THE2/1/2015
THE
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Gothic Acquisitions
Flavour of the issue
page 2 – 3
Burlesque Goth
page 4 _ 5
Deadly Men
page 6 _ 9
Featured Model
page 10
Silent Nights
page 11
Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover
page 12 - 13
Terms and Phrases
page 13 _ 17
The Hunt
page 18 -20
Upcoming Events
page 22
Edgar Allan Poe
page 22 _ 30
Gothic Gardening
page 31 _ 33
The Blood Countess
page 34 _ 37
Modern Goth History
page 38 _ 39
Wolf Creek river interview
page 40 _ 41
Local upcoming events
page 42
How we do things and TSM goals
page 43 _46
Letter from the Founder
page 42
2 Flavour of the issue Jesus of Suburbia Music Editor’s choice
Green day has always been a “Go to” band, the sort of band that when you want to feel something or you would like to temporarily drown out the world. It does help if you are into Rock and Punk, This particular song has to be one of several favourites, the first time I heard it, I fell in love with it. This song is the introduction of the album's leading character Billie Joel. He describes himself as "the son of rage and love", living on a "steady diet of soda pop and Ritalin" and "doing someone else's cocaine". He sarcastically mentions that this messed up life he's living is completely normal for him: "there's nothing wrong with me, this is how I'm supposed to be", and goes on with his story about the "land of make believe" that he lives in. Making it a very personal song, we all have our darkness and addictions; it is something that most people can relate to and a beautifully raw song that should be heard. Released
October 25, 2005
Recorded
June 2003
Genre
Pop punk, punk rock, alternative rock, progressive rock
Writer(s)
Billie Joe Armstrong / Green Day
Producer(s) Rob Cavallo, Green Day
3 Top Ten Green day Songs
Boulevard of Broken Dreams Jesus of Suburbia Wake me up when September ends Holiday 21 Guns Novocain Basket Case Long View When I come around American Idiot Green day and the Punk Vibe
I cannot say what is punk and what is not, because all people have different views on what Punk actually is, however you can relate the punks with the Goths, we have very similar tastes and interests and all strive for the same goal of being able to be as we are freely. Green Day most definitely made a huge impact on the youths of the 2000’s and put it out there that it is okay to be different, promoting freedom of clothing choice and style Green Day managed to get many Goth followers, they brought black back in a big way. Punk/Goth with a touch of Class
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BURLESQUE GOTH
Origins: The Burlesque Gothic style has its roots in the era of the softly lit stage; the curtains parting to reveal a beautiful woman, dressed in her finest, who proceeds to captivate, amuse, and tease her audience by strutting and dancing to a cheeky, sleazy tune, and slowly stripping away her layers of extravagant clothing, revealing more and more but never, ever too much. Such shows were the features of the early 1900’s cabaret clubs, with varying themes: satire, comedy, seduction, etc. The theatrical aspect, as well as the racy costumes, inspires modern Burlesque/Cabaret Goths. Fashion: It’s easy to see how burlesque fashion attracted the pioneers of the burlesque Gothic style: corsets, stockings, lace, gloves… elements apparent even in the mainstream Gothic style. A full female burlesque outfit may closely
5 resemble wearing underwear on the outside, but with much more class; visible suspenders and stocking-tops, an abundance of lace, transparent fabrics and frills. The
rest of the getup usually includes 1930’s inspired
hairstyles and accessories, perhaps some sequins and maybe even a feather boa. For the men it can include bowler hats, slim-cut pinstriped suits, and canes. As for make-up, red lipstick, winged eyeliner, and often a beauty spot are the basics. The elegant, sexy and theatrical qualities are always apparent. Music: Bands that utilize the traditional cabaret elements of dark comedy and caricature, with lyrics that describe unusual, satirical or vulgar situations, are usually considered the music of the burlesque Gothic style. The music itself typically stays true to the sound of 1930’s club bands; a tempo, a piano leading the melody, often accented by a violin or oboe. Dramatic breaks and/or tempo changes are also common, keeping up with the emotion of the song. Examples of cabaret bands include The Dresden Dolls, Voltaire, and The Tiger Lillie’s. Written by: Lady Butcher
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“Murder most curiously abominable” Or “Murder, she wrote then committed”
Alexander van Geuns (Lucius)
The generally accepted notion of murder is ‘the unlawful killing of another person with malice of forethought.’ A person gives thought to the act beforehand then sets off to commit it.
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This simple thought is chilling to say the least, which begs the persistent question: What causes a person to conscientiously take the life of another person? The reasons are as limitless as the imagination, but it is undeniable: murders, especially those committed by the most unusual and despicable, hold a certain allure over our imaginations despite their atrocious deeds. It is this palpable quality that continues to enthral us as it fiddles with the basic chords of our being.
Murder has been the subject of literature, film, music and debate for centuries and it has yet to lose its perennial appeal. Most obvious are the many (an understatement) groups dedicated to the understanding of murder – in particular, murderers or most commonly referred to as serial killers for those with a prolific streak. Fans, intellectuals and those who simply wish to pick up a few ideas often to discuss their favourite serial killers much like any other person would discuss their favourite character in a series with enthusiasm, taking great delight in enjoying the literally gory details.
The distinction between murderers and serial killers is that serial killers murder three or more people, over a period of more than a month with a brief ‘cool down’ period between each murder. There are far too many infamous murderers to mention in such a confined space, but several well-known serial killers deserve a mention, especially those whose names have inspired and influenced so many works of literature over the years.
Jack the Ripper
The most infamous of them all does not even have a real name but has gone by the rather simple name of ‘Jack’. A little over a century and a score later, and his identity still remains a mystery.
He stalked the dark corners of Whitechapel from 1888 to 1891, carving up prostitutes with surgical precision and leaving a fine mess in his wake whilst leaving taunting clues at each scene. Jack inspired a field of study known as “ripperology” which concerns the study and analysis of the Ripper murders. Jack made a body count of 5.
Ted Bundy
Theodore “Ted” Bundy was a particularly fascinating serial killer as he was attractive, charming and dedicated himself to getting a higher education but this did not stop Bundy from preying on young women during the 1970’s whilst engaging in acts of kidnapping, rape and necrophilia. Bundy’s body count tallied at an impressive 30.
Ed Gein
Edward Gein was a simple pig farmer who enjoyed the occasional grave-digging during the 1950’s. He has provided more inspiration for horror movie characters than any other serial killer known to date. His
8 predilection for human skin and flesh has been well documented in song, film, literature and other (shock) art forms. Gein’s body count stands at 2 but considering the collection of ghoulish furniture and clothing uncovered at his farm, this number is assumed to be much higher.
Jeffrey Dahmer
Dahmer was a sex offender and rapist with a penchant for boys and men who was active from 1978 to 1991. He also committed acts of necrophilia and cannibalism, with a habit of preserving body parts and sometimes the entire skeletal. Dahmer MANAGED a body count of 17.
