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Goth: The Design, Art and Fashion of a Dark Subculture
A visually compelling look at one of the most popular and compelling styles in art, fashion, and literature: the Gothic
Goth-inspired chic is very much a part of contemporary culture—especially for a cool young tribe with a penchant for black. But it also has a long history stretching over centuries, becoming a distinctive narrative form that encompasses everything from art and architecture to literature, fashion, film, television, digital media, graphic novels, and music. Marvelously adaptable, the gothic aesthetic has proven fertile ground for endless imaginative reinvention, and this collection provides the first fully illustrated introduction to every aspect of the phenomenon—one that is truly without boundaries and ever-evolving.
New paperback edition of Gothic.
Goth-inspired chic is very much a part of contemporary culture—especially for a cool young tribe with a penchant for black. But it also has a long history stretching over centuries, becoming a distinctive narrative form that encompasses everything from art and architecture to literature, fashion, film, television, digital media, graphic novels, and music. Marvelously adaptable, the gothic aesthetic has proven fertile ground for endless imaginative reinvention, and this collection provides the first fully illustrated introduction to every aspect of the phenomenon—one that is truly without boundaries and ever-evolving.
New paperback edition of Gothic.
- GenresNonfictionGothGothic
224 pages, Paperback
Published May 2, 2017
2 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
Chris Roberts
20 books1 followerLibrarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Chris Roberts lives in West London. He has written about music, films and books for innumerable publications and websites and interviewed everyone from David Bowie to Janet Jackson. He was the editor of Idle Worship, hailed in the New York Times as ‘the most original book about rock ‘n’ roll ever’, and edited Blondie's Panic of Girls magazine at the band's request.
Often appearing on TV and radio, he has also published books on Kate Moss, Lou Reed, Michael Jackson, Tom Jones, Abba, Talk Talk, Scarlett Johansson, Pharrell Williams, the Gothic arts and many others.
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Chris Roberts lives in West London. He has written about music, films and books for innumerable publications and websites and interviewed everyone from David Bowie to Janet Jackson. He was the editor of Idle Worship, hailed in the New York Times as ‘the most original book about rock ‘n’ roll ever’, and edited Blondie's Panic of Girls magazine at the band's request.
Often appearing on TV and radio, he has also published books on Kate Moss, Lou Reed, Michael Jackson, Tom Jones, Abba, Talk Talk, Scarlett Johansson, Pharrell Williams, the Gothic arts and many others.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 9, 2018
Thumbs up for trying to tackle such a widely set theme but unfortunately the final result is a bit jarring. What I miss the most is setting concrete definitions. You cannot throw Castle of Otronto and The Shining, Psycho and Twilight, The Doors, Bauhaus and My Bloody Valentine in the same category, call it all goth(ic) and leave it there. Also horror doesn't equal gothic. The main problem I see here is too wide of an area they were trying to cover. The pictures are nice though.
November 4, 2019
For a book on the goth subculture I would consider this a stretch. There are three authors and each seem to fail to really understand this unique and beautiful subculture and consider anything termed gothic or dark as a part of this group.
The first author wrote about gothic architecture and art. Besides the term gothic this form of architecture has no real link to the goth subculture though they probably agree with many others that gothic architecture can be beautiful. The chapter on art focused a lot on religious art and not on all the amazing artists and artwork out there who do create gothic and dark art.
The second author wrote about fiction, film, and music. He played it safe by sticking to popular and well-known information. For fiction he discusses with a few mistakes the early gothic novels that built the foundation for today's horror genre and writers. Sticking to popular he discusses Shelly, Poe, Lovecraft, and of course King. For films he chose the popular old horror films and the newer ones as well. Not every dark person or goth reads and watches horror but they do embrace elements of that subculture so no real complaints. If you think of music for the dark subculture you probably think rock which means you probably thought of Marilyn Manson. I mean they had to add him or it wouldn't be goth right? Again I do not agree with all his choices but he does include many older goth bands which I applaud.
The last artist wrote about fashion and again it's hit and miss. Because it's black and different doesn't make it goth especially if it's strutting down a runaway and looks like an alien from a bad sci-fi film.
Everybody is different which makes each subculture different just like each person. Not every goth listens to goth or rock, watch horror movies, or read horror novels. This book is not about the subculture per say it's about the elements and stereotypes that society uses to try and define the darker aspects of our society.
The first author wrote about gothic architecture and art. Besides the term gothic this form of architecture has no real link to the goth subculture though they probably agree with many others that gothic architecture can be beautiful. The chapter on art focused a lot on religious art and not on all the amazing artists and artwork out there who do create gothic and dark art.
The second author wrote about fiction, film, and music. He played it safe by sticking to popular and well-known information. For fiction he discusses with a few mistakes the early gothic novels that built the foundation for today's horror genre and writers. Sticking to popular he discusses Shelly, Poe, Lovecraft, and of course King. For films he chose the popular old horror films and the newer ones as well. Not every dark person or goth reads and watches horror but they do embrace elements of that subculture so no real complaints. If you think of music for the dark subculture you probably think rock which means you probably thought of Marilyn Manson. I mean they had to add him or it wouldn't be goth right? Again I do not agree with all his choices but he does include many older goth bands which I applaud.
The last artist wrote about fashion and again it's hit and miss. Because it's black and different doesn't make it goth especially if it's strutting down a runaway and looks like an alien from a bad sci-fi film.
Everybody is different which makes each subculture different just like each person. Not every goth listens to goth or rock, watch horror movies, or read horror novels. This book is not about the subculture per say it's about the elements and stereotypes that society uses to try and define the darker aspects of our society.
May 28, 2020
Pentru o carte cu poze, merge. dar e cam inegala si capitolele is disproportionate plus ca nu le leaga vreun fir, vreun argument ceva. Ce legatura e intre catedralele goth si geisha goth de cosplay cu care se incheie cartea? Pe muzica e scris decent da is incurcate multe ite. Pus laolalta zone de postpunk cu metale si witch house ca fiind toate goth. Pana si Editors si Interpol is tot ”goth revival” pentru autori (ceea ce-i o gluma, desigur). In plus nimic despre partea de electronica, e o gramada goth in techono, in dark wave, noise, industrial. Nu, pentru cei care au scris muzica se opreste la Joy Division. Patzashti
3,5
3,5
December 30, 2017
Well written, thoroughly documented, lavishly illustrated. A collector's item.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews