tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29309177362330751632023-11-15T09:02:16.629-08:00EldergothCentralTurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08586962942841125167noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930917736233075163.post-82647574687898726372018-02-15T00:34:00.000-08:002018-02-15T00:34:36.147-08:00The Gothic & Lolita Bible - a gothic style touchstone. Way back in 2001 I
fell in love with a magazine called the Gothic & Lolita Bible. The text
was in Japanese, but honestly, it was all about the photos. Created by visual kei musicians Mana and Kana the Gothic & Lolita bible was full of amazing pictures of gorgeous people wearing ornate and beautiful clothing. It was like a Sears catalog for angelic freaks.<br />
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Although none of the clothing was available in the US (and buying things on the internet was still kind of sketchy proposition) this quarterly publication became a vitally important inspiration for a community which was already starting to rebel against the gaunt fetish look popularized in the pages of Propaganda and other gothic publications.<br />
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Lolita style embraced (and still embraces) an almost roccoco aesthetic, proudly proclaiming that the more ruffles, sashes, crowns and crinolines you can stick to yourself the better. If you look like your name should be announced by a servant upon entering a room, you're pretty much there. Because it originated as part of a cultural backlash against
sophisticated fashions that only looked good on tall,
rail-thin, fashion models. Lolita clothing, with its confectionary
layers of crinolines, and its predelection for full, flouncy, skirts is
flattering on a a wide range of body types. As the Lolita Bible began to influence the American goth scene, the creak of leather, and rattle of chains was soon joined by the rustling of petticoats. Rubber shirts soon shared closet space with elegant waistcoats, and perfectly cut trousers. <br />
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In addition to providing a remedy for fashion enui, the Gothic & Lolita Bible was also gateway drug to Japanese culture. After all, we had to go out of our comfort zone, and into Asian bookstores if we wanted to get our hands on it...and along the way many of us stumbled into anime and manga. I personally worked my way through the Dirty Pair (a couple of adorable lady spies, who inevitably left mass destruction in their wake), Ranma 1/2 (a young boy who turned into a girl whenever he got wet - with hilarious results), the death-rock hijinks of Detroit Metal City, and eventually into the darker works of the profoundly disturbing genius Junji Ito. I deeply love all of these things, and I am eternally grateful for them.<br />
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Even though I am a bit long in the tooth to pull off the full-on Lolita style, I still take inspiration from it. I love my full skirts and crinolines, coffin shaped purses, and bat winged backpacks. And I still love anime and manga. I owe much of that to having been lucky enough to discover the Gothic & Lolita Bible.<br />
<br />Turahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08586962942841125167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930917736233075163.post-14283764719807716832018-01-07T12:34:00.004-08:002018-01-07T12:34:58.884-08:00Gothic Film 101 and 201 - notes and upcoming screenings
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In the Spring of 2017, Eldergoth Central began sponsoring a
series of film classes at Scarecrow Video in Seattle. Eldergoth Central is a
facebook group and online resource for aging members of the gothic and punk
subcultures. </div>
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The first series, Gothic Film 101, covered the basics
elements of Gothic film and literature. We showed five films - Jane Eyre
(1943), The Haunting (1963) Sunset Boulevard (1949) I Walked With A Zombie
(1943). In the Fall of 2017 we followed that up with Gothic Film 101 part 2:
Gothic Ghosts and shadows. For this series we showed The Innocents (1961), The
Uninvited (1944) , and Crimson Peak (2015).</div>
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Although every film in the Gothic Film: 101 series is
different from every other, they all fall into the same genre and are defined
in both film and literature by one or more of these seven tropes.</div>
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1. The Gothic heroine is usually an innocent young woman who
is placed in a setting which makes her uncomfortable, often physically (drafty
old castle) as well as morally/spiritually. In some films, such as Sunset
Boulevard, the heroine is a male character who fulfills the same role. </div>
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2. The Gothic hero is tall, dark, brooding, and emotionally
unavailable. He is often hiding a tragic secret, or hiding from a dark past.
