I've never minded the term aesthetic. But I do agree that fast fashion needs to be put to a stop, that it's ruining the true definition of cultures and subcultures such as goth, punk, grunge and even turning people's cultures into aesthetics which I think is entirely inappropriate for them to make a claim on.
I believe alt subcultures are so much more than a trend. I got into gothic music and even emo music, I've always liked both. When I was in middle school. I liked the music, the literature, dark things before I even found the fashion and fell in love with it.
I've always been an eco warrior, anti capitalist etc. And found that my true self was goth. I can like things that aren't goth. It doesn't make me less goth. But that's the difference between someone whose in a subculture and someone whose doing it for the trend.
I always say be who you are, truly and authentically. Don't hide behind what's trending.
I have no hate towards the word aesthetic itself. But I do see the harm in what capitalism has done using aesthetic culture.
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some people can’t dress goth even when they are because of the following: they can’t afford clothes(ofc u can dress goth without dollskill or killstar shit, like thrifting and DIY are cheap but ykwim, some can’t), can’t dress that way bc of family, society, job, or school.
OR SOME just like the music and don’t care to appear as such (uncommon but possible).
This doesn’t apply to me, as i love to dress goth! but, that doesn’t mean i have any right to shame those who can’t/don’t.
There’s days where i dress blandly, like a normie with a t-shirt and jeans, but that’s usually because i have something to do that day such as work on cars and i don’t wanna get my fav goth outfits dirty! Or when i’m at school, i tone it down a fair bit (school is a scary place lol)
There’s nothing wrong with being a goth person and not dressing like it. ITS A MUSIC SUBCULTURE!! but killer fashion definitely helps and is super fun
and no, not all goths have to be trad, other forms of goth are cool too!
and liking things that aren’t goth doesn’t make you any less goth.
I feel really sorry for goths who don't live anywhere with an actual, in-person goth scene because that means all they get of other goths is Internet people being stupid. No one at in-person events is debating the precise definition of goth, quizzing you to see how many bands you've heard of, or calling you a poser for wearing a Tom Waits shirt instead of a Bauhaus shirt. That's Internet nonsense right there. People just assume that, if you're at a show, you probably like at least one of the bands performing and, even if you haven't heard of any of them, you're curious enough to support them, coming out to support little bands is good! And I've yet to come across a band say to someone, "sorry, you don't like these specific bands or weren't in the scene for more than x years, so I'm not going to let you buy any of my merch." Most of them are happy to have the support, no matter how involved you are. Another plus: because most shows have smaller, newer bands and most DJ nights play newer bands as well (well, depends on the DJ and usually it's a mix, but I digress), you won't run into people who think that bands who started after 1985 don't count.