Albert Fish
Albert Fish was a fellow with many given nicknames such as The Gray Man, the Werewolf of Wysteria and The Boogey man. He was a child rapist and cannibal with a habit of boasting about his deeds which included having killed over 100 children and that he had killed a child in every state. Fish’s body count is thought to be at least 5 but this is only an assumption as his exploits would suggest a much higher number.
Hannibal Lector
While technically not an actual serial killer or evenreal, it is hard to dismiss such a refined and calculating mind. Lector is a trained psychologist with a great affinity for toying with human minds and sampling human flesh. The BOOK and film series in which he features prominently provide the most chilling kind of serial killer: the type than knows what you’re thinking but enjoys letting you think you can escape his charming ways.
With those prime examples provided, one can notice that it is the strange and unusual that attract our attention the most and will continue to attract us as it is only human nature to be curious of that which brings us closer to the edge of life.
All information provided via Murderpedia.org and Criminalminds.wikia.com (Both lovely and informative sites) All images provided by google images.
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Featured Model and Society Cover Shoot’s Biography, this hauntingly beautiful shot was chosen as our first issues Cover and below we have asked this lovely lady some questions. A brief introduction of who you are?
Samantha Rose Butcher, aged 21. Born in Cape Town, grew up in Heidelberg WC, currently residing in Rondebosch East, Cape Town. Passionate about art, literature, music, photography, and body modification. What you are currently working on? Improving my skills.
10 You’re short terms plans? To always be open-minded and see the beauty in all things, good or bad. Long term goals that you are working on? To host an exhibition of art and photography. What or who inspired you to become a model? Kimothy Conception Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Fulfilling my dream and travelling the world. What can people expect to see from you? A smorgasbord of beautiful things. A childhood dream you have and is working on? To travel the world. Contact details Email for fans? samantharose.butcher@gmail.com Website? Facebook/Twitter/Instagram? www.facebook.com/maid-of-ruinwww.facebook.com/artofsamantharosebutcher
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Silent Nights - Written by Bianca Barnard Summer rain as dark as night, wait for me in my soul so tight. As I lay again and wait, my blood in my veins so thick and with weight. In the silence of my soul, you break me down till I am nothing but a mere sound. How much more would you dare to take as my vessel is starting to flake? With every lie you spread my being is bound to sleep. Becoming immune to you and all you say, but is this not the way you wanted me to sway. How would I suppress the urge inside, for I just want to run and hide? But till the day we meet again, Rather leave me be so I may fend
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“Don’t judge a BOOK by its cover…” It has been said that one can tell much about someone by just looking at the way that they dress, and at times words aren’t even needed when walking down the street or around the mall and notice the looks that we get from those around us.. Another saying, “Looks can be deceiving…” to those who cannot comprehend our lifestyle. Have you ever noticed how much our community is quick to point fingers at those who do not “fit in” to their certain lifestyle or standards? How we get labelled as “evil” and “misunderstood individuals” in our schools and churches even. Those of us who are parents, and good ones at that, don’t really take the time to let other people get to know us or even have a glimpse of our true colours since we prefer to just let them be and rather leave us alone instead of judging us. Well, maybe the time has come for us to make a statement to everyone in and around our community to stop them from slandering our lifestyle and beliefs since we aren’t the ones discriminating against them or what they live by. Most of us are actually very bubbly and very easy to talk to, hell we can even relate to others’ of a different lifestyle’s situations etc. Our children go through stages and some get made fun of no matter how beautiful or precious they are to us. Our schools with their clicks have become out of hand in some areas that we might just need to step in and open their eyes to make them see that us too are as much human as they are. We as adults may not see that as bullying when our children get called names and being labelled as Satanists or evil where our children have to run a gauntlet of abuse – from the verbal to physical – purely because of the way they choose to look. It is only causing misery and confusion among our next generation. And as much as some individuals tend to make a statement to dress emo, punk or even metallers, some don’t even understand the concept of just how loyal we can be. Being Goth is not just about dressing all black and listen to our deep dark music, it’s our lifestyle, it’s our safe-haven to come home and just be yourself without having to worry about what the neighbour would say if you wore your favourite corset with those black glossy lips or our gothic men wearing their favourite pair of chained black boots. Shouldn’t our community be more appreciative about us?
13 Where they accept different ethnicities and religions, why can’t they accept us too? So maybe we need to hear from our readers and get a better insight of different point of views to see what they deal with and maybe start a support group for those who really do need it…It is clear that our teenagers go through the most traumas caused by others who just do not want to accept them. Obviously we choose to dress the way we do and I chose to adorn my body but there are parallels with religion. People chose a religion but we wouldn’t discriminate against someone because they choose to worship a certain way or dress differently. The fact we chose to appear in a certain way shouldn’t count against us. There might always be hate, racism, and sexism. There’ll always be people who want to beat up men who wear makeup. And most probably in 50 years from now it will be the same. It’s sad, but I reckon there will always be prejudice of one form or another.
Terms and Phrases Described in their Relevance to Gothic Culture alternateen: This term is meant to designate those teenybopper kids who listen to alternative music and try to be different by looking identical to other trend-following teenagers who are trying to be different. Usually used in reference to the kids who listen to Pearl Jam or U2, for example, and other such Top 40 bands that are classified as alternative for some reason. (The gothic version of these types are called baby bats.) angst: The existential suffering and depression one feels when one can see the world in all its tragedy. See “oh the angst of it all.” baby bat: A derogatory term for those wannabe Goths who are only familiar with the superficial aspects of the culture. They may do their makeup horribly and only listen to the most popular of the Goth bands. They are mostly the younger kids going through a phase and trying to look cool. However people tend to fling this label at anyone they don’t like. A lot of people prefer not to use the label because it implies a “more gothic than thou" attitude. Batcave: A club in Soho (London) that began in the early eighties and nurtured the first generation of gothics from their punk heritage. Bands like Alien Sex Fiend played there live. It was closed down years later with the apparent death of the Gothic movement in the UK. The term Batcave also refers to the more punk oriented Gothic. bondage babe: Girls decked out in fetish clothing at clubs, including bondage collar, bondage bracelets, bondage belt and some sort of latex, vinyl, or rubber outfit. Usually intended to mean
14 the people who are following the fetish fashion trend rather than those who know much about fetish and BDSM culture. Also bondage boy. Bondage gear: For example, bracelets, belts, collars, etc. that will have a metal O ring or D ring attached. See Mary’s picture for a look at a bondage belt. See Amy’s picture for a look at a bondage collar. The purpose is to attach something like rope, for example, to the metal ring in some sort of way to restrict a person’s movement, thus the idea “bondage”. It is a popular trend among Goths to wear these, even if they don’t use them for bondage. See BDSM. BDSM: Represents Bondage, Discipline, and Sado-Masochism (also related, Dominance & Submission = DS). It is a form of sexual fantasy play between consenting adults often involving fetishes, focusing on mental, sensual and erotic experience over the standard sexual intercourse, and requiring a great level emotional trust and communication between partners. BDSM does not have anything to do with using pain or force on someone who is an unwilling victim. Although Goths tend to appear to be familiar with the practices of bondage by their apparel, most of those people wearing vinyl pants and bondage bracelets don’t know the first thing about BDSM and are following a fashion trend. The majority of BDSM practitioners have nothing to do with gothic, and they view bondage gear as a tool, not an accessory. *devil bunny: The term comes from a song by My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult. It is used to designate the people who think “Satan is cool,” but are not exactly worshippers of Satan. See Theatrical Satanists. Doom & Gloom: The type of Goth focused on morbid, tragic, depressing or apocalyptic themes. See mopey goths. "Every day is Halloween": this phrase comes from the song “(Every day Is) Halloween” by the band Ministry. The unofficial lyrics are: Well I live with snakes and lizards and other things that go bump in the night, but to me every day is Halloween, I’ve given up hiding and started to fight, and I started to fight. Well, anytime, anyplace, anywhere that I go all the people seem to stop and stare. They say, “Why are you dressed like its Halloween? You look so absurd. You look so obscene.”
