Customer Reviews

Goth Chic: A Connoisseur's Guide to Dark Culture

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The title is a bit of a misnomer. This is not, per se, a book about Goth. It certainly doesn't touch very much on "Goth Chic". The alternate title is more revealing: "A Connoisseur's Guide to Dark Culture", and it's THIS that you should keep in mind.

The author makes it known from the beginning that Goth is a very difficult thing to nail down. Is it Specimen/Batcave Bauhaus/art-rock Sisters Of Mercy/dark rock subculture? An extension of punk? Where do Industrial crossovers and bands like Dead Can Dance fit in? So he decides to roll the dice and talk about as much that has been touched by a "Gothic" aesthetic as possible, and that includes black metal (Cradle of Filth), industrial (Nine Inch Nails), and some silly Spanish band called Gothic Sex whose lead singer you have to see to believe. There's also quite a bit of backstory, so you get details about Byron, Baudelaire, expressionist horror film, EC comics, etc.

Therefore, the book doesn't just talk about Goth (however you interpret it - you being a Bauhaus purist, or Sunshine Blind fan) - it also talks about Black Metal, Death Rock, Horror Films, EC Comics, BDSM, vampire wannabees, etc. and in true liberal arts fashion traces the undercurrents, commonalities, and divergences that separate the different threads that have descended from the Byrons, Baudelaires, Decadents and Romantics that got the dark ball rolling in the first place(so for those of you thinking "Goth" started with Marilyn Manson, you're wrong on two counts... the first being what I just mentioned, the second being that Marilyn Manson is NOT Goth but a HEAVY METAL ARTIST and ALICE COOPER RIPOFF and thankfully, this book gets that right.)

Looking for info just on Goth? Well, it's there but it's scattered around a lot and mixed in with info about a lot of other similar subcultures. That having been said, though, I did learn quite a few things reading the book, and it was worth the read (for example, colour me stupid, but I had no idea it was Peter Murphy in that "blown away" Maxell ad in the 80s)

I'm surprised at the fact that even when non-Goth stuff gets mentioned (e.g. black metal, BDSM or those silly LARPer people dancing around in glow in the dark fangs "oo! oo! What clan are you?") the guy has a clue enough to mention that it isn't Goth.

This isn't the definitive guide to Goth. I don't think that's been written. It IS worth the read, so if you come across it, give it a look.

First off, this is not a primer on how to be goth- it's a description of what goth is and how it got to be that way.
I would recommend this book strongly to goths who want to know more about the origins and history of their subculture, and to discover some cinematic, musical, and literary treasures that they may not have encountered before. It could also be useful to an outsider who is curious about the subculture. It doesn't try to prettify things, or pull any punches, but it is also refreshingly free of sensationalism or demonization. The result is a reasonably unbiased picture.
This book contains a lot of fascinating information about the origins of the goth aesthetic, it's relationship to punk, literary sources, ties to the fetish scene, etc. It also contains profiles of some important bands and literary figures.
However, not too much time is spent on any one profile/overview- if you want in depth, detailed information, look elsewhere. It's better for figuring out what you want to research or go find for yourself. It also doesn't get much into the psychology or sociology of goth culture. This is a fairly light non-academic read. It also contains a number of black and white photos, some of which are very nice eye candy.

Finally somebody who actually knows what he's talking about. GB obviously walks the walk, and his passion for the subject has enabled him to write a virtually flawless meisterwerk, which should become the standard Goth reference book.

This is a first class piece of research, and while I am primarily interested in the musical side of Goth, it was also fascinating to read Gavin's insights into Gothic influences in art, theatre and film.

This is so comprehensive that few people should be able to say, "Oi, you forgot to mention..." The Hunger? It's in here. Bauhaus? Yep, a no-brainer. Gavin encompasses even fringe bands and artists, such as camp Cabaret-style vamps such as Marc Almond, punkish Adam Ant (pre and post transition to the Dandy Highwayman) and The Cure, who in my opinion mainly qualify because of Robert's time with Siouxsie. At the other end of Fringe, GB also includes Black Metal/Goth band Cradle Of Filth, whose Her Ghost In The Fog video is a must-see.