The Gothic heroine with love him and fear him in equal measure. Hero characters
are not always male, in The Haunting, the role of the hero is taken on by Hill
House itself. </div>
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3. The Gothic environment is always in a state of decay,
whether that be a crumbling mansion, a castle that has seen better days, or an
antebellum plantation slowly being reclaimed by the swamps. This environment is
reflected in the crumbling sanity or emotional state of at least one of the
characters. In Roger Corman's Fall of the House of Usher, both the mansion and
the Usher family are falling into ruins. </div>
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4. Hints of deviance. The Gothic imagination is rife with
family secrets, murders, unhappy marriages, bastard children, and incest -
whether spelled out specifically, or hinted at. It is exemplified in the
unhappy relationship between Thomas and Lucille Sharp in Crimson Peak, or the
strange secret moments shared by the children in The Innocents. </div>
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5. The weather. A thunderclap is the ALL CAPS of the Gothic.
When there is a deafening crash of thunder, it means that something big is
happening, or is about to happen. Other popular weather options include sudden
gusts of wind, mists and fogs, mysterious cold spots, and pretty much anything
that happens on the moors including moonlight, sunlight, and the scent of wild
heather. </div>
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6. The past intruding on the present. There is nothing a
Gothic writer loves more than a good old-fashioned family curse, an evocative
painting with a story to tell, or a ghostly apparition. The Gothic character cannot
exist fully in the here and now, but must be constantly pursued and haunted by
something from his or her past. In Rebecca, the young heroine is haunted by the
fear that she will not measure up to the standards set by her husband’s
deceased wife. In Jane Eyre, Mr. Rochester is haunted by his disastrous first
marriage to a madwoman. </div>
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7. A hint of brimstone. Not every Gothic story has a
supernatural element, but many of the true classics do. In Wuthering Heights,
it is the ghostly palm print of a young woman on an icy windowpane, in I Walked
With A Zombie it is the mysterious power of the Voodoo priest, in Sunset
Boulevard - the ghostly presence of Norma Desmond, alive but haunting her own
home.</div>
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In 2018, I will be continuing with the gothic films series,
this time focusing on the seven films that constitute Roger Corman’s Poe Cycle.
Instead of discussing how these films fit the definition of Gothic, I’ll be
talking about their influence and background. We will have the chance to read
the original works by Poe, learn about 1960’s low-budget horror films, and
enjoy Vincent Price in his heyday as master of the macabre. </div>
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Gothic Film 201: Corman’s Poe Cycle, will be presented every
3rd Thursday at 8pm in the Scarecrow Video screening room at 5030 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle
Wa. 98105
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· January 18th -House of Usher
(1960) </div>
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· February 15th -The Pit and
the Pendulum (1961)</div>
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· March 15th -Premature Burial
(1962)</div>
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· April 17th - The Raven
(1963)</div>
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· May 17th- Masque of the Red
Death (1964)</div>
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· June 21st – Haunted Palace
(1963)</div>
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We will take a break during July and August, and the series will
resume in September </div>
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Turahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08586962942841125167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930917736233075163.post-66348034794068793592017-12-07T14:20:00.000-08:002017-12-07T14:21:29.145-08:00Holiday Shopping Guide Whether you call it Christmas, Yule, the Holiday Season, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or simply "Oh god, is it THAT time of year again", you will probably find yourself in the market for some gifts, and if you have one or more family members of the gothic persuasion it can be hard to find just the right present.<br />
Here are a few of my favorite sites. <br />
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<b>Clothing:</b><br />
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One of the best kept secrets of gothic clothes shopping is Chicstar. They make many of the clothes that you will find on other sites, but their prices are better - and yes, they DO have plus sizes, but they don't seem to have menswear. Sorry guys. <br />
<a href="https://i.chicstar.com/index.php/shop" target="_blank">ChicStar</a><br />
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Dracula Clothing: Although I haven't shopped through them personally, Dracula Clothing has decent prices, and a good looking line of menswear. <br />
<a href="https://draculaclothing.com/">https://draculaclothing.com/</a><br />
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Wild West Mercantile: Are you looking for a puffy sleeved shirt to compliment a victorian outfit? A snazzy western shirt for a cool gothabilly look? Check out Wild West Mercantile. They've got a huge selection, including costume pieces and accessories. This is a good source for basic steampunk stuff as well. <br />
<a href="https://www.wwmerc.com/cgi-bin/Category.cgi?category=home&type=store" target="_blank">Wild West Mercantile </a><br />
