The term 'goth' has been used to describe a wide variety of dark and macabre fashion styles since the early 2000s. Goth style often draws heavily on themes such as death, decadence, and elegance, which have been associated with various Gothic movements and individuals throughout history. Gavin Baddeley has written extensively about this linear progression of Gothic culture, which he states has journeyed from the fourth-century Goths and their 'grotesque' art and sculpture, through two hundred years of literature and fashion, to twentieth-century horror genres in television and cinema, and finally to present-day Goths.
This notion of a centuries-old tradition that has been revived in the early 2000s has obvious appeal and convenience, even to Goths. However, this idea of a continuous lineage from the early Goths to the modern-day Goths is not entirely accurate. Goth culture owes more to post-1960s developments in popular music culture than to literary, artistic, or cinematic traditions. This is evidenced by the fact that many of the current Goth fashion trends are based on the styles of alternative rock bands.
Therefore, while it is convenient to view modern Goth culture as the latest product of a coherent centuries-old tradition, this is not entirely true. Goth culture has been heavily influenced by post-1960s developments in popular music culture, and this has been a major factor in its development and evolution.
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