by Tom Jackson
Daily Cougar StaffPart One
In the early '80s, a new, underground lifestyle developed among the young and dramatically or artistically inclined. This movement was called gothic.
Followers of the movement led a nocturnal life and wore black clothing, black and white makeup and often dyed their hair black. These people, called gothics or goths, frequently had occult interests, including vampires, graveyards and witchcraft. Moody-sounding bands such as Joy Division, Siouxsie and the Banshees and Sisters of Mercy sprang up.
Gothic first became popular in London, where clubs like The Batcave created the gothic style and sound. The lifestyle then crossed over to the United States. By the late '80s, goth was dead.
One might occasionally spot a person in all black with the exotic makeup at an alternative club, but the scene had, for the most part, vanished.
Two years ago, gothic began to come back and has been growing since then. The movement is particularly strong in Atlanta, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, London and Berlin.
But what about Houston? As the fourth largest city in the nation, one would expect to find a scene with many participants. There are a handfull of goths in the city, but no real club or scene to speak of.
Goths are a stereotype-shattering bunch. They are as diverse as any other group of people, and most are quite friendly.
"I turned a valley girl into a goth. That was my big achievement of 1995," said "Reason," 24, a graduate student at Rice University from England.
He is tall and lanky, and his black, wavy hair is pulled back and tied to the neck. His attire consists of black pants, boots, jacket, scarf and no shirt. His face appears to be sporting a coat of base makeup, and his lips and eyelids have been painted black.
"I was a complete geek," Reason said, referring to himself at 18. He was in college, had been hurt by someone he cared about and was suffering from chemical depression. He decided to go home and toy around with designing computer software.
While at home in Plymouth, he fell in with a gothic crowd. He liked the stylishness and the music. He found most of the people to be intelligent and articulate.
There are many types of goths. A list is available on the Internet by doing Netsearch for "goth." Mopey goths, punk goths, perky goths, industrial goths and more exist in the gothic world.
"You have to laugh about everything. I'm a perky goth," Reason said. He calls himself an altruist and said he enjoys helping younger goths who are depressed and going through some of the same emotions and problems he experienced.
All of Reason's clothes are black. He said goth is "the bastard child of industrial, techno and metal music. It sucks you in."
He is fascinated by religion and the act of worship. He wonders if there is a God and if anyone cares. Reason said everyone needs to feel there is something bigger out there. He said Christianity and Satanism both have good things to say if you ignore their tangential aspects.
He is bisexual, though he is engaged to an American woman he met at a "funeral party."
When his family gave him grief over his sexuality, he severed all ties with them. He said most of the men involved in the gothic scene are bisexual.
Reason said the benefits of his involvement in the gothic world have made it a worthwhile experience. He loves the music, the dancing and helping the less fortunate. He calls his altruistic work "contact with lost souls."
"I'm here, it's now," he said.