is "Goth" a religion?

[Melusine]

Ah Epona, I agree with your point that music defines social identity so much more than other art forms do! I was merely replying to the slightly different point in Attalus' post.
I have no idea though... Some possible factors could be the fact that more people visit concerts than they do theatres and museums and more socialising goes on there (though that doesn't explain movies...). Maybe also that music has clearly defined genres to group yourself with... Also, would you say it's true that different types of music lovers often have the same tastes in other art forms as well? For example most death metal fans seem to like horror movies.
I'm grasping at straws here though, I really wouldn't know why music is such an important factor in a lot of people's identity.

i used to watch lots of horror films but I was only into heavy metal for a few years

There may be some correlation but i wouldn't know for certain. I prefer sci-fi/comedy these days butt my music has shifted to rock/celtic. These didn't occur simultaneously though

[Attalus]

Originally posted by Melusine: Umm.... this may be a completely ridiculous, far-fetched crazy idea Attalus... but most people I know say music means so much to them because it does! To me at least it has nothing to do with social stuff. It's great to meet people with similar tastes to you, as it's fun to chat about your favourites with someone who knows something about them, but that's as far as that goes. Not to say that I don't agree with you at all, I'm sure there we all go through phases as teens for example, where we adopt a style of music complete with fashion and social code, but I think that in an attempt to over-analyse, what we may be overlooking here is that there's another VERY good reason why art, music in this case, is of vital importance to people: simply because it gives them more fun in life. Getting tears in your eyes upon seeing a beautiful painting, gasping in astonishment at a brilliant piece of music enriches a lot of people's lives

Oh, no you don't, Melusine, no fair disagreeing with me and then sneakily agreeing. I never said anything about not knowing why people enjoy music at all. I once did and still do, every once in a while. That der ding am sich didn't work for Dr. Johnson, and I'm going to call you on it. Why do people enjoy music, in all cultures and all lands that we know of? Inuits make music with sealbone flutes, and Australian Aborigines use bullroarers. Is there something in our makeup that responds to changing tones and rhythms, sometimes with such lyrics? We know that people who are tone-deaf do not respond at all to music on any level, even percussion. And, I think, it is a valid point that the taste grows less as you get older. I know it did for me and most of my friends. We used to stay up until all hours, listening and discussing, but never, now. Does it have something to do with the reproductive instinct? Well, I still have that, witness my four year old. But, I wouldn't go across the street to hear a concert, even if the Beatles were to be miraculously reunited.

[Epona]

I'm not sure about musical enthusiasm lessening as we get older Attalus. I am more fanatical about music now than I ever was. My parents (in their mid 50s) go to gigs regularly, sometimes a couple of times a week, and there is always death metal or hardcore pounding from their house [img]graemlins/saywhat.gif[/img]
Perhaps it's more to do with having other responsibilities become more important, rather than the importance of music lessening?

[Attalus]

Hmm, your parents sound musical indeed, Epona. Perhaps you are right. Maybe music becomes "Just one of those things." But, I read that the record companies target the youthful age groups, 16-29 as the ones that buy all of the records. Perhaps older people like me have already bought all of our CD's? (I almost typed "records," which dates me.)

[Epona]

Originally posted by Attalus: Hmm, your parents sound musical indeed, Epona. Perhaps you are right. Maybe music becomes "Just one of those things." But, I read that the record companies target the youthful age groups, 16-29 as the ones that buy all of the records. Perhaps older people like me have already bought all of our CD's? (I almost typed "records," which dates me.)

I think 16-29 is when people are most likely to spend their income on things like music (I bet there's an acronym for it - Single Income No Kids or something like that!) - although I love music deeply, I spend less on CDs than I used to simply because I have a mortgage and a heap of bills that need paying every month!

Nothing wrong with records, I luv vinyl. Managed to blag my mum's few remaining records off her, including first press releases of 4 Beatles albums (original release of Please Please Me changes hands for up to £400 on e-bay I was shocked to find!!) and the album 'Every Little Bit Hurts' by The Spencer Davies Group who are one of my all time favourites, that Stevie Winwood couldn't half pen a tune! Although I love CDs, you don't get the pleasure of having a nice big sleeve and I've never thought background hiss was a bad thing. In fact many of the rare Soul and Ska tracks I have on CD are done from old recordings and are complete with scratches and noise. More atmospheric and somehow more authentic. One of my prized possessions is a late 60s Prince Buster 12" with the tracks 'One Step Beyond', 'Texas Hold Up' and 'Al Capone' - sheer class, and sounds better than the cleaned up Prince Buster tracks I have on CD.

Although I am in the process of burning some of my old records onto CD - to preserve the records from further damage and so I can listen to them on my portable CD player!

[Kaltia]

If it's any help the school goth stalks me...it's like some damn thriller movie, I'll be in the library and abruptly he'll pop out from behind a wardrobe (bookcase, damnit...what kind of library IS in my school???) grinning like...well, like Scott, I guess.
I count myself as a goth only when I'm trying to make people laugh...I'm am so NOT gothic it's like me saying "I'm butch" [img]tongue.gif[/img]

As for music, I'm skint all the time. Last album I bought was Nicklebacks and am regreting it as there's only 2 good songs on it Like the old grunge, Nirvana, Alice in Chains, etc. Am listening to celebrity skin by Hole. Courtney Love may be the nastiest tart on the block but Hole are actually pretty good.

[ 09-06-2002, 02:01 PM: Message edited by: Kaltia ]

Originally posted by Epona: I think 16-29 is when people are most likely to spend their income on things like music (I bet there's an acronym for it - Single Income No Kids or something like that!) - That would be the "SINKS" Then there are the "DINKS" (Dual Income No Kids) [img]smile.gif[/img]

Originally posted by Kaltia: I count myself as a goth only when I'm trying to make people laugh...I'm am so NOT gothic it's like me saying "I'm butch" [img]tongue.gif[/img]

So are you a Butch Goth? [img]smile.gif[/img]

[FelixJaeger]

hmmn a butch goth, that was obviously blatant twisting of Kaltia's words...but it was still funny hmmn where has this thread turned out im confused? is it still on topic? gone into spamsville or has it became the music discussion i imagined it?
hmmn now i need something to put....
Felix