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| Articles: The Importance of Words |
Posted by
callei on Thursday, April 04, 2002 - 04:08 AM PST
The word "goth" has been around a long time, as much as 3000 years. It is important to understand what it has meant so that we can understand why people get mad about the label today. These are some of the important facts about "gothness" in history. There are links at the bottom so that you can read more, if you want.
About 3000 years ago there were 3 main groups in Europe, the Vandals(Western Europe), the Goths(South- Eastern Europe) and the Scandinavians(Northern Europe). The Goths could be split into three groups as well, the Visigoths in Eastern Europe, the Goths in central Europe, and the Ostrogoths around the black forest. These "goth" groups had problems with the Huns, the Roman Empire, and eventually their descendants went on to be part of the power structure in early Spain.
There are many theories about where the word "goth' came from, but most linguists and archaeologists agree that it probably comes from the word "to pour" as in to pour out semen. This is a very common way for a group of people to name themselves because it means "the people" as in "the people that came from their gods' sperm". Many cultures used to call themselves "the people" and call everyone else "the non-people".
Most of what we know about the Goths we have learned from old Roman writings and from early catholic writings. For example, we know that the Visigoths started a heresy call Aryanism, that the Huns kept raiding their lands, that they lived north of the Danube River in what is today Moldova and Romania, that they fought both with and for the Roman Empire, and that they had high kings.
The Roman Empire hired them to hold off the Huns, but then didn't pay them. The Roman Empire, which was at least partially run by the Catholic Church, tried to ban their new version of Christianity.
Therefore, the Visigoths banded together and attacked the Roman Empire. Many of them eventually settled in what is now Spain and because of their wealth and their knowledge became part of the power structure.
About 1500 years later, the first gothic cathedral was erected in France. During this gothic period, illuminated manuscripts, pigments for paints, textile production, farming, and trade all came into being or got a lot more prominent. The cathedrals are very light and airy, full of unnecessary beauty. The walls tell the stories of the saints, the stain glass windows tell the stories of the bible, and the out side walls of the cathedrals are covered in stories about how to live properly. Also the Illuminated texts are full of a different way of looking at, and interacting with, their beliefs. The change in technologies and the change in social attitudes about religion are two of the most important facets of this period.
The gothic revival of the Victorian times that occurred in Europe and the U.S. was actually a revival not just of architecture, although many buildings were built in that style, but also a revival of the religiosity, superstition, and culture of the middle ages. There were many important writers that wrote that called for a return to the "old fashioned" (highly religious, superstitious, and feudalistic) ways of the middle ages and the gothic novel was introduced to the market. The old fashioned" was the basis of gothic novels. This gothic period also came with lots of technological changes. This is the period of the industrial revolution, Darwinism, and wide spread literacy.
This most recent use of the word "goth" to describe a style of life art (fashion, music, arts, and philosophy) has not been typified by the vibrant colors of the middle ages, but instead the somber colors of the Victorian gothic era. The religiosity of the middle ages is being revived as seen in the religious symbols and debates that typify the 'new' goth community. It is interesting to note that the resurgence of goth has coincided with the digital revolution and a new kind of literacy and a new importance in the written word.
It is interesting to see that the word goth has been linked to Romania for millennia. The Visigoths and the Goths both went thru their and made their homes there and made stories about the place. Bram Stoker's Dracula even started and ended there. These days many stories based around the same area and the Gypsies that come from that same area.
Writing has been important to all the different groups of goth. The first Goths wrote a new bible in a new alphabet so that more people could read it. They broke from tradition in doing this. The second Goths wrote stories in a new way in picture on the walls and windows of their churches so that more people could read them. They broke with tradition to build their churches and to decorate them so vibrantly. The third Goths wrote about new topics and wrote in a new way that was more accessible to the average reader. They wrote about the supernatural when science was becoming the new religion. The most recent Goths write on the internet (another new way to write) and write about things that are against tradition as well (S&M, paganism, vegetarianism etc).
If we compare the Victorian gothic writing with today's we see some major differences. They called for a return to older ways by showing how awful the ideal of isolation is. Today we show the joys of group association. The Victorians often had unconsummated love and the horror of having to choose between two loves. Today we write about consummated lust and the joy of not having to choose between lovers.
