreciates said band, we don’t need impostors.
She claims the large metal shirts (small female sizes, keep dreaming) are comfortable. Isn’t that a justifiable excuse to wear the clothes?
The issue of poser versus true fan becomes blurred when you personify the themes. It’s a moral dilemma because I like my sister and I don’t like the train-riding Goth guy.
I’m sure he has a sister or brother that likes him. They might even let him borrow their clothes.
In the meantime, I’m going to be a walking contradiction; judging those I don’t know and excusing those I do.