Chorus Oh, why can’t I live a life for me? Why should I take the abuse that’s served? Why can’t they see they’re just like me? It’s the same, it’s the same in the whole wide world. Well I let their teeny minds think that they’re dealing with someone who is over the brink, and I dress this way just to keep them at bay because Halloween is every day, hey is everyday hey.
15 Repeat Chorus Oh, why can’t I live a life for me? Why should I take the abuse that’s served? Why can’t they see they’re just like me? I’m not the one that’s so absurd. Why hide it? Why fight it? Hurt feelings, best to stop feeling hurt from denials, reprisals. It’s the same, it’s the same in the whole wide world. fetish: The dictionary’s definition of fetish is excessive sexual focus on an object of fixation. Fetish fashion covers a wide range of fabrics such as leather, PVC, vinyl, rubber, and latex. It also includes items such as stiletto heels, thigh high boots, corsets and bondage gear or other items of clothing that one might become fixated on. See BDSM. first generation/second generation: First generation emerged mostly in the UK in the late seventies and early eighties as a splinter from the punk movement characterized by bands like The Damned, Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Joy Division. They were called Gothic later on, but most didn’t consider themselves Gothic. By the mid to late eighties, the Gothic movement was waning. In the late eighties/early nineties, a new generation of Goth bands emerged, for example The Shroud, Rosetta Stone, Nosferatu and London After Midnight, who were the first to characteristically call themselves Gothic. This is when the U.S. Gothic movement grew significantly, and Goth became recognized as a distinct subculture. Whether or not second generation is authentically gothic depends on whom you ask. Many of those first generation adherents will say it is not, and many others will say that second generation is a bad imitation of first generation. *glamgoth: A sarcastic term used for bands, (and their fans) who are excessively concerned with fitting the stereotypical Goth image. These bands might spend longer putting on their makeup for a concert than the actual concert lasts. Frequently during the set they might take a clove break or stop because their makeup is smearing. Their stage names will be something like Vlad or Lestat. You might find them singing about angst and tragedy, vampires, or doing excessively cheesy things. gothic slide: A characteristically gothic dance move in which your boots do not leave the dance floor as you glide across it by moving your feet. Somewhat like the footwork in the movie Footloose, but much more chaotic. integrity: A band with integrity will not compromise the artistic expression in their music in order to sell more records. Usually integrity means that a band is creating adventurous, meaningful or original music. See selling out. "in the scene": 1) Being involved in the social scene, especially frequenting clubs. 2) Also refers to people who go to all the “happening” parties every night. Someone deeply involved in the scene wants you to think they know everyone at a club by giving anyone that is even a brief acquaintance a hug as if they were great friends. They might say, “You know, it’s sad when I look around and realize I know everyone.” They are also big name droppers. You might hear them say something like, “Yeah, William Faith (of Faith and the Muse) invited me to come on tour with them, but I told him that I just didn’t have the time.”
16 kindergoth: Also, kindergothen. It can be derogatory, meaning a poser much like baby bat, or it can also be neutral, meaning a very young Goth, usually 16 or younger. Mansonite: Much akin to the ninny, the Mansonite worships the band, and the lead singer who goes by the same name, Marilyn Manson. This term is usually used for those fans who like to dress up like him, do their makeup like him and wear Marilyn Manson t-shirts. Many goths will use this term in a derogatory way towards the teenagers they think are foolish for liking Marilyn Manson. melodrama: Also, psychodrama. In the dictionary, melodrama means a work characterized by extravagant drama and theatricality, appealing to the emotions. Melodrama is used to describe the way a social scene often seems like a soap opera. mod/waver: A term for fans of Modern/New Wave music. Mods usually love eighties music and British pop such as Depeche Mode, The Cure, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Smiths, etc. mopey Goths: Goths who have an overdeveloped sense of angst. These Goths are the ones you may find brooding in dark corners, pondering the pain of existence, wondering why their girlfriend/boyfriend has torn their heart out (again). In general, they tend to take life very seriously. "more gothic than thou": A sarcastic phrase used to designate a snobbish attitude, or describe people who take themselves too seriously. A play on “‘holier than thou.” Someone with a “more gothic than thou” attitude will likely tell you about the gothic bands they are into by saying, “You probably haven’t heard of them.” net.goth: A term for those Goths who frequently post to the alt.gothic newsgroup and have a fairly well known presence among the internet Goth community. ninny: A derogatory term for enthusiastic fans of the band Nine Inch Nails . The Nine Inch Nails symbol is . The term ninny is used to express the idea that people who worship Trent Reznor (who essentially is Nine Inch Nails) are foolish. "oh so gothic": 1) A sarcastic phrase to express one’s opinion of something as Goth-worthy i.e. “I see you have all of the Bauhaus albums on vinyl. That’s oh so gothic of you,” or “Those skull shaped candle holders are oh so gothic.” 2) A sarcastic phrase for those who take fitting the image of being gothic too seriously. Say it with a really cheesy English upper-class accent to add emphasis. "Oh the angst of it all": A sarcastic phrase used to mimic Goths who take themselves too seriously and are constantly brooding. To add emphasis when saying it, put the back of your hand to your forehead and look like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. perky Goth: Some may say this is an oxymoron, but perky Goths are people who like the gothic style and music, but don’t like the doom and gloomattitude some Goths have. Perky Goths try not to take themselves too seriously and don’t brood. They like to have fun. You’ll often find them wearing, for example, body glitter, a mixture of black and non-black clothing, and telling themopey Goths to lighten up. The mopey Goths say that they are missing the point of Gothic entirely. raver: Can either refer to a fan of techno music, or techno music itself. Techno music is characterized by an electronic, digital, fast beat created by drum machines. There is also a large subculture surrounding it. Large, secret, underground gatherings of techno music and drug use are called raves. rivethead: A fairly recent term used to describe fans of industrial music. The term Industrial was coined in 1976 (another child of the punk movement) several years before Gothic emerged. However, it remained only a music form for much longer before a culture developed around it. Gothic as a subculture is older than industrial subculture. See Industrial in the Music Related Definitions. selling out: A term used to describe bands who were once underground and then became popular, Top 40 music. Usually the term selling out refers to the band or artist compromising their musical