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If you are looking for a beautiful accent scarf, or a special hand made dress or ritual cloak, Autumn Moon has a great selection, and as an added bonus it is Eldergoth owned and operated. <br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/AutumnMoonEnchant/items">Autumn Moon Enchantment</a><br />
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<b>Jewelry:</b><br />
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Some of the most beautiful and inspired gothic jewelry comes from high-end seller Bloodmilk Jewels. I love almost everything on their site - and just because I can't afford it, doesn't mean I can't windowshop! <br />
<a href="https://www.bloodmilkjewels.com/">Bloodmilk </a><br />
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If you are a UK shopper, and your wallet isn't bursting at the seams, you can find cute, inexpensive handmade jewelry at Metal Liquor.<br />
<a href="http://www.metalliquor.co.uk/" target="_blank"> Metal Liquor UK</a><br />
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TM Originals is a Seattle based jewelry company owned and operated by one of our very own Eldergoths. She works in enamels, metals, and with resin. I love the coffin necklaces. <br />
<a href="http://www.tmoriginalsjewelry.com/" target="_blank">TM Originals</a><br />
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Jason Soles is a multi-media artist who creates work in resin and bronze, I'm including him in the jewelry section because I love his bronze vertibrae necklaces. <br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/mrsoles?ref=l2-shopheader-name">Mr. Soles Etsy Shop</a><br />
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Plesiosaur sells adorable enamel pins of octopus, cuttlefish, and other adorable animals.<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/OhPlesiosaur/items">Cute Animal Friends! </a><br />
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<b>Household Goods</b><br />
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Candles make everything more gothic.<b> </b>Whether<b> </b>you're sneaking down a staircase in your nightgown, or mastering the art of Vampiric Seduction™, you are going to need mood lighting...preferably mood lighting that smells nice.<br />
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With scents ranging from Absinthe, to Coffin dark candles offers a wide range of candles hand crafted for those who fear the light. <br />
<a href="http://www.darkcandles.com/">Dark Candles</a><br />
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If you prefer unscented candles that look ghoulishly gorgeous, then Grave Digger Candles is going to be your favorite place ever. I'm in love with their signature spinal column candles, and vertibrae tealights.<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/GraveDiggerCandles?ref=related-shop-1#items" target="_blank">Grave Digger Candles</a><br />
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I love tea - and although I have plenty of sturdy coffee mugs lying around the place, there are plenty of times when only a fancy tea cup will do. Angioletti Designs provides a wide array of teacups decorated with skulls, bats, and attitude.<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/AngiolettiDesigns?ref=l2-shopheader-name">Angioletti Design</a><br />
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Who doesn't love movies? If you are looking for great prices on original (not reprints or reproduction) movie posters check these guys out. They auction thousands of posters every week. Honestly I can't even look at this site until I get more wallspace. <br />
<a href="http://www.emovieposter.com/" target="_blank">Movie Posters</a><br />
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<b>Monsters and <span class="_Tgc">miscellaneous</span> horrors: </b><br />
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Ann Koi has been making monsters for most of her life, she paints, she sculpts, she does resin casting, and she even wrote and illustrated her own graphic novel. Visit her site and get yourself something strange.<br />
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Tinplate Studios claim to be mostly steampunk, but if you look past the airships, you'll find plenty of straight-up horror pieces. Everything from Lovecraft inspired beasties in jars, to teacups containing very special surprises.<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/tinplatestudios#items" target="_blank">Tinplate Studios</a> <br />
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As John Waters once said "If you go to someone's house and they don't have books, don't fuck them" La Creeperie is a site that specializes in horror books, if you grew up loving the cheesy paperbacks of the 80's and 90's La Creeperie will steal your heart.<br />
<a href="https://www.lacreeperie.com/" target="_blank">La Creeperie</a><br />
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Tormented Artifacts have little leathery wings that you can add to boots, backpacks, or whatever. They also have masks, purses, and a whole lot of leather. <br />
<a href="http://www.tormentedartifacts.com/" target="_blank">Tormented Artifacts</a><br />
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<br />Turahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08586962942841125167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930917736233075163.post-13079080551904628792017-03-28T14:58:00.000-07:002017-03-28T15:19:41.788-07:00Propaganda Magazine and the birth of the übergoth. <style>
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If you were a goth in the 1990’s you probably remember Propaganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a low budget, black and white magazine that was vital to goth culture in America. </div>
