Goth For Sale: What To Do When Your Subculture/A Part of Your Subculture Hits the Stores & Becomes Popular & An Important LandMark Event For Goths Like Me That Happened to Me Over The Weekend

   Hello. Today is Monday June 25th, 2012. It is a perfect day to dispense some advice for people of alternative subcultures that relate to something that happened to me & a lot of Goths, Punks, Steampunks, Vampyrs, etc. over last week. Before I do either of those things, however, I would like to make an important announcement.
   I just went onto my computer, & decided to check my beloved AspieGoth Blog. I suspected that I would have more views. AND, BY GOLLY, I WAS RIGHT! I have successfully reached 77 views, none of which are my own. The post that has received the most "fanfare" I guess it can safely be called is What Every Alternative Subculture Needs with 18 page views, with Sex-And-The-City Tangent #3 running a close second with 16 page views. There is no third-place yet. But, this is sort of Good to know. Thank You

   Now, without further ado, on with the post.
   As most of you who wear lipstick/lip gloss are aware, darker shades of both (i.e. black, maroon, plum, purple, etc.) of the makeup staples came into the fashion world earlier than expected this year. This happens to every Alternative Subculture, whether it be black/dark lipstick/lip gloss for Goths, Band Tees for certain rock groups for the Metal fans, hell, even chains for Punks, Skaters, Juggalos, members of the Hip Hop subculture, from time to time. And, I am sure a lot of you who are faithful to nonconformity are extremely up in arms about this. After all, it in your mind "ruins the idea of being a nonconformist & makes it more of a corporate thing rather than a freedom of speech/expression thing." However, I am here to tell you what to do when that particular situation comes about. I have taken this advice from The Lady Of The Manners (www.gothic-charm-school.com) & this is difficult to do, so, unlike her, I'll give the long version.
   But, basically, when anything that is  part of your subculture becomes fashionable/your subculture becomes the fashion norm, there is only one thing you can do: RUN LIKE YOUR  PUBIC HAIR IS ON FIRE TO THE NEAREST STORE SELLING THE ITEM & GO TO THE CLEARANCE SECTION!

                              Of course, there are at least three steps to this. While I tell you to do these three simple steps, I will tell you the story of what happened on Friday.

1. Do Some Research On The Said Product's Usual Distributors. I & my mother had planned this trip after I had read that black/darker lipstick/lip gloss was coming back into fashion from at least two magazines while waiting for my hair to get done. Remembering reading from Gothic Charm School that when this happens (and with the world's economy being the way it is) it usually means these such items are ridiculously cheap, we decided to do this in the evening. Too excited about knowing that I was buying black lipstick (I feel way too old to wear lip gloss.) for the very first time in my life the very next day, I immediately went online to find out which brand I wanted the most. That's where I discovered that MAC was all out of it's signature black lipstick (:,,,-()). I told my mom this. And, we agreed not to go there first.
2. Go Shopping Until You Find A Deal You Are Aware Is The Deal. After doing some errands in the morning & afternoon, we went to the Mall. Our first stop was at Ulta, a mainstream store that for all of you unfamiliar with Ulta, is a combination of Walmart & the makeup department of  Macy's. Well, we checked the Urban Decay section of the store. And, they had no black lipstick. We checked MAC & the rest of the makeup department at Macy's. Sure enough, the darkest shades they had were browns, maroons, purples, & wines. So, we went to J.C. Penny's. After learning that J.C. Penny's didn't have the lipstick, we finally decided to go to Hot Topic.
3. Go For The Deal, Even If There Are Cliches/Contradictions Attached. Well, we went to Hot Topic. The instant we went in, I discovered that Hot Topic is beginning to come to its senses, & go back to its old ways. But, once we were in for a moment, I discovered why. It was because of two (2) reasons: 1) The vampire phenomenon, 2)Marilyn Manson either finally grew his balls back, or he read my mind/blog, & is really trying hard for the comeback that I as an artist/hard rock fan believe he so richly deserves. It was playing his music when we entered. I was terrified, and we went to the back of the store, thinking it was back there. But, Mom found where the makeup & the (tada!) black lