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QUIZ: Which type of goth are you really the most like?

Raven, The Acid Bath Princess Of The Darkness has reemerged, and that means it’s high time to spotlight goth culture. Though our favorite mall goth turned out to be a (genius) troll, she did teach us one thing: Gatekeeping is laughable.

As subcultures tend to do, Gothicism has evolved dynamically over the years. Today, there’s a noted variety of different styles and trends accepted within the movement. To this point, “conforming” to a less-traditional goth aesthetic is hardly required to be part of the community.

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Still, we can’t resist classifying ourselves, can we? So let’s make it easy. Take the personality quiz below to find out which type of goth you best align with.

More on goth culture

It’s easy to mistake goth culture for a simple inclination toward the color black. However, the modern movement extends far beyond it’s tell-tale dark aesthetic. In fact, it exists within a rather significant historical context.

Gothicism in the traditional sense arose from literary trends of the 18th and 19th centuries. Generally, the “Gothic” genre incorporates macabre themes and an emphasis on the inherent beauty of darkness. The term references an early German tribe, who received particular interest due to their barbaric culture and distinct influence on medieval architecture and art.

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The “goth” subculture as we’ve come to know it, though, has its foundations set in the music trends of the 1980s. Progressing from the post-punk genre, goth rock put a melancholic twist on heavy rock and is best exemplified by bands such as the Cure and Joy Division.

Along with the musical development, of course, came a countercultural movement. The associated aesthetic incorporated dark, often Victorian-reminiscent clothing as well as heavy makeup. Similar to its literary forebearer, the cornerstone of the modern gothic mindset was a marked appreciation of dismality.

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Today, the culture has evolved considerably. Gothicism received a significant boost with the explosion of alternative music throughout the ’90s and 2000s. As bands such as AFI and Evanescence took center stage, fans began to adopt similar aesthetics and outlooks.

Going forward, it became increasingly easy to participate in the gothic community. The rise of social media platforms, for example, allowed members to seek inspiration and engage with like-minded individuals. In addition, online shopping enabled aspiring goths to buy suitable items from around the world.

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As a result of accessibility, though, came accelerated progression. In the past few decades especially, the culture has branched off into a number of particularly defined subsets. Unsurprisingly, discourse still exists over which of these are deserving of the “goth” classification. However, the generally accepted definition seems to have broadened significantly.

Which goth variety does your personality best align with? Let us know in the comments!