Popular Culture Review Vol. 16, No. 1, Spring 2005 | Page 96

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Popular Culture Review
In Photo 4, the subject epitomizes the classic look of a “Goth Chick”
(the self-selected moniker). Her hair is straight, raven black. She wears black
lace, silver jewelry, and her make-up is darkly accented. She appears sullen. The
bright, light colors worn by the woman in Photo 5 sharply contrast with those in
Photo 4. Color is more common among Industrial adherents, and in fact this
woman dances primarily in the front room. Her posture is open, seductive, and
less restrained than that of the Goth Chick.
As Goth Chicks, are part of the culture, so is the “Goth Dandy.” The
Goth Dandy takes great care in establishing his look (Dandies are primarily
males, although not all male Goths are Dandies). Photo 3 provides an example
of this look. Tuxedo shirt, smoking jacket, skull-capped walking stick, top hat,
and white gloves “dandify” this club peep. In addition, he holds a fruity-drink,
wears red lipstick, and eyebrow pencil. His costume, props, and the studied
manner of his pose present a feminine quality. This is quite different than the
Industrial in Photo 6. A black leather jacket compliments the rugged, factory
look of the peep. He exudes masculinity as emphasized by the goggles atop his
head. On the forum, peeps were asked the meaning of goggles.
Goggles are generally a fashion choice. The also serve to keep the hair
out of one’s eyes when stomping. Differences were expressed on the genesis of
the headgear. Some viewed goggles as developing out of the “rave” scene, while
others attributed them to the influence of “anime” (a type of cartoon animation
originating in Japan whose characters wear them on their heads). Most agreed
they were representative of a post-apocalyptic wasteland (think the 1979 film
Mad Max). This was articulated by one peep when she wrote, “They’re to keep
that pesky nuclear fall-out from getting in your pretty little peepers.” Strict
standards existed for types of goggles and how they were to be worn. A
“Newbie” (a peep new to the scene) who violated these expectations was subject
to ridicule. Only welding goggles were acceptable. One peep wrote, “If I see
anyone wearing swimming goggles, I’m going to rip them off their Newbie
head!” Although goggles are designed for eye protection, this is not how they
are to be used at the club; they were to be propped up on the head or hung
around the neck (see Photos 7 and 8, respectively).
Photo 8, like Photo 4, captures the Goth Chick style. However, the look
is more vampire-like, and burgundy (a popular Goth color) is present in both
women’s hair and the boa one of them wears. The averted eyes contrast with the
full frontal smiles of the Industrial peeps in Photo 7. In addition, the bright blond
colored hair of the woman peep is more common to Industrials than Goths. The
male peep bears evidence of energetic stomping as seen in the perspiration that
covers his body whilst the ubiquitous goggles hang around his neck. The woman
in Photo 1 is not stomping, but skulking, the dance style consistent with her
choice of wardrobe (i.e., Gothic). She ethereally flows whereas the Rivetheads
in Photo 2 are in full stomp mode: geometric, aggressive, and pounding.