17 quality or artistic expression in order to sell more music. They are essentially selling themselves. It often is used by the underground elitists to justify not liking a band based only on who else listens to them. Music that has sold out has somehow become diluted, common, and generic when it once may have had specialness, power and force. Whether the artist did the diluting or the constant repetition of a song on the radio, MTV etc. dilutes it, the effect is the same. See integrity. spooky kid: This is a very recent term which doesn’t have much widespread usage quite yet. The spooky kids are followers of Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch Nails and are mostly under 18 years old. (Originally the name of the band was Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids.) People confuse spooky kids for Goths, which is frustrating to Goths because Goth culture gets blamed for the stupid things spooky kids do. Spooky kids and Goths don’t associate with each other very much, and they tend to not like each other. Goths resent them for being poseurs and giving Goth a bad name, and they resent Goths for being snobs and elitists. Spooky kid is usually used as a derogatory term similar tobaby bat, but it specifically refers to the younger and ardent Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch Nails fans. I’m not sure if spooky kids call themselves spooky kids, I think most of them call themselves Goth. ultragoth: 1)In the pie chart, Ultra Goth is described as those for whom gothic is who they are, not what they dress up as. 2) Also, the Goths who have a more extreme appearance and/or have been in the scene for a long time. They are usually over 20 years old. 3) Often used to designate the gothic snobs, ones who have a “more gothic than thou" attitude. underground: Something that is not widely known about among the general population. It is secret, obscure, hidden, rare, only for a selected few who are knowledgeable enough to pursue it. There are two tendencies that often occur in those who adamantly participate in an underground culture. The first is elitism. In general the elitists view themselves as having suffered (persecution, harassment) to become a part of something rare and unusual. They dislike those who have not suffered to join the culture, those who are following a trend. The trend-followers defile what was sacred and make common what was once rare. The elitists view that culture as something they had to search for, discover, and suffer ridicule for; and they despise those who had it handed to them. The second tendency of those in an underground culture is a wide familiarity (often acceptance and friendliness depending on the person) with other people in the social scene or those who appear to be a part of the same culture. *weekender/weekend Goth: 1) In the pie chart, weekender is defined as the kids going through a phase. See also baby bat. 2) Also, weekend Goths are the people who dress normally when around normal people and dress gothic when they go to gothic clubs. Basically, they are the ones who conform to whatever environment they are in. It has nothing to do with their knowledge of the culture, it has to do with their appearance in different contexts. Some weekend Goths have to dress somewhat normally because of a professional career but are Goth at heart. Some don’t dare to suffer the ostracism they would receive by looking different among normal people and are only closet Goths Depending on which type of person the term is APPLIED to, it can have either neutral or negative connotations.
By Rene
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The Hunt. It was the middle of the night and the sky roared with the earth-shaking rumble of thunder. The flashes of white-blue light and the heavy rain drops falling, triggered an electric zing within her being; and as she absorbed the energy, her soul began to stir, and slowly awaken. She felt alive; a feeling that had been absent ever since he left. The darkness has never been quite the same- it was lonelier now, though it had never felt lonely before,. ‘A new goddamn burden to add to the ever growing, fucking list’ she thought, as she contempt mumbled: “Fuck this shit.” She quickly slides out of bed, pulling on her gown, and silently walking to the kitchen. As she passed the mirror, she stopped to look, and couldn’t help notice the prominent, dark rings under her eyes, and the work look that they possessed. The sparkle in her eye was still there though, and she closely examined the black and gold streaks that broke the deep hazel hue of her iris. She smiled, smugly, knowing to full extent that she was an exquisitely beautiful and godly creature. She turned, to admire her long, wavy, ink-black hair that cascaded over her shoulders, to her lower back. It reminded her of the shadows at dusk; and how they flowed, and smothered the light coloured walls of the houses in her neighbourhood. Her pale, yet Mediterranean toned skin cast a soft glow in the dark room, and she turned back, to face the silvery reflective pane of glass again. Her features were unusual; she was not the typical pretty girl, although she possessed a phenomenal, yet dark and electric radiance that strongly emanated all the qualities of a powerful and breathtakingly beautiful woman. She smirks slightly, grateful that the Goddess gave her such beauty. He was hunting her again, she remembered suddenly- the strange anxiety that had woken her just before the storm. He was a dream walker, like herself, although he was not benevolent; a creature stronger than any of her kind, who simply wouldn’t leave her alone.
19 Before she awoke, she had found herself in a desert waste land: not a realm she was accustomed, or well suited to. She looked down, at the hot, ochre-red sand that was burning her feet, and then cast her eyes upon the horizon; shocked that the bare, arid land stretched on for miles. The sick feeling in her stomach brought to her attention the fact that he was watching her; and she knew that their kind of battle was the type that would only end after blood was spilt- a thought that reminded her of the hunger pangs she was feeling, for she had waited weeks since her last feed. Although it had months since she had felt his touch, she knew her hunter; tall, dark, and enthrallingly beautiful man, clothed in South American tribal garb, with deep, emerald eyes. She was weapon less, with no charms to defend her, while he carried a spear; and one could tell that he was absolutely focused on her. She bolted into a dark cavernous tunnel; boarding a train crafted purely out of bone. Yet as fast as she was, she could feel him running behind her, only an arm’s length away. Suddenly, the train derailed, with a deafening crash, and screeching of bone against the steel tracks; throwing her into the air. At this moment, she woke, just as the storm began to rage, glad that the wild weather had broken her slumber- keeping her alive. As she silently slinked through the kitchen, to get her caffeine fix, she felt a deep inner calm, for nothing felt better than being awake, while the rest of the world slept. Sitting at the counter, she played with her spoon, and out of nowhere she was hit by the realization that the dark, ominous wolf was behind her; his warm breath on her neck sending tingles down her spine, and briefly stopping her heartbeat as he turned to face her. As he looked deeply into her eyes, she felt his concern, and trembled for she felt his predatory gaze piercing her soul. She was paralysed by fear, yet simultaneously awestruck, and before she could say anything, he wrapped his arms around her; and held her tight, after which he released her, stepped back, and looked her up and down, as if she was his prey. The thought of being preyed upon made her laugh; for stereotypically, wolves commonly thought they were the dominant ones, superior to everyone else. To her astonishment, he sneered, and let out a low growl, making her fear he had read her mind. Yet still, he pressed her up against the wall, removing her gown, and making her feel as if she was a ragdoll, for she was absolutely powerless, with no control over him, and although the wolf knew that the Vampyre Goddess did not love him, he craved, and hated her so deeply, even though he could slaughter all her kind, if he was strong enough. He ripped off her clothes, exposing naked flesh as he lay her down on the bed, where her lust surpassed, and not a trace of him remained in her mind. One wrong touch was all took for the memory of the hunter to consume her thoughts, and turn the roughest of fucking sessions into an intimate, passionate, lovemaking. The handsome hunter. She had caressed his cheek, run her fingers through his hair, and smelled his skin; her wonderful sin- being lost in him again, much like the previous times. Times when she had called his name, and been overwhelmed by ecstasy as his eyes searched her soul. A sharp, sudden pain in her chest brought her back to reality: her hunter was gone, and the passion was but a memory; a shattered fragment of a ghost. Her chest tightened, making it difficult to breathe, and silent tears began to roll down her cheeks.
