What is Goth? Music, Makeup, Attitude, Apparel, Dance, and General Skullduggery

by Aurelio Voltaire

What Is Goth? is a humorous, self-deprecating look at Goth culture from the inside out. Imagine The Preppy Handbook colliding with Charles Addams. Then add a lot more melancholy and a lot more spooky. What Is Goth? dispels the false stereotypes and reinforces the true ones surrounding Goths and Goth culture. "To the mundane," Voltaire writes, "Goths are weird, black-clad freaks who are obsessed with death; they are sad all of the time. Take a closer look at the Goth scene, however, and you will find a rich tapestry of ideas and practices and a menagerie of colorful characters. Oh, dear. I said 'colorful.'" Yes, Goths are pale, wear black clothing, love black makeup (on men and women), mope, listen to real downer music, and perfect the art of living in a perpetual state of ennui and melancholy. But there's so much more to being Goth. Goths come from all walks of life. Many are teenagers who live with their parents; others are doctors, lawyers, musicians, and so on. Most Goths are highly literate and creative, but all real Goths have to dress the part. In other words, "Abandon all hope ye who enter a Goth club in khakis " Eerily illustrated, What Is Goth? is the perfect book for any Goth, Goth wannabe, or "mundane" who is hopelessly confused by all the gloom.

Genres: Nonfiction, Goth, Humor, Gothic, Music, Art, History

96 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2004

Reviews

[Ashley Osborn - Book Of Salem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely some outdated language, but I love Voltaire and really enjoyed this. But remember, to be a goth, just listen to goth music. End of story.

[Nick Aucoin · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's some comedic-but-mean-spirited things in here, and not all of it feels applicable to modern goth culture/community, but this was a fun little read overall.

[Michelle Morrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun little book, and "insider's" view of what it means to be goth. I really appreciated how the author approached it with good humor and acceptance of anyone who wants to read it. I also really enjoyed his essay on how he became a musician, a writer, an artist in the scene.

Lots of in jokes and insights from someone obviously neck deep in the goth club culture. Totally worth a read.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little gem is surprisingly hard to find in the UK; I believe it's still 'on order' and due in to my bookshop any day now, and have been believing that ever since I placed the order three years ago...

Finally got the book through a different seller, and loved it. I have a strange and minor passion for pocket-sized hardbacks, and a riff on goths as loving and as irreverent as this, with its lovely balance between hilarious and informative, was always going to charm me. I await A. Voltaire's fourteen-volume scholarly history of goth culture, to which this is of course the mere preamble, with bated, husky breath that smells just a little bit like black lipstick.

[Astri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Voltaire, I wish I could personally thank you for taking the piss on a subculture I'm loathe to be considered part of by the majority.

This book is hilarious...and sadly, oh so much of it is true. Check it out.

[Claudia]

i really want this book! i think some people in my class need to read this too ><

[Leann Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this funny, dark, little gem. I have met Voltaire a couple of times before I read the book and it was like I could hear him speaking the words while I was reading

[Caroline · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read my full review here: http://carolinesometimes.blogspot.com...

[Genie C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read, Voltaire’s subtle digs at goth culture and critique of society’s treatment of alternative people were the highlights of this book. The photography was incredible and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about a subculture I hold near and dear to my heart. However, a lot of the terms in this book are out dated and are not considered to be socially acceptable in modern society.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty entertaining

[Agaistin Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was funny lol

[Rai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, engaging, and personal. This book was fun and it truly spoke to my little dark heart to read a book from one of my favorite music artists. Absolutely loved it!!

[Steve Inman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a hilarious poke at the goth community written by Voltaire a gothic comedian. I loved it and thought it was fun.

[Mrs Reddy Katzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun

[Vea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I originally read this book well over a decade ago and had a solid giggle over it all.

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Voltaire’s exploration about the Goth culture is humorous, informative and features more than a few helpful tips. He also manages to find the humor that lies in the dark heart of this oft-misunderstood lifestyle. Voltaire doesn’t feel that being a Goth requires being melancholic or acting like life is one big downer. That makes anybody into a victim and that sort of despairing attitude can’t be pleasant. He writes about his experience as a Goth and how to recognize the various subcultures. The book even contains a couple of poem generators that can be turned into party games. Enjoy with your friends!

Set out in white ink on black paper, What is Goth? is a neat, slim little book, perfect for keeping in your coffin-shaped handbag as a handy explanation for all those people being freaked out at airport security.

[Jenika Ioffreda · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars
I really liked the design of the book but the text wasn't very interesting. A few parts were catching and funny (especially the part asking if Marilyn Manson was goth or not) and the ending sentence "Goth is whatever you want it to be". But the rest was slightly boring for me; the white text on black background looked great to see but difficult to read and this didn't help much in enjoying what was written.
Anyway I still like the universe Voltaire created through music, visuals, videos, comics and books and I want to discover more of his creations.

[Angelica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was hilarious. For those in the goth community who take themselves too seriously, lighten up!!!!!! I found myself saying "oh my god(or goth), thats me!!!!" Or "HAHAHAHA Thats reminds me of....!!!" The satire was interlaced with real bits of info. For anyone wondering "What is Goth?" and a sense a humor, this is for sure a entertaining little read.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I guess it wouldn't be very goth of me to say that I didn't like the black paper...made it a bit hard to read but then again, I wear glasses. Other than that, I really liked this little book. Funny to those of us who can see ourselves or friends in the descriptions. Informative and easy to read for others who are curious or maybe just can't tell the difference between a emo and a goth.

[Bladestryke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! there's a lot of info for such a small book. funny, intelligent, witty and dare I say colorful! as a baby bat myself I could appreciate the humor and hope some mundanes picks up this book and learn that there is so much more to those dark clad folk in the shopping line in front of you!

[Laura Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

All in all a cute guide to the goth subculture and gives nice background on the movement as a whole. It seems to be a slightly dated look at goth, but it gives a glimpse into the community and I really appreciated that. It also seems to be a bit surface-level and overall just a quick guide about the first steps one can take into the goth subculture and what you might expect from that.

[Floydsalerno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got to laugh at your self! If you ever wore all black, listened to Bauhaus and smilled, this is the book for you. Learn how to dance like a goth, dress like a goth, and create a goth name for your self, hysterical!!!!!!

[Miki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but sweet, and really quite funny. Both informative and self-deprecating, I suspect it's just as enjoyable whether the commentary applies to you specifically or not.

And yes, it seems I'm an Ethergoth.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious! Better than a goth monkey in a leather banana factory!

[Zombaby Cera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something for everyone: informative to people outside the scene, yet humorous and satirical to those of gothic nature.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decently amusing book on the subculture. It actually gave me my first instructions on how to apply gothic makeup.

[Morgue Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 18/150

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, fast and very funny look at the Goth counter-culture. If you've ever been, known, or wanted to be a Goth, this is your primer.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilariously funny!!!

[Viktor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goth is when someone dies and you like the grave better than the person they were while alive.

Good book.