NME and Sounds reputedly took the term Gothic from Siouxsie Sioux (of the Banshees) who used it to describe the new direction for her band. However the earliest significant usage of the term (as applied to music) was by Anthony H. Wilson who was overcome by a rare moment of lucidity on a 1978 BBC TV program when he described Joy Division as Gothic compared with the pop mainstream.

Gothdom embraces all religions, all denominations and all races. Many Goths are atheists and a sizable minority are new age spiritualists, Wiccans and members of other alternative religious groups. There are Christian Goths. Basically Goth is not about religion, but with the imagery of religion. May goths wear crosses or ankhs, and there are many religious references in goth songs, but it is not a religious movement. Goth uses religous imagery in some songs. Christian Death are big on this.

Its available via anonymous FTP at ftp.maths.tcd.ie in /pub/music/gothic/ as 'the_goth_test'. It can also be found in Take a Bite 1.0 - jokingly subtitled 'the net.goth handbook', which is also available at the same site.

Artistically, yes. Socially, probably not. Goths don't try to recruit normal people and they don't care whether the mainstream appropriates aspects of gothic culture. They mostly want to be left alone. It's widely believed that you can't learn to be goth; it's some personality type that you either have or you don't.

Subject: 3.2 Where did the term 'Gothic' come from? Subject: 3.3 What the history of the goth movement? Subject: 3.4 Is goth about religion? Subject: 3.5 What does gothic music sound like? Subject: 3.6 So what does the word 'goth' mean.

The term 'Goth' was used by Ian Astbury who described Andi Sex Gang as a 'gothic pixie' and popularised by the UK music magazines New Musical Express and Sounds (NME) and was used to describe a class of music. For some people that music became the basis for a 'way of life'. They brought their own backgrounds and interests along and a sub-culture was formed and it took for itself the name Gothic.

There is a huge music archive available via anonymous FTP at ftp.uwp.edu:/pub/music. If a band isnt at the goth archive, it might very well be at the main music archive. There are also a number of goth World Wide Web servers out there, and the following should get you started, and most have links to other sites.

The words net.goth in lower case should be written on them somewhere. The jacket arm just below the shoulder is recommended by Sexbat (but he may be teasing you - be warned :-)

The Pre-Raphaelites were an artistic movement in Victorian England. They were part of the revival of Gothic architecture. Their art is stunning - try and see the originals if you can.

There is a full list of internation clubs maintained by digitar (digitar@io.org). Email him for a copy, or FTP 'GothClubs' from the goth archive at ftp.maths.tcd.ie:/pub/music/gothic. There is also a hypertext version at http://www.vamp.org/Gothic/clublist.html. Please email in any additions you might have to digitar's list.

Glad you asked. First of all, be nice. alt.gothic has had a reputation for being a little bit, erm, 'heated' at times. Before posting a question, do a little digging, for starters read this fine piece of work :) - if you can't find an answer, then post it. Religion is always a hotly debated issue, if you feel you must post religious questions or topics, please try not to preach or proselytize. Marilyn Manson.

Sandman - written by Neil Gaiman and published by Vertigo. Also various offshoot projects: Books of magic, High Cost of Living (about his sister, Death) etc. The Crow TPB (Trade Paperback) reprints ALL Crow stories/art published in 1993 by Kitchen Sink Press ($15.95 US coverprice) Love and Rockets - (sort of punk/goth) by Los Bros Hernandez, published by Fantagraphics. This is where the band name came from by the way.

alt.gothic.fashion FAQ <http://www.ravenmoon.us/agf/ (Who's computer is this?) >. It contains all