20 Again, she felt hollow, weak, and incomplete, and she turned to face her bedroom’s cold, white wall, reminiscing the past; remembering him- all whilst being wrapped in the arms of another man- the rogue wolf. Katiana had tried to hate him- her hunter; with all her heart and soul, although nothing prevailed. She knew that his battle was a conflicted one, but that he had loved her deeply, like nobody else ever would, and took solace in the thought that when she slept, she would she
would meet him
again, as he hunted her down. She hated the fact that the was forced to run from her lover and knew that he hated it too, for he always sent others to keep her safe, and to attempt to stop him, though nothing, not even he, could contain the darkness within his soul. And so, with the dark, alpha wolf by her side, Katiana continued to run from her lover, waiting for him to return to her in the way he always did- through the hunt; and even though he never stayed for long, she kept faith that he would come back, for she was a Force, and he was a Law, and nothing in this world, nor any other realm could make them forget each other. After all, he was trying to kill her most of the time. By Serephim
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PAGAN FREEDOM DAY DURBAN - Hosted by Coven D’eir
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1. Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore‌.. The beginning of a poem so well known by all writers, especially though Gothic writers.. A legend in his own right, Edgar Allen Poe wrote many poems and tales, all with a distinct Gothic feel to them. Death and darkness featured as the main ingredient in each of his amazing works. Born Edgar Poe in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 19, 1809, this writer of such macabre stories, lived a life of an average type in the era.. Perhaps the surrounding mystery of his life is what prompted him to write. though many believe he wrote only to appease the general public, whose fascination with the dark and macabre aspects of life were indulged by Poe’s tales of fantasy.. Major Works
23 In late 1830s, Poe published Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque, a collection of stories. It contained several of his most spine-tingling tales, including “The Fall of the House of Usher,” “Ligeia” and “William Wilson.” Poe launched the new genre of detective fiction with 1841’s “The Murders in the Rue Morgue.” A writer on the rise, he won a literary prize in 1843 for “The GOLD Bug,” a suspenseful tale of secret codes and hunting treasure. Poe became a literary sensation in 1845 with the publication of the poem “The Raven.” It is considered a great American literary work and one of the best of Poe’s career. In the work, Poe explored some of his common themes—death and loss. An unknown narrator laments the demise of his great love Lenore. The Raven which is one of the more popular poems of Poe, Edgar Allan Poe The Raven [First published in 1845] Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. `’Tis some visitor,’ I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door Only this, and nothing more.’ Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December, And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow From my Books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore Nameless here for evermore. And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
24 So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating `’Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; This it is, and nothing more,’ Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer, `Sir,’ said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore; But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping, And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door, That I scarce was sure I heard you’ - here I opened wide the door; Darkness there, and nothing more. Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before; But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token, And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, `Lenore!’ This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, `Lenore!’ Merely this and nothing more. Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning, Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before. `Surely,’ said I, `surely that is something at my window lattice; Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; 'Tis the wind and nothing more!' Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter, In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore. Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he; But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -
25 Perched, and sat, and nothing more. Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling, By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore, `Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,’ I said, `art sure no craven. Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night’s Plutonian shore!’ Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.’ Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly, Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore; For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door, With such name as `Nevermore.’ But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only, That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour. Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have flown before On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.’ Then the bird said, `Nevermore.’ Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken, `Doubtless,’ said I, `what it utters is its only STOCK
and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore Of “Never-nevermore.”’ But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling, Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door;
26 Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore Meant in croaking `Nevermore.’ This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom’s core; This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining On the cushion’s velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o’er, But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o’er, She shall press, ah, nevermore! Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor. `Wretch,’ I cried, `thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he has sent thee Respite - respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore! Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!’ Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.’ `Prophet!’ said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore, Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!’ Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.’ `Prophet!’ said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn, It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels name Lenore?’
27 Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.’ `Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!’ I shrieked upstarting `Get thee back into the tempest and the Night’s Plutonian shore! Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken! Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust above my door! Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!’ Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.’ And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door; And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming, And the lamp-light o’er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor; And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted - nevermore! Tells a tale that has been interpreted in so many different ways over the many generations, everyone sees what they want in his writing.. The tale of a man in the throes of death, haunted by his manifestations in the form of a raven„ driving him insane and perhaps the main cause of his insane death… Another well know poem is Annabelle lee… My personal favorite, Annabel Lee BY EDGAR ALLAN POE It was many and many a year ago, In a kingdom by the sea, That a maiden there lived whom you may know By the name of Annabel Lee; And this maiden she lived with no other thought Than to love and be loved by me.
28 I was a child and she was a child, In this kingdom by the sea, But we loved with a love that was more than love— I and my Annabel Lee— With a love that the wingèd seraphs of Heaven Coveted her and me. And this was the reason that, long ago, In this kingdom by the sea, A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling My beautiful Annabel Lee; So that her highborn kinsmen came And bore her away from me, To shut her up in a sepulchre In this kingdom by the sea. The angels, not half so happy in Heaven, Went envying her and me— Yes!—that was the reason (as all men know, In this kingdom by the sea) That the wind came out of the cloud by night, Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee. But our love it was stronger by far than the love Of those who were older than we— Of many far wiser than we— And neither the angels in Heaven above Nor the demons down under the sea Can ever dissever my soul from the soul Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
29 For the moon never beams, without bringing me dreams Of the beautiful Annabel Lee; And the stars never rise, but I feel the bright eyes Of the beautiful Annabel Lee; And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side Of my darling—my darling—my life and my bride, In her sepulchre there by the sea— In her tomb by the sounding sea. A love story of epic proportion, death featuring prominently as well as heartbreak.. His style of writing inspires so many poets these days, me included. Poe’s writing reflects his literary theories, which he presented in his criticism and also in essays such as “The Poetic Principle”. He disliked didactic ism and allegory, though he believed that meaning in literature should be an undercurrent just beneath the surface. Works with obvious meanings, he wrote, cease to be art. He believed that work of quality should be brief and focus on a specific single effect. To that end, he believed that the writer should carefully calculate every sentiment and idea. In “The Philosophy of Composition”, an essay in which Poe describes his method in writing “The Raven”, he claims to have strictly followed this method. It has been questioned, however, whether he really followed this system. T. S. Eliot said: “It is difficult for us to read that essay without reflecting that if Poe plotted out his poem with such calculation, he might have taken a little more pains over it: the result hardly does credit to the method.” Biographer Joseph Wood Krutch described the essay as “a rather highly ingenious exercise in the art of rationalization”. With so many poets trying to rein act many of his works, though few could ever come close to his particular type of writing.. A true genius which was only truly recognized after his death.. If like me you are writer, a poet of Gothic origins… then you will know what an inspiration Poe’s works can be,
30 the emotion and dedication to his words, will always live on in the hearts of those that follow with that same insane darkness inside their souls‌. by: Heidi Dillon
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This I absolutely love and it is something that someone as untalented as myself would be able to pull off. Luckily such ornaments are not hard to get hold of and all you need is some black and white paint? How hard could it be right?
