Ive been pretty big into the Punk scene but now, Im an overworked corporate slave who works third shift at a shipyard... I simply aint got time. I havent been to a single show in over 6 months. I hvent even styled up my mohawk in at least 3, if not more, because I wear a hardhat all night. Thinking of finally getting rid of it. It sucks.
And I think that makes me no longer Punk, sadly. It revoked my card. Do I like the music still? Yeah. Do I still have my battlejacket in my closet? Of course. But now its a relic of a bygone era. I been domesticated. But I also think people gatekeep a little too much, and luckily the scene I was apart of on the East Coast was actually fairly accepting. Old school hardcore rubbed shoulders with genderqueer baby punks that dont even mosh. Ive been to shows where people are throwing elbows like the pit is a brawl, and Ive been to shows where people only death spiral and barely touch one another. Shows where someone is openly doing meth, and shows I saw people bringing their kids. (Sidenote, I WISH I was as cool as some of these kids. Saw one kid at Punksylvania several years back with a rad hawk, skateboarding around the fest, taking part at the graffiti wall, and him and his friends were always in the pit, who were chill around these kids without being too protective that its boring.)
My point is, I agree that some level of gatekeeping is required, but I also think that as a fringe subculture based around the free expression of the outcasts of society, its important we let even the more "normal" folks express themselves. Because while it may start as a poser weekend warrior whos just here to see a mainstream band they like, they may wind up further into the culture as we accept them. Some gatekeeping is required though, as otherwise we just become a costume. A character to cosplay as without any real substance.
Its obvious to me that both Goths in this clip are shit. The Influencer is obviously just there for the aesthetic, even stating she doesnt have time to dress like a clown every day or trying to insult the "Real" Goth by insinuating she finds her hot. Its all about looks for her. But the "Real" Goth is also probably one of those shit subculture warriors that spend way too much time on Reddit/Online arguing about who is "True" Goth, and not enough time at actual shows/gatherings to realize that there is quite the spectrum. Some of my greatest memories are of me and 2 friends driving for hours with our heads cocked to the side so our spikes fit in the car, while jamming out to white girl pop music like Kesha. If a Goth said MCR got them into the scene, who am I to judge?
Sorry I rambled a lot. Went from complaining that the "Real" Goth argues on Reddit too much, to me arguing on Reddit with a long ass comment lol.
I think generally we have to be careful gatekeeping any subculture and make sure we are maintaining the line of protecting the culture/group while not discouraging people who are exploring what fits for them and also realize people are complex and can have many disperse and sometimes contradictory interests.
As one who's always been a metalhead and also involved with my local punk scene, I think the lack of gatekeeping some places has kinda watered down many subcultures so much so that what made them more than just the aesthetics and music is effectively gone many places. This old punk (Lamplorde) hits it really well, and gets it.
I see gatekeeping as a form of necessity but if it's too hardlined then it can become too much of a closed club.
Honestly, as a punk and metal head myself, it is a mindset as well. And you're right, neither one of the goths in this video seem authentic.
That being said, you may feel like you are a corperate slave.... I feel ya... I've been running construction crews for 20 years now. It is basically all I do anymore.
...but clearly you still have the punk mindset, society hasn't domesticated that out of you. And I think that is the important part. Keep it up, dude!
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u/Lamplorde 12d ago edited 12d ago
Ive been pretty big into the Punk scene but now, Im an overworked corporate slave who works third shift at a shipyard... I simply aint got time. I havent been to a single show in over 6 months. I hvent even styled up my mohawk in at least 3, if not more, because I wear a hardhat all night. Thinking of finally getting rid of it. It sucks.
And I think that makes me no longer Punk, sadly. It revoked my card. Do I like the music still? Yeah. Do I still have my battlejacket in my closet? Of course. But now its a relic of a bygone era. I been domesticated. But I also think people gatekeep a little too much, and luckily the scene I was apart of on the East Coast was actually fairly accepting. Old school hardcore rubbed shoulders with genderqueer baby punks that dont even mosh. Ive been to shows where people are throwing elbows like the pit is a brawl, and Ive been to shows where people only death spiral and barely touch one another. Shows where someone is openly doing meth, and shows I saw people bringing their kids. (Sidenote, I WISH I was as cool as some of these kids. Saw one kid at Punksylvania several years back with a rad hawk, skateboarding around the fest, taking part at the graffiti wall, and him and his friends were always in the pit, who were chill around these kids without being too protective that its boring.)
My point is, I agree that some level of gatekeeping is required, but I also think that as a fringe subculture based around the free expression of the outcasts of society, its important we let even the more "normal" folks express themselves. Because while it may start as a poser weekend warrior whos just here to see a mainstream band they like, they may wind up further into the culture as we accept them. Some gatekeeping is required though, as otherwise we just become a costume. A character to cosplay as without any real substance.
Its obvious to me that both Goths in this clip are shit. The Influencer is obviously just there for the aesthetic, even stating she doesnt have time to dress like a clown every day or trying to insult the "Real" Goth by insinuating she finds her hot. Its all about looks for her. But the "Real" Goth is also probably one of those shit subculture warriors that spend way too much time on Reddit/Online arguing about who is "True" Goth, and not enough time at actual shows/gatherings to realize that there is quite the spectrum. Some of my greatest memories are of me and 2 friends driving for hours with our heads cocked to the side so our spikes fit in the car, while jamming out to white girl pop music like Kesha. If a Goth said MCR got them into the scene, who am I to judge?
Sorry I rambled a lot. Went from complaining that the "Real" Goth argues on Reddit too much, to me arguing on Reddit with a long ass comment lol.