UPWARDLY GOTHIC

Hi David,
Charlotte from London checking in, I was reading the articles on Goths and self-injurious behavior—found them very interesting. But towards the end someone said they wanted to find a study that said more positive things.

Well one has just been published in Great Britain. This is a link to a BBC article about the study—but The Independent Online had a much better one—which was less patronizing and had a bit more about the study. If you search on The Independent (UK Paper) and also The Guardian for Goth Study it should be in the archives. Both UK sites so .co.uk. Click here for the BBC News link.

Basically, the study concluded that far from strange, goths are likely to be the futures lawyers, doctors and generally good citizens. We tend to be well-read, well-versed in art and literature and politics, etc.

I am at college studying Theology and one of my lecturers (a RC Priest) came up and told me he was expecting great things from me since he'd read the article. I told him they didn't say goths were future theologians and he said, “oh well I shall write and correct them.” It instigated a number of discussions with him about the nature of church and mission in youth subcultures.

So some people are recognizing the good, thought you'd like to know.

Many blessings,
Charlotte

Charlotte,
Thank you so much for writing and for drawing my attention to this article. I would really like to feature this information in an upcoming newsletter. With your permission, I would also like to feature some of the comments you made in this message. I am a seminary graduate. I have an M. Div and an MS in education. Goths are some of the best read and most articulate people I know. I thought it was our little secret, maybe not.

Thank you so much,
David

Upwardly Gothic

By Denise Winterman
BBC News Magazine

Goths are likely to grow up to be doctors, lawyers or architects, the study by Sussex University says.

They are refined and sensitive, keen on poetry and books, not big on drugs or anti-social behavior. They are also likely to carry on being goths into their adult life. They have an ability to express their feelings and are believers in romance rather than one-night stands, it says. In fact, the only things dark about them are their clothing and their sarcastic sense of humor.

"There are some things that I do recognize in this research, goths can be sensitive and aren't usually violent, but at the end of the day I think such things depend on the person, not the way they choose to dress." – Mia Joseph, 40, has been a goth since her early teens and says it is a way of life for her now. She runs a market stall specializing in gothic wear, leather and PVC.

Vicky, London
I tend to agree with this column, Most of "us" have jobs and we mostly work in high-tech where it’s not what you look like, but can you do the job! Yeah the older ones look at the newbies with pride because they tend turn out ok.

Bill, San Jose Ca. USA
I've been a goth for well over ten years now; it's a big part of my identity. I'm currently a PhD student researching Chemistry, and although it may surprise some people, I'm not even the only goth in my lab. It's good to see that someone is attempting to shake off the bad image we goths sometimes get.

Mic Docherty, Cairo Egypt
I am a 40-something Goth (and have been since my late teens), so is my teenager daughter and my 20-something partner. I would say it’s definitely a way of life for a me but although I am educated to degree level, I wouldn't say I have particularly middle-class values. I foresee being a 'Goth' until the day I die as it is a part of who I am rather than just a fashion trend or a phase I am going through.