Easy to grow Black poppy with huge (4-6”) nearly true black double flowers. Up to 4’ in height and quite elegant in a gothic garden or as an unusual and stunning specimen plant. Large seed pods can be used in dried arrangements. You can never go wrong with black and purple, I would definitely have these in black pots near the benches.
Penny Black is a compelling little ground huger with a trailing habit, good for ground cover, containers and hanging baskets. Provides a good contrast for your borders. Deep purple to black blooms with silvery white edges adorn this hardy annual. Plants are only 2” - 4” . Perfect for breaking the black in your Garden, not that there is such a thing is too black. #Gothic#Gardening#Issue one
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Here is the blackest of Hollyhocks. Impressive, deep purple-maroon to black flowers are displayed on spikes that tower 5 - 8 feet in height. Blooms all summer long, this plant Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Looks particularly stunning when planted against a wall. a must have for the perfect black garden. -
Serephim
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By: Roxanne M. Crous
Known as the Blood Countess, Elizabeth Bàthory has murdered over six hundred female servants, but what is the truth behind this fem fatale?
The sun peaks through a window in the castle's main tower. Elizabeth can't help but to admire her own beauty in the mirror in front of her as one of her servants brushes her raven black hair. At first glance the loving mother seems calm and incapable of hurting an insect, yet the petrified servant anticipates the change. A single wrong move can turn the Countess into a harpy. Instead of focusing on when she was to fault, the servant should have focused on being flawless. By accident she pulls too hard at the raven hair. A grunt escapes the Countess' lips and as the servant was about to start begging for mercy, the Countess stands up. Glaring at the servant, Elizabeth strikes out, grabbing onto her lower jaw. The sound of breaking bone followed by a blood curdling scream can nearly be heard throughout the Castle of Čachtice. The Countess calls upon her trustworthy Fickò, the only male servant she has, a deformed dwarf. She exists upon the sound of a snapping neck. Weeks past and the Countess notices a strange occurrence. It seems that were the blood of the servant fell, the blood somehow rejuvenated the skin. Thus began the era of the Blood Countess...
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The making of the world's most renowned female serial killer: On August 7, 1560, Elizabeth Bàthory was born into the most powerful Hungarian family of the fifteen hundreds. Alone in 1560 The Bàthory clan had seven princes and a king of Poland in their family tree. Unfortunately the Countess was also born into an age of war. She was born in a country at war. During that time the Protestants and Catholic empire were raging a religious war. Elizabeth grew up watching her relatives slaughter enemies in the most savage of manner. At the age of six, her father brought her into the court yard one day to witness one of these savage acts. The soldiers caught a gypsy near the castle. They tied him down in the court yard. Her father and his men tortured the gypsy for days on end, until finally they decided that they will put him out of his misery. A horse was led in and Elizabeth was commanded to slit his throat. The men quickly cut open his belly and stuffed the still living gypsy into the warm corpse of the horse. He was sown inside the corpse and left to die. Experts believe that years of inbreeding within the Bàthory clan has led to mental illnesses as well as epilepsy. Though that was merely the start of the making of the world's most renowned female serial killer.
Right: A portrait of Elizabeth Bàthory (Copyright of Wikipedia)
Right: Ferenc Nádasdy, spouse of Elizabeth Bàthory and father of Tamás Nádasdy (Copyright of Wikipedia)
A union of sadists: At the age of fifteen in May 1575, Elizabeth Bàthory married a fabulously rich and handsome warrior, Ferenc Nádasdy (1555 - 1604). It was an arranged married between two powerful families within the clan. The Bàthory clan believed no other person of any rank or majesty was good enough for them, thus they married within the clan. The union was said to be a strategic success with over five thousand guests attending. As soon as nightfall came, Ferenc led Elizabeth into the darkest side of humanity. Ferenc was a sadist and took great pleasure in torturing servants sexually as well as physically. Soon, the sadistic couple would torture young female servants together. They would tie girls out in the blazing sun, honey being smeared over every inch of their naked bodies. The girls would soon succumb to wasp stings. Yet, there was no mercy when her husband was away at war. Elizabeth kept running a sadistic enterprise when Ferenc wasn't around. During the Blood Countess' reign, only one minister was brave enough to write a letter of protest against the maltreatment of the girls. Since peasants had no rights in the sixteen hundreds, his letter was regarded as taboo. On the 4th of January 1604, at the age of 49, Ferenc was killed whilst being away at war. This left Elizabeth Bàthory in charge of ten castles as well as a state. To the world she seemed a powerful icon. A loving mother, fearless ruler and a wise woman. Her power over the land and its people was absolute.
35 A beautiful face shelters the horror within: After the death of her husband, Elizabeth became bored and frustrated. Soon her sadistic behavior got out of hand. She acquired the help of her four most trusted servants, Dorotya Semtész, Ilona Jó, Katarína Benická, and János Újvár, a male deformed dwarf also known as Fickò. With their help Elizabeth murdered over 600 female servants in the span of a mere 35 years. It was said to believe that no two killings were alike. If a servant didn't iron the clothes properly, Elizabeth would melt her face off with the exact same iron. She would keep them locked up in huge cages that had springs thrusting out as to impale the girls if they moved. Left: In the middle of winter Elizabeth would let the naked girls stand in various manners in the court yard. She would have her three minions pour cold water over their bodies until they froze to death and became "statues". (Copyright of Wikipedia)
The downfall of a Countess and Soprano: Upon attending a local church once, Elizabeth stumbled upon a locally known Soprano. The woman was said to have impressed Elizabeth so much that she was asked to do a private concert within the Castle of Čachtice. This was the first time the Soprano performed for royalty. Under Elizabeth's gaze, she had a nervous breakdown and was unable to perform. Elizabeth went into fit of rage and beat the Soprano to death. After this Elizabeth became more and more reckless. She started abducting girls from noble right which drew attention. The summer of 1610 brought an official enquiry concerning Elizabeth's actions. On December 19, 1610, Elizabeth was arrested and a few days later placed on trial. The trial was conducted by an agent of the king, Count Thurzo and though the trial was only for show it was initiated for a conviction and the confiscation of her lands as well. One week following the first trial, a second trial was convened on January 7, 1611. During the second trial Bàthory's journal, which held many accounts described in detail and in her hand writing, was submitted as evidence. The journal recorded 650 victims. Bàthory's accomplices were sentenced to be executed, manner being determined by their roles in the tortures. Dorotya Semtész and Ilona Jó had their fingers ripped off with hot pincers before being burned at the stake. János Újvár (Fickò) was immediately beheaded. Katarína Benická had her eyes gorged out and breasts cut off before also being burned at the stake.
