London's Goth Culture Resurrects, Embracing the Present and the Past

2023-11-09 08:42:03

How London’s Goth Culture is Rising From the Grave

‘Goth is always a symptom of hard times. Rising nationalism, the cost-of-living crisis, the pandemic… youth culture is rising again, because it’s a rebellion to find joy and beauty in darkness.’

According to Parma Ham, a goth artist and DJ, the goth culture is experiencing a resurgence as young people rebel against a sanitised cultural landscape. This rebellion is evident in the popularity of Jenna Ortega’s viral goth dance in Netflix’s Addams Family remake, where TikTokers mimicked her death stare and flailing limbs.

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This year, there has been a surge in the publication of books on goth culture, such as John Robb’s ‘The Art of Darkness’ and Lol Tolhurst’s ‘Goth: A History’. These books explore the roots of goth culture in punk music of the late 1970s, a response to Margaret Thatcher’s rise to power.

In 2023, London's goth scene believes that goth can be resurrected with the new generation finding innovative ways to keep the 50-year-old subculture alive. The scene has shifted from the iconic Camden to one-off nights at clubs like FOLD, Colour Factory, and Electrowerkz.

A Potent Rebellion

For Parma Ham, the goth culture represents a rebellion against a society trying to suppress creativity and transgression. With a home in a haunted flat in Soho, they create disturbing sculptures from silicone and household objects, blurring the line between art and horror.

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London's goths, like Ham and their housemate Dahc Dermur VIII, prepare themselves with elaborate costumes before venturing out into the night. Goth, for them, is not just a costume but a way of life, a means of finding authenticity and truth.

It’s about finding your truth, finding your voice.

Dermur, a goth for over three decades, sees goth as a way of reckoning with his past and providing support to others struggling with their own journeys. Goth, for him, is intense, yet full of love, joy, and a strong sense of community.

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Putrescent Sounds

While traditional goth clubs had a predictable soundtrack, the current goth scene is breaking boundaries and exploring new sonic horizons. DJ Cosmic Caz, a self-described cyber goth, believes that spooky techno is becoming the future of goth music, with its experimental and futuristic sounds.

Cosmic Caz's Filipino heritage, once a rarity in the predominantly white scene, is now starting to be represented and celebrated. They embrace the use of technology to push the boundaries of gothic aesthetics, donning intricate 3D-printed corsets and jewelry. Their techno-inspired sounds have gained popularity not only in London but also in goth scenes in Japan and Korea.

However, there is some resistance to the evolving sound of goth. Traditional goth events, like Whitby Goth Weekend, still focus on 1980s-inspired sounds, while some goths remain attached to the music of the past. Ham believes that goth should continue to evolve and upset the elders.

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A Dark Lineage

Goth culture faces a paradox in the modern age. While it is easier than ever to access goth culture online, there are fewer physical spaces where people can fully immerse themselves in the gothic subculture. The rise of social conservatism also leads to censorship and limitations on transgressive content.

Despite these challenges, goth culture continues to transform and evolve. Younger generations, like singer-songwriter Freya Beer, have discovered goth culture online and embraced it as a place of musical and creative freedom. The internet has allowed goth culture to reach places like Mexico City and São Paulo, where access to the scene was previously limited.

While goth culture may have lost some of its underground roots, it is still alive and thriving. The internet may have homogenized goth culture to some extent, but it has also broken down barriers between scenes and allowed for cross-cultural exchange.

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Final considerations, goth culture in London and around the world is experiencing a renaissance, fueled by a desire to rebel against mainstream culture and find authenticity in darkness. It continues to evolve and adapt, embracing new sounds and aesthetics while staying true to its core principles.

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