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Between the music reviews and adverts for cassette singles of up and coming goth, industrial, and punk bands, there were gorgeous models lounging on tombstones, entangled in fishnets, or resting (one would hope) peacefully in exquisitely fitted coffins. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pale and slender with heavy lidded eyes and languid postures, these exquisite creatures inspired a generation. We saw them laid across the page like freshly cut lilies and projected ghostly and dim on the walls of countless club nights and after parties. For better or worse, they were guideposts to what we were supposed to be. </div>
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Back in the day, or more appropriately, the night, Propaganda was the only guide we had to help us navigate the dark waters of our personal weirdness, and many of us still have stacks of back issues hidden away like nostalgia landmines waiting to go off the minute we open that box in the back of the closet.<br />
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In addition to helping create the American gothic subculture, Propaganda defined the way that goth was supposed to look. There were two basic styles in Propaganda, fetish and aesthetic, but in the real-life subculture, there was much more going on. Post punks and early goths came in all shapes, sizes and colors. We took our cues from glam, punk, horror, and metal – taking what we liked from wherever we found inspiration. <br />
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Before the carefully curated images in Propaganda, goths expressed ourselves differently. It wasn’t just attractive people in poet shirts draping themselves over tombstones (Dave Vanian being a delightful exception) there was also HUGE hair, bright colors, and the many of the trappings of the Punk movement from which we were still emerging. I will NEVER stop loving huge, colorful deathhawks. Sorry...not sorry.<br />
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The advent of Propaganda, with its focus on decadence and fetishism added refinement to what had, before then, been a riotous melting pot of ideas and inspirations, but it also gave people the idea that there was a right way to be gothic, and that people who weren’t pretty enough, pale enough, or slender enough were somehow doing it wrong. Early photos show goths of all shapes and sizes, and I was struck by how much fun they all seemed to be having. Post Propaganda goths weren’t dour and joyless, but they did take themselves more seriously.<br />
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It was during the 90’s that I first noticed how strongly goths were embracing the concept of gatekeeping. Suddenly everyone had gotten the idea that people who were less informed about music, fashion, and the Vampire Lestat, were clearly poseurs who were bringing the tone down for all us* <br />
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Some of this attitude came directly from people's interpretation of Propaganda, although I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the malign influence of Steve Strange during his tyrannical reign as enfant terrible of London’s new romantics as another factor. It got so ridiculous that here was a point in the 90’s when just stepping into a goth club was like being thrust into an all fake vampire production of Dangerous Liaisons. (I still have my fangs and folding fan).<br />
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It has only been in recent years that we've started to step back from the idea, that in order to be properly gothic one has to fit a specific set of physical and philosophical characteristics. Goths can be any age, shape or color, and as much as I love the little collection of nostalgia bombs, I have to acknowledge that sometimes the things that bring us together, are also the things which push us away from each other. Propaganda was vital to the development of our subculture, but it also contributed to the rise of the übergoth<br />
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It's time to step away from gatekeeping and exclusion, and embrace people with new ideas and outlooks. If we are to continue to thrive as a subculture we should be welcoming new people into the fold, not complaining because these kids today are calling it “emo” and getting it all wrong. <br />
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* Never mind the fact that the “tone” of which we speak consisted of dancing around to songs about beers, queers and steers and having incredibly dramatic meltdowns because we couldn’t face the harsh reality of last call. </div>
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Turahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08586962942841125167noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930917736233075163.post-22766569447081110362017-03-01T19:08:00.003-08:002017-03-01T19:08:47.053-08:00Gothic Films 101 free film class! On the 3rd Thursday of each month, I will be teaching a gothic film class at Scarecrow Video in Seattle.<br />
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Before each screening we will talk about the basic elements that define
the gothic genre, and afterward there will be a discussion about
whether or not the film fits into the genre. <br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<br />
March 16th - Jane Eyre<br /> April 20th - The Haunting<br /> May 25th- Sunset Boulevard<br /> June 15th - I Walked with a Zombie <br />
<br />
Scarecrow Video is located at 5030 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, Wa. 98105<br /> Screenings are free to the public and start at 7PM.</div>
Turahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08586962942841125167noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930917736233075163.post-35104963908078202082017-02-15T13:24:00.003-08:002017-02-15T13:24:50.592-08:00Seattle Eldergoth Meetup! <div class="_5pbx userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="js_df">
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Join us for an eldergoth meet-up in Seattle next week. <br />