Elizabeth herself was sentenced to solitary confinement in her beloved Castle of Čachtice. The room in which she was imprisoned contained no doors nor windows, only a few slits for air and a small opening for food and water. On August 21, 1614, Bàthory passed away due to natural causes and was buried in the lands at Ecsed.
The deeper mystery: Even though folklore and myth claimed that Elizabeth bathed in the blood of her victims, absolutely no evidence was found to prove the statement. It was proven though that all of her victims were female. Her lesbianism was later to be blamed on an Aunt Clara that helped to raise her. Even before her marriage at the age of fifteen, Elizabeth was sexually active which is believed to be why most of the corpses found, had their sexual organs mutilated. After her death, it was ruled that her name will not be spoken for one hundred years. Penalty for this act would have resolved in decapitation. To this day she is known as "The Hungarian Whore" in the streets of Csejte, Kingdom of Hungary (today known as Čachtice, Slovakia).
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Above: The ruins of Castle Čachtice (Copyright of Wikipedia) REFERENCES:
Elizabeth Bàthory - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Elizabeth Bàthory: Serial Killer and Torturer (Documentary - YouTube) Countess Elizabeth Bàthory - Weird encyclopedia Crime Library: Countess Elizabeth Bàthory Bàthory (Countess of Blood) - A movie released in 2008 by Juraj Jakubisko
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Modern Goth History
Something that just happened.., one day there was punk and all the all of the sudden goth erupted, a subcategory that formed beneath punk in the mid 70’s – 80’s .It quickly grew to its own movement, with its own culture and music choices. That’s it as far as most are concerned, but it’s much more than ,it goes deeper and darker. “At its roots, goth is a random version of an aesthetic with very, very old roots. Derived from medieval conquest ,fuelled by dark romanticism ,and reinvented in twentieth- century youth culture., the title has been transferred from generation to generation, taking on new meanings with each manifestation. : by Micah L Issit The roots of goth became clearer by the 1970’s. It’s said that gothic music came from post-punk in and from the early 80’s ,but the roots go back further, much further to the darker tones & melodies of the 60’s. Back then called “Psychedelic”. Psychedelic rock begun on a anacrusis “upbeat” note., and by the late 1960’s bands such as The Velvet Underground ad The Doors begun exploring darker sonic concoctions and gloomy sound & melodies with lyrics that highlighted the darker elements of humanity. Besides for traditional goth rock, a number of dark genres have become associated with thee goth; such as: Cold Wave Cyber Metal Dark Wave Death Rock EBM Electro Industrial EMO Electro Pop Gothabilly Industrial Metal Medieval Rock Neo Folk Symphonic Rock & Metal Synth Pop The Goth culture is so much, and so many different things, simple put it’s a phenomenon that exists on various “levels” simultaneously. From one view point ,goth can be viewed; a category of consumer products such as music, literature, clothing and accessories , as well as the people who purchases these products. The goth culture is also a community which consists of several smaller communities spread out and separated by thousands of kilometers and different languages ,but still connected by shared interests and views that remains recognizable across all these bordering and cultural lines.
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“Goth has remained distinct and cohesive in situations where many other subcultures might have bled completely into the larger culture stream. In Germany ,goth has even become an accepted part of mainstream music and fashion, without losing its distinctiveness or what some might call “Authenticity’” by Micah L Issit
The goth community has grown to such an extend where its organizing its own annual events and gatherings world wide such as: The Whitby Gothic Weekend “WGW” in the United Kingdom, it’s a gathering held in Whitby, the town mentioned in Bram Stokers Famous vampire novel Dracula. Then there’s the WGT- Wave-gotik-Treffen hosted in Germany- Leipzig, a enormous music festival which attracts a estimate of 30 000 goths yearly, and then there’s the M’ era Luna festival also held in Germany. These two annual events are considered to be the first and second biggest gothic annual events world wide. Goth or being goth always existed ,since the dawn of mankind ,There’s some goth in all of us ,just like the other elements out there such as ‘Punks/ Jocks/Ravers/”and so many more; some of us just choose to, or prefer to embrace the goth element more than the others, it calls to us just as we call to it. It takes someone unique to see the beauty in the dark & gloomy aspects of life. “Horace Walpol had a dream, but not one of a happier world or peace; His dream led him to write a novel “The Castle of Ortanto” that became the first gothic novel.
-MGR
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Here is Lliezel’s reply to Samantha regarding the questions she asked: Hello there So, these are the words that oozed out...best part was reading each other’s responses and realizing that we both feel so similarly about things. Thanks and I hope this is enough information. Have a super fantastic, magical weekend. Love, me, Lli
"Managed to speak to the other artists but had to leave before speaking to you. He would just like to know a bit more about Wolf River. QUESTION ONE: How you started, QUESTION TWO: what genre would you consider yourself, QUESTION THREE: do you do it just for fun, or do you aim to become big? Etc."
Lliezel says: QUESTION ONE: Well, I have known Damian for what feels like an eternity and he has been writing music since we met. I was always the annoying almostgroupie who would harass him at every show, asking him if I could join the band and he would smile politely and say, "yeah, we can work together sometime"...that was back in Junkyard days, even before that, when he had a 3 piece whose name I can't remember. About 2 years ago, after Junkyard died, Damian would come over to my house and we'd sit in my lounge and he'd teach me all the songs he'd written over the years. We were both going through quite a destructive phase so; we stopped singing together in my lounge for about a year and a half. Then, once we'd sorted ourselves out, we started again and took things a little more seriously...and that's where we are now, I feel.
QUESTION TWO: I'd like to think of our genre as "Black Blues" as it's all slightly dark and sinister but we've been called 'freak folk', Goth country, and dark folk.
QUESTION THREE: I do it because I believe Damian writes amazing songs and enjoy hearing the brilliance that he comes up with and just being a part of that creative space. I would like to see us get through to more people, have people listen to the songs, take the focus off the party vibe that is normally associated with live music and focus more on getting the lyrics and the feeling across. We're planning to record and release some songs on some internet based music sharing space, do a video or two and have more virtual presence but, ultimately, we will just keep working on the music, perhaps get a few more musicians involved sometimes. I don't really want to peruse being famous or "big" but definitely would love to see a few people singing along to our songs when we perform...if it happens, then it's because we've worked hard enough...but, everyone’s' interpretation of 'making it big' is so different...as long as I'm loving the songs I'm singing and we're all enjoying ourselves, I feel we have succeeded.
