Goth's Dark Empire

In Goth's Dark Empire cultural historian Carol Siegel provides a fascinating look at Goth, a subculture among Western youth. It came to prominence with punk performers such as Marilyn Manson and was made infamous when it was linked (erroneously) to the Columbine High School murders. While the fortunes of Goth culture form a portion of this book's story, Carol Siegel is more interested in pursuing Goth as a means of resisting regimes of sexual normalcy, especially in its celebration of sadomasochism (S/M). The world of Goth can appear wide-ranging: from films such as Edward Scissorhands and The Crow to popular fiction such as Anne Rice's "vampire" novels to rock bands such as Nine Inch Nails. But for Siegel, Goth appears as a mode of being sexually undead -- and loving it. What was Goth and what happened to it? In this book, Siegel tracks Goth down, reveals the sources of its darkness, and shows that Goth as a response to the modern world has not disappeared but only escaped underground. Cultural historian Carol Siegel provides a fascinating look at Goth, a subculture among Western youth. While the fortunes of Goth culture form a portion of this book's story, Siegel is more interested in pursuing Goth as a means of resisting regimes of sexual normalcy, especially in its celebration of sadomasochism. For Siegel, Goth appears as a mode of being sexually undead--and loving it. The author tracks down Goth, reveals the source of its darkness, and shows that Goth as a response to the modern world has not disappeared but only escaped underground. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Introduction......Page 14 1. Perils for the Pure......Page 39 2. In Memoriam Darkwave Hippies......Page 62 3. That Obscure Object of Desire Revisited......Page 85 4. Boys Don't Cry......Page 106 5. Heterosexualizing the Femme Body......Page 129 6. Identity Hunter A......Page 150 Conclusion......Page 170 Appendix......Page 182 Notes......Page 198 Bibliography......Page 208 Index......Page 220 Perils for the pure: goth cultures and abstinence programs In memoriam darkwave hippies: Angela Carter through a goth lens That obscure object of desire revisited: Poppy Z. Brite and the goth hero as masochist Boys don't cry: Brandon Teena stories Heterosexualizing the femme boy: from Tea and sympathy to Crime and punishment in suburbia Identity hunter A: Asian American goths and new masculinities. In an epilogue to his history of Gothic rock and roll music and cultures, The Dark Reign of Gothic Rock, Dave Thompson speculates that because the 1990s second wave of Goth began in America, it has been characterized by a harsh, infuriated seriousness that the original movement lacked (242). Perils For The Pure -- In Memoriam Darkwave Hippies -- That Obscure Object Of Desire Revisited -- Boys Don't Cry -- Heterosexualizing The Femme Boy -- Identity Hunter A. Carol Siegel. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [195]-206) And Index. What was Goth and what happened to it? In this book Siegel tracks Goth down, reveals the sources of its darkness, and shows that Goth as a defiant response to the modern world has not disappreared but only escaped underground