<br />
Wednesday February 22nd. <br />
Northstar Cafe:<br />
8580 Greenwood Ave N. ( the big, green building that used to be a Chinese restaurant) <br />
Time: 8 P.M.<br />
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This is an informal, hang out and get to know each other event - you don't have to dress up unless you want to.<br />
<br />
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Reply to this post if you plan on joining us so that I can be sure we've got enough seating.</div>
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<a class="_4-eo _2t9n" data-render-location="group" data-testid="theater_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10210909421563509&set=gm.413906815615457&type=3" rel="theater" style="width: 476px;">
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Turahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08586962942841125167noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930917736233075163.post-82439708336746337492017-01-19T14:44:00.000-08:002017-01-19T14:44:11.446-08:00Bats Day at the Fun Park For those of you who aren't into the whole Disney thing, <a href="http://www.batsday.net/" target="_blank">Bats Day</a> is an yearly event in which goths from all over the world swoop into Anaheim and attempt to overrun Disneyland. I'm told that it is great fun for goths of all ages. The 2017 event will be my first ever Bats Day, and I am already putting together park friendly outfits - even though the event doesn't happen until May.<br />
<br />
My past experiences being goth at Disneyland have been, for the most part, extremely positive.<br />
The one less-than-stellar memory I have is of a time when <a href="http://www.gothic-charm-school.com/" target="_blank">Jillian Venters</a> and I were trailed through the park by a rather zealous church group, who felt it appropriate to pray for our souls, and sing hymms to us until park security politely asked them to leave us alone. It was here that Jillian truly earned the title of gothic Miss Manners, not by being kind to our dogged Christian pursuers, but by convincing me not to fly into one of my infamous fits of temper and attempt to rend them limb from limb. <br />
<br />
Fortunately for all of us, <a href="http://www.gothic-charm-school.com/" target="_blank">The Lady of Manners</a> dragged me away from these misguided evangelists and onto the nearest ride. Unfortunately for all, that ride was It's A Small World. By the time the ride was finished, I was either pacified, or beaten into submission by the relentlessly cheerful promise of a world united by friendship. I was mortified and angry at the time, but today it is one of my favorite Disney memories. Time, distance, and a sense of humor are great healers. <br />
<br />
I am excited for Bats Day at the park because I've never really been with crowds of goths outside of a club situation. I can't wait to see what we look like in broad daylight (albeit protected by parasols, sunscreen, and big hats). I really hope to see some of you there. <br />
<br />
<br />
If you are going, here are a few helpful hints for surviving the California Sun.<br />
<br />
1. Sunscreen: Wear it, and don't forget the back of your neck. I always forget the back of my neck. <br />
<br />
2. Shoes: Comfort is more important than looks, but if you must wear crocs (I have knee and foot pain and they are often the only things that don't hurt me) try and get the black ones. <br />
<br />
3. Parasols: These are lifesavers when you are stuck outside, but can be dangerous in a tightly packed crowd. Try not to put anyone's eye out. <br />
<br />
4. Did you know they make <a href="https://arcticcool.com/shop/womens-tank-top/" target="_blank">black t-shirts that get cooler when you sweat</a>? Search for "cooling tank top" on Amazon, and you'll find lots of other options as well.<br />
<br />
5. Why don't they make bras out of that cooling T-shirt fabric? Because
they hate our boobs, that's why. Improvise by tucking a damp paper towel or lacy
handkerchief into your ensemble. Re-dampen as needed. <br />
<br />
6. Dress to survive the heat : PVC looks great at the club, but they it will turn on you like a rabid badger if you wear it in direct sunlight on a hot day. Yes, I am the sad voice of experience. Cotton and lace are your friends. <br />
<br />
7. Stay hydrated: Bring a water bottle, fill it up at the drinking fountain. You will save a hundred dollars and it will keep you from passing out on the kiddie rides and looking like a fool. <br />
<br />
8. Be kind: Remember that there will be thousands of non-goths at the park that day, and many of them may have never encountered us before. If you find yourself being stared at smile and wave, if you are harassed, tell a cast member. Be especially kind to the cast members, they have seen things...things they cannot unsee. <br />
<br />
9: If you are shopping in the dealers room, please try not to block the aisles. It is rude to hog the space in front of a vendor's booth if you have no intention of purchasing anything from them. Step back and let the people who want to spend money get in there. <br />
<br />
10 . Don't invite drama: It is going to be difficult. The sun will be beating down on you, the lines will be long, your significant other will probably be making eyes at Maleficent and the Evil Queen, or worse yet, Gaston! This would be an ideal time to storm off into Cinderella's castle for a prolonged weeping and pouting session, wouldn't it? Part of being a somewhat responsible person means doing your best to make sure that the people surrounding you get to enjoy their day. Don't drag them into your drama. Save that for later, at the dance. Turahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08586962942841125167noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930917736233075163.post-38830014961508641742016-11-21T12:13:00.004-08:002016-11-21T12:13:39.858-08:00I have faith in nights.