Damian says: QUESTION ONE: Ok, first off, the name, Wolf River, was given birth to after the demise of Jeff Buckley, whose music I grew up with...well, his dads and then his, respectively. He (Jeff Buckley) went swimming after some party and ended up drowning in an offshoot of the Mississippi, which is known as Wolf River. Maybe it was naivety or a homage to a beautiful artist whose demise came way too soon...anyway, the name stuck. So, fast forward a couple of years...my last band imploded, surrounded by an air of death, substance abuse and mental illness. Fucking jolly lot we were. Anyway, I had been knocking about for a year or so, doing the occasional acoustic gig, writing songs and generally being a lost soul
40 survivor. Rob (dreadlocked percussionist/bassist) and myself had stayed in contact, and would have the occasional rehearsal/jam/whatever, doing a gig together every once in a while, but I was getting antsy again and really wanted to put something together again, properly. And in comes Lliezel...see, we have known each other for a long time, but never really got around to collaborating (well, once, but the timing wasn't right). Anyway, I bumped into her in Obs outside Bolo Bolo bookshop, I think it was, and we got to talking a bit. She was with some guy so, I didn't want to hang around too long so, I asked: "hey, let's do something beautiful and magical and start singing together again....and that's how this incarnation of Wolf River started...with a simple conversation on the side of the street. When? This was around the beginning of winter, last year...I guess.
QUESTION TWO: Hmmm, never an easy question to answer when your style of music kind of skirts on the outside of most popular trends in music. My personal tag that I like to use would be 'lyrically driven, blues inspired dark folk with a hint of the macabre about it'. Pretentious? Maybe? Who knows, not I. Ha! Someone called us 'gloom blues' the other day; I guess that kind of fits, but not really. Influences change from song to song so, the lines that surround certain genres kind of get blurred, in my mind anyway. However, at the moment, we are largely an n acoustic act but will be growing as new members start to join. I guess that question could be left to the audience to answer at the end of the day.
QUESTION THREE: Fun, yes; love, yes; an emotional exorcism, yes and, becoming big...well, we all got to pay the bills, right? Look, I still do this because I know at the end of the day; there is an 84% satisfaction rate (roughly). I love writing music, I love playing music and one of the most rewarding experiences I can think of is doing something I truly adore and believe in with people I adore and believe in. And the becoming big part...well, this whole band thing - the creating and playing live - is built upon a natural need to grow/progress. It's a two way street, right? We are putting this music out there that's honest and real for whoever is in the audience to take and interpret in their own personal way and then send that back or discard as they see fit. It's kind of like a call and response situation. Aaaah, fuck it, at the end of the day, if we manage to turn just a handful of people on, or even one punter during a show...well, that's a job well done. That link has been forged.
A quote Damian felt the need to include, taken from what he's reading at the moment: " The unhappiness that I need and long for...is of the kind that will let me suffer with eagerness and die with lust. That is the unhappiness, or happiness, that I am waiting for." Hermann Hesse Samantha also sent me the lineup as follows: Fleurmach (DJ) Karla Valentine Justin (DJ) Martinique Wolf River Lliezel (DJ)
Karla Valentine is also a member of Wolf River but she had a solo performance as well, Sami described it as dark, acoustic and mellow. And she also covered Nirvana’s Heart Shaped Box.
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Date: 24.05.2015 The Feature Type of Goth.
It’s the choice of making each issue unique. With each issue we will choose one type of Goth to feature in the magazine, the cover photo, be it a model, band or other artist will be done with the chosen type of Goth as the theme, the centerfold poster will also feature it.
With this we will write an full and in-depth article covering all the basics about this type of Goth, likes and dislikes, what their about, their origins , fashion and music for starters, including a full portrait photo showing such an Goth
Then in the various categories like fashion, an article or two will be written to feature and shed more light on the chosen type, Home and Garden, Music, Hair and Makeup... Our aim is to really promote and market this type of Goth
MGR
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Date: 23.02.2015 To: All staff Greetings to all of you, as you all know, a lot of changes has happened within the magazine for various reasons, but besides all that we have rebuild and repaired the damages ,our issue 1 is already online, up and until we have established a full office again, we will maintain this course of action. The plan has always been to make the magazine profitable via selling ads and eventually digital and printed copies, but for that to happen we need to deliver on time releases, quality contend that’s creative and unique to this magazine, We have large competitors but we have the means to see this trough, we can make this a business, a business that can pay you and support you eventually, but first we need to have the public trust in us an in our magazine, that can only happen trough on time deliveries and good content, so that means we all need to work together as a team, we need to communicate and we need to say our say, to ensure last years mistakes do no get repeated. This can be done, we work around the clock to see this trough, last week I negotiated with American goths and we launched the AGS- the American Gothic Society, our first sister site, also making us now TWGS-The World Gothic Society, furthermore I’m negotiating with Australian goths and UK goths to the same end. We all want the same thing, we just need to find a working manner to work together to obtain it.
MGR
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Date: 24.05.2015 The Feature Type of Goth.
It’s the choice of making each issue unique. With each issue we will choose one type of Goth to feature in the magazine, the cover photo, be it a model, band or other artist will be done with the chosen type of Goth as the theme, the centerfold poster will also feature it.
With this we will write an full and in-depth article covering all the basics about this type of Goth, likes and dislikes, what their about, their origins , fashion and music for starters, including a full portrait photo showing such an Goth
Then in the various categories like fashion, an article or two will be written to feature and shed more light on the chosen type, Home and Garden, Music, Hair and Makeup... Our aim is to really promote and market this type of Goth
MGR
46 Dear readers I would like to start off by welcoming you to the SAGS, it is most fortunate to have you with us. You may have noticed that we have big plans that are currently under development. The SAGS has seemingly simple goals, but following the roots of these goals is not that simple. I have been working, tinkering, brainstorming and throwing ideas together for a few years now, and to be honest, the launch of the SAGS was unplanned and unscheduled. It simply happened through the courage I had received from a good friend. Our goal is straightforward; we want to unite the gothic culture in South Africa, bringing all types of goths together under one banner, thus forming our own society. We have various reasons accompanying this goal, such as friendship - not all of us are fortunate to have a friend in our area that shares our views or ideas. We usually hide from the human eye, yet we dress to impress, but yes it can be difficult to find company. Another point is to look at our youth or our baby goths; by us uniting we will be able to not only guide them but help them with life and the choices that are to follow in their lives as they come of age. By uniting under one banner we will be able to accomplish so much more. We have all seen or heard of the fancy annual goth events that are hosted in other countries as the goth Triffin in Germany and the Louisiana Vampire Ball and those are just a few things we would like to accomplish in our own country. We plan to host our very own events. We have the people and we have the numbers - it might not seem that way, but that's because there's no structure or communication amongst us.
That's something we as a society can change. We are currently planning a fully interactive web page along with its own forum and a proper gallery function where all the artists will be able to host and publish their works. With you, the reader, we can make this a success: we need you to communicate with us and inform us what you would like to accomplish with us. No two people are the same and that's one of the reasons we have different types of goths - we want you to express it. We want to offer something for everyone, but this means that again we will require you, the reader, to help us and inform us what it is that makes you YOU. We want the SAGS to be an interactive forum and not a formal business. We want to hear from you. We want to know your definition of Goth. What life events and challenges are you dealing with? What have you achieved and what are you planning next? We are open minded people. Our being is a way of life, a style and a culture on its own with multiple subcultures, and we want to know about it all and only with your help are we able to.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and thank you in advance my fellow goths. May you find as much joy "here" as we do in putting here "here?" -MGR
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