This modern Goth/Pop Culture classic mentions literally all of my favourite bands, ranging from Bauhaus and Type O Negative, to more melodic Goth acts such as The Mission (UK), Switchblade Symphony (you HAVE to hear Serpentine Gallery), the impossibly beautiful Katharine Blake's Miranda Sex Garden and The Shroud.

This masterpiece is also packed with excellent photographs, many of which I have never seen before. I simply cannot fault it.

I found this book to be highly educational on the origins of the term gothic and the sources of inspiration for today's goth culture. The author explores the early influences of horror and fetish as topics in gothic literature, film and music. To grasp the term gothic you have to accept that it encompasses a wide variety of influences and interests. Baddeley approachs his subject with an open mind and rarely leads the reader astray.

I found it amusing and enlightening that so many writers and musicians interviewed in this book who are labeled gothic reject the label; bad news for them, the instinct of the genuine goth is rejection of labels, especially as a goth. My experience is that anyone who calls themself a goth, is not. The essence of goth is to be an outcast, a loner, an individualist and the last thing such a person is going to do is identify themselves with a group.

I found the most interesting parts of this book had to do with early horror films, most of this was material I was unfamiliar with. The weakest part of the book is due to the fact that popular taste in goth music changes so often that there is little mention of the musicians who currently dominate clubs.

I love this book!!! I loved the part about Robert Smith and the photo of Mr and Mrs Fiend and most of all do I love the part about Edward Scissorhands!! This book is great, and Gavin Baddenly wrote "thanks to Lydia from The Shroud" I like the Shroud and I was surprised to see that most of my favorite movies and music appeared in this book...Even Diva Destruction (and I thought they were quite new) So anyone who likes Gothic music and movies: BUY THIS BOOK, IT'S GREAT! And it gives much information about the history of the music, too!

I bought this book as a present for my brother, althought I kept it for quite some time to read it. There were bands I didn't know of, things that happened before I was born I found intriguing.

If you are going to read or preview this book in a store, please read it with an open mind. There are far too many people (cough*ahem Toolgirl*cough)who mislead themselves into thinking this book is a "guide to being goth," when simply it informs people who do not understand the subculture.

Too many people think that the gothic persona is composed of people who worship satan, are rude and inconsiderate of others, nose-in-the-air, dirty and smelly types, but this book informs the reader that it is okay for one to stumble upon this class of people. However, it is NOT okay for someone to come on a review board to express a general stereotypical nonetheless elitist attitude in trying to define "goth."

This is the third book I have on Gothic subculture and I have to tell you, this is the only informative one that I have. It covers everything, from literature, to music, to style, in depth. The print is small and the book is thick, therefore filling it from cover to cover with just about all the information that you could need.

While judging from the book I'm way too metal, goth's macho copunter-point, I did enjoy the book. I'm a fan of the gothic horror films mentioned and a little of the gothic literature. Even the parts I hadn't known about before were presented in an an entertaining fashion. I've read Baddeley's other books, and they're all excellent. They had only a few pages on metal, but they did mention some of my favs like Danzig, King Diamond and Iron Maiden. This is gothic in the arts, not a "how to be a goth" guide. I've had exposure to the goth scene, having known a few Bauhaus, Sisters of Mercy and London After Midnight fans. Goths are usually pretty nice people. If you're a goth you should have this book or if you enjoy goth in the arts like me I recommend.

This book was everything that I had hoped for. It delves deeply and thoughtfully into the gothic culture and is always entertaining. The book examines the history of gothic culture and ends nicely with a look forward for the movement with a couple of chapters dedicated to current trends and influential performers making waves today. I really enjoyed this book though I think that newbies to the goth scene will get more out of it because a lot of it was old hat to me. But don't get me wrong it was never a boring read. Totally essential!!

When I first heard about this book, I thought it would be extremely patronizing, or a puff-piece at best. However, I checked out some of Baddeley's other works and was impressed, so my hopes for this one were great. He didn't disappoint. "Goth Chic" chronicles the gothic movement from its inception to modern day. Along the way, Baddeley touches on literature, film, music, and the Goth subculture. Intelligent without being stuffy, and very well-written, "Goth Chic" comes highly recommended to anyone interested in the macabre and the sublime.