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I've fallen a little bit behind on my
writing, largely due to the fact that I live in a very liberal part of the US,
and the Presidential election has created a bit of a panic. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Regardless of what
your personal political opinion may be, you probably know people who are
feeling scared and threatened right now. The gothic community has long been a
safe space for people of all genders and orientations, admittedly we aren't as
racially diverse as we could be - but with each passing year I see more goths
of color being welcomed to the scene, and it warms the icy dungeon of my heart. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The gothic scene has always been a haven for people who don't fit in with
mainstream culture. We take pleasure in things that most people might consider
morbid or scary. That sets us apart, but it also brings us together. Despite the arguments, schisms, and "gother than thou" attitudes, we
are basically just a crowd of black wearing weirdos who somehow managed to
find other black-clad weirdos to dance with. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The next few years may be hard for
many of the people we know and love. I'm not much of an activist, but I try to
do as much good in the world as I can, and I hope that my fellow goths follow
suit. <a href="http://gothic-charm-school.com/charm/" target="_blank">Gothic Charm School</a> has provided a great resource for those in America who can
afford to donate to good causes. <br />
<br />
For those who aren't ready to take a side, or who have chosen a different path,
or are living in another part of the world, I would ask that you do your best to be kind. The well-being of your friends
and family are more important than your politics. Your humanity is more important
than your opinion. This applies to every one, people you know are suffering
right now. People you love are losing sleep and living in fear. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Maybe you can't
change the world, but if you can reach out to someone and make their day a
little easier, or their night a bit more restful, this is the time to do it. This poem by Rilke always inspires me when I'm feeling a little bit lost. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You Darkness - Rainer Maria Rilke</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You, darkness, that I come from<br />I love you more than all the fires<br />that fence in the world, <br />for the fire makes a circle of light for everyone<br />and then no one outside learns of you. <br /><br />But the darkness pulls in everything-<br />shapes and fires, animals and myself, <br />how easily it gathers them! -<br />powers and people-<br /><br />and it is possible a great presence is moving near me. <br /><br />I have faith in nights.
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Turahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08586962942841125167noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930917736233075163.post-69781630765172936602016-09-20T17:10:00.000-07:002016-09-20T17:10:56.690-07:00Convention attendance for the slightly decrepit. <style>
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I attended my first science fiction convention in 1982, it
was in Tulsa, Oklahoma – and it should come as no surprise that there weren’t many
goths in attendance. Here in the Pacific Northwest, the crossover between geek
culture and goth culture is huge. Many of us have been attending cons both
recreationally and professionally for decades. I have spent more than my share of
time trudging through crowded hallways, waiting in line my three-second
celebrity meet and greet, or minding a booth in the dealers’ room. Now that I
am not quite as energetic as I used to be I’ve come up with some sure-fire ways
to make convention attendance more comfortable and manageable.
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<b>Get a room: </b></div>
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Unless the convention is being held within 10 miles of your
home rent a hotel room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having a room is
essential for the more mature convention goer. There will come a time,
especially at larger conventions, when you are going to need a place to collect
your thoughts – and possibly talk yourself out of murdering that jackass in who
is using the Iron Man costume as an excuse to act like a womanizing asshole.
Your hotel room isn’t just a place to sleep, it is your personal escape pod.
