Goth Kiddies

I should be writing my German paper, but I'm not. Mostly because I wonder why there aren't any "real" goth "kids" at Kennedy, let alone in Cedar Rapids. It seems that here everyone that looks like they're apart of today's counterculture are really not, and rather teenagers trying to fit in (poseurs, one might say). I would really hate to label these people this; it's mean and they've experienced it since they were in middle school and began to shop at Hot Topic. But really, there is no music scene here in Eastern Iowa, so the ultimate goal here is to get attention. They are not dressing as a part of the scene, there is none. (Disclaimer: not everyone is a poseur here, there are a select few who participate in the goth / metal music scene. And they have every damn right to participate)

Peoples' perceptions about goths have changed as well. With the emergence of the Hardcore musical genre into the mainstream lay-people believe that they are one in the same. They are not. This is important because the emerging teens of this time period do not know the difference and attempt to assimilate themselves into the culture they know nothing about. They know nothing about the music and fashion, the social interactions other than what MTV and Fuse spew out to them. This identity crisis causes people who wear "goth" fashion (from Hot Topic) to enjoy hardcore bands that are, other than their distorted guitars, very different than Metal and goth.

I think I'm done with my rant. It was mostly spurred on by my attendance to the nightwish concert.