Nevertheless, the writings are very similar too. The gothic novel went against the idea that man could know all. The new gothic novel (or article or post or website) says that our empire is corrupt, that sex is still good, and that fashion is not important. Both periods refuse to go with the mainstream beliefs. Both periods hang on to their superstitions and revel in the unknowable.
Comparing the new Goths to the Goths of the Middle Ages shows us a similar creativity, a similar drive to tell stories, and a similar adherence to superstition. We see the same thing when we compare the Visigothic writings with the other three groups; a rebuttal of the mainstream, an allegiance to their superstitions (the heresy), strong creativity, and the importance of widespread understanding.
some links for background reading
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Valens
Theodosius I
Honorius
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| The Importance of Words | Login/Create an account | 13 Comments |
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Re: The Importance of Words
by Rogue (Rogue@skew.org)
on Apr 04, 2002 - 04:46 AM
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Thanks once again, Callei, for lighting the candle of knowledge in our collective brain pans, and for elegantly placing three millennia in the palm of our hands (it's better than what is usually there)... Now if I could remember how to read Anglish I have some reading to do...
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Neato
by VampCourt (Morbidchic@hotmail.com)
on Apr 04, 2002 - 08:01 AM
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http://www.geocities.com/vampcourt/index.html?1017202482720
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Very cool lil report there. I actually got into a disscusion with a 42 yr old goth lady i met out on the west coast and we were talking about the history behind..basically.. us.. and she also mentioned the Bohemians as a gothic background.. along with the Gypsys.. It was really interesting. if only i could remember the whole conversation.. :P
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Re: The Importance of Words
by callei (plyn@plynlymon.com)
on Apr 04, 2002 - 09:42 AM
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http://www.plynlymon.com
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This is a terribly simplified version of the paper that i am workingon, and i left out all the bits about WHY goth seems to reappear in times of massive change, the importance of the oral tradion (story telling), and a bunch of other stuff.
I just thought it was neat that the sounds that make up the word goth have been associated with non-joiners and writeing for a looooong time, since we are actively upholding that tradition.
And yes the gypsies and the Bohemes are both valuable to this world view; the gypsies are synonamous with NOT JOINING, and the boheme (artistic, passionate, and (giggle( black clad) are more conteperary and likey from a similar historical urge.
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Re: The Importance of Words
by bettie_x (strangersangel@hotmail.com)
on Apr 04, 2002 - 09:25 PM
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http://bettie_x.tripod.com/strangeasangels/
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I love it when you're on a mission or having nothing to do, c :)
and the best thing of all is.....NOBODY CAN CRY BECAUSE IT'S HISTORICALLY SOUND! bwahahahahhaha
I think this better suits the situation than the "began as a post anti flowerchild dying glamrock heels of punk romantic revitalization worshipping death and dressing as His henchmen..."
You just made me want to dig out that book on gothic architechture I have mouldering on a cheap book case by my couch...
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Re: The Importance of Words
by gothvail (vail@gothicamateur.com)
on Apr 05, 2002 - 07:16 AM
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http://www.gothicamateur.com
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Interesting historical trivia: go?i (pronounced "go-thi" I believe) was the ancient Norse word for "god", but may originally have been than name of a feared and revered tribe to with the original Thor, Odin, Freya, etc... belonged. This is what I get for taking too much Viking history.
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Re: The Importance of Words
by Maranda (saboneta@aol.com)
on Apr 06, 2002 - 06:54 AM
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A fascinating microcosm of history. Thank you for enlightening us.
Anyone seriously interested in Gothic history should definitely study the history of Spain. Every culture that moved through there left a visible mark on the country that is still visible today.
Including, unfortunately, the marginalization of Gypsies, which as you point out originate in Spain along the same paths as Goths.
I went to Spain in 1985. I have always been grateful for the opportunity to visit such a beautiful and fascinating country. There are many buildings of historic interest, and as we were touring one of them, our tour guide pointed to a dark-haired man working on an exquisite fresco. Our guide explained that the man was a Gypsy, but "we let him stay anyway, since he is an artist".
I asked him later what he was doing. He was an art historian and painter who was restoring a beautiful fresco in the main hallway. He got the job because he was one of the only men in the country who had the right experience. And so they "let him stay". How thoughtful.
Most of the Gypsies we saw in the streets were panhandlers and fortune-tellers, but I know there are many who are an integral part of modern Spanish culture. And this is the respect they get?
I guess racism exists everywhere. Fortunately, so do things of beauty and the talented people who create them.
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