Make plans to leave the convention floor for an hour or so each day – go to your
room, and decompress. It makes a world of difference. This is especially
helpful if you use a mobility scooter or wheelchair. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Make a plan:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Planning your day at the convention is really important when
you get older, and don't have the stamina
to stay on your feet for a solid ten to twelve hours. In order to manage my time, my anxiety, and my fear of missing something cool, I always take the time
to read though the convention guidebook before I do anything. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
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<br /></div>
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Many conventions are making their schedules
available on-line before the convention starts, take advantage of this. Decide
what panels you want to attend and schedule your time accordingly. Be sure to
include some downtime in your room, and a lunch break. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Grabbing a candy bar and
eating it on your way to the next panel is not a lunch break, no matter how
much you want it to be. A lunch break means sitting down for at least 15
minutes, and consuming some kind of food that is at least marginally healthy. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Wear Comfortable Shoes:</b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let the teens and twenty year olds wear the skyscraper
heels, those of us who are a little more mature can get away with something
more sensible. I’ve recently begun modifying flat shoes by adding painted or
sculptural details, so there is no reason that sensible shoes have to be
boring. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Essential Supplies for the Convention Floor.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
An essential part of convention attendance is having the
right supplies when you go onto the convention floor. Whether you are enjoying
the con as a pro or an attendee you should always have a bottle of water
(refill it throughout the day), any medication you might need, emergency
snacks, and whatever personal items you like to carry. I always do some stretches and take an Aleve before I
leave for the convention. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Advice for merchants and booth monkeys: </b></div>
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When you are working in a booth, prepare a special box in
advance. I have a tackle box that contains water, snacks, pens, sharpies, a
notebook, a calculator, duct tape, safety pins, aspirin, business cards and a
chocolate bar. With this box you can pretty much handle any booth emergency. </div>
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<br /></div>
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If you are going to be standing behind your table all day, invest in floor padding. You can use a roll up yoga mat, or those EVA foam puzzle pieces. Either way your feet and back will thank you at the end of the week-end</div>
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<br /></div>
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Most importantly, don't forget to have fun. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Turahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08586962942841125167noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930917736233075163.post-44583930527302340462016-09-13T11:29:00.002-07:002016-09-13T11:32:42.659-07:00Welcome to Old Age! <style>
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“Welcome to old age!” That’s what the postcard in my mailbox
should have said. Instead it said “Congratulations! Here is your new A.A.R.P
card”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the morning of my 50’th
birthday, I was still in my bathrobe, and suddenly I was officially old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wondered if the obligatory mom jeans and
pastel cardigan would arrive by mail, or if I was expected to go out and buy
them myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I resigned myself to the
inevitable, and then I did what I have always done when I’m feeling down, I
opened my closet and pulled out my favorite dress. </div>
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My favorite dress is long and black with fluttery bell
sleeves, I like to wear it over a crinoline or two with a waist cincher over
it. I’m not sure if women my age are meant to dress like fat Morticia Addams,
but once I put the dress on I knew immediately who I am. The gift that the
gothic lifestyle has given me is the gift of identity.</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was always a spooky
kid, growing up in the 1970’s I gravitated toward the dark and theatrical. Most
of my childhood was spent wearing the clothes that my parents bought me at
K-Mart. Jeans, t-shirts, sneakers and a denim jacket were my daily uniform, but
Halloween was my salvation. Later, when I was old enough to choose my own
clothes, I would save my allowance for months just to spend it all at the
day-after Halloween sales stocking up on cheap fishnet stockings and black nail
polish. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would have killed to have been
a mall goth, but we didn’t have a mall. We had a K-Mart. </div>
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I didn’t even know goth was a thing until the 1990’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until then I was just a weird girl who played
too much Dungeons and Dragons and liked to decorate her room with dead things. When
I moved to Seattle in the early 90’s my love of roleplaying games and my love
of the macabre crashed headlong into White Wolf’s Vampire the Masquerade. I
joined the Camarilla LARP organization as soon as I heard about it. My
membership number was 23, and my life has never been the same. I met hundreds
of people via the Camarilla, many of whom are still like family to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cam also introduced me to the gothic
subculture, and suddenly I wasn’t the only person in the room who loved skulls,
believed in ghosts, and had a closet full of improbable outfits. </div>
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Over the years I’ve seen many people leave the scene, some
were just kids trying on different identities, some became disillusioned by the
constant social one-upsmanship, and some just drifted into other lives. I guess
you could say that I left the scene too – I seldom go to clubs any more, but I
do still love dressing the part, and I still go to conventions and the
occasional concert. I surprise myself daily with the realization that at the
age of 51 I still wear tiaras and waist cinchers as daywear. </div>
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I always expected that one day I would wake up as a normal
fully functional adult. The day my AARP card arrived in the mail was the day
that I finally accepted the fact that while I might be functional and adult, I
would never be normal – but then again, I never wanted to be. </div>
Turahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08586962942841125167noreply@blogger.com2