The Art of Gothic: Music + Fashion + Alt Culture

by Natasha Scharf

The gothic look head-to-toe black attire and extreme makeup has been a popular one since the 1980s, with each generation reinterpreting this dark aesthetic as its own. From the staccato postpunk of Siouxsie and the Banshees and the dark rock of the Sisters of Mercy through to the industrial metal of Marilyn Manson and the funereal emotional pop of My Chemical Romance, gothic culture has strong roots in music and continues to adapt and survive. But gothic art is about more than just album covers and ephemera; it's about fashion, book jackets, cinematography, and fine art. Its influence frequently seeps into mainstream culture too. Nowadays, "goth" comes in many shapes, sizes, and even colors, as it encompasses a myriad of subgenres, including cyber, death rock, gothic metal, gothic Lolita, and emo goths. Although each is different, followers are identified by their striking, often theatrical look, music with a hint of melancholy, and the ability to find beauty in morbidity, sometimes even in the macabre. The Art of Gothic is the first heavily illustrated tome to explore the aesthetics of this fascinating style in great detail. Previous books on goth have given a bold overview of the music and culture associated with the genre, but this book goes deeper and hones in on the album art, intricate fashions, fantasy illustrations, and more.

Genres: Nonfiction, Goth, Fashion, Music, Gothic, Art

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 31, 2014

About the author

Author, broadcaster, DJ and music journalist, Natasha Scharf has written for UK magazines including Prog, Metal Hammer, Classic Rock and Terrorizer as well as appeared on national television and co-produced a documentary for BBC Radio 1. She was also the founding editor of meltdown, the UK's biggest-selling magazine for goths.

Natasha's first book 'Worldwide Gothic' was published by Independent Music Press in 2011. It was translated into Czech in 2012. Her second, 'The Art of Gothic' was published by Omnibus Press in the UK and Backbeat Books in North America in 2014.

Reviews

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliantly informative. Being in the lifestyle since I was 9yrs old, I was surprised at how little I know about this sub-culture, until I read this book.

[Susannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a secret fan of Goth, I enjoyed this overview of the look and the movement. There are seven chapters, each covering a different aspect of Goth culture: Classic Goth, Dark Fantasy, Futuristic, Sinister, Dark Japanese Style, Melodrama, Modern Gothic.
Apparently Goth has its origins in the post punk music scene in the early 80s, with bands such as Sisters of Mercy and The Cure. So a lot of coverage is given in the book to the inspiration, and artists, behind a lot of Goth band's artwork. Although there are profiles of non-musicians, such as filmmaker Tim Burton, and the creators of the characters Lenore, and Emily the Strange, by Roman Dirge, and Rob Reger, respectively, among others.
An interesting history, and general overview, of the Gothic movement, filled with gorgeous photographs.

[Blue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read it cover to cover and enjoyed every bit of it. I found so many amazing bands and feel like I have foundational understanding of the history of goth. I recommend if you want to learn more about the gothic artists and creators who made the genre, dating all the way back to the 70s, and continuing to the early 2010s.

[Nina Misson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well researched, nicely written and most of all extensively illustrated.

[Maven Witch · Rating 5 out of 5]

So incredible that a book dedicated to the gothic style exists, and so informative, rounded, and in depth. The artwork is beautiful and it’s exciting to learn about the thoughts and imagination behind some of these classic album covers.

[Traci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gorgeous photos, quite a bit of information about the Goth movement and all its various subsets. Starting skimming by the end of the book, though, as it gave info on a lot of stuff I'm not familiar with, such as the Japanese lolita trend. Also talked a lot about steampunk, which I'm not a huge fan of.
Oh well.

Still worth picking up, flipping through.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quality and unique insights and research on the goth aesthetic. The Art of Gothic paints a beautiful picture; piecing together the puzzle of a captivating aesthetic in a masterful way. Read my full review in the Dec/Jan 14/15 Issue of Auxiliary Magazine.

[Metalpig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice visual history of the goth (and affiliated) subcultures. The photo and graphic selections seemed thoughtful and representative. I also found the commentary informative. Divided by subgenre/era including post-punk, industrial, steampunk, and visual kei. Lots of inspiration!

[Morpho · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most thorough deep dive into a world I call my own. Covers every aspect of goth gracefully and with great big, high resolution images. Easy for anyone to get an enjoyable taste of what it's like living within the Gothic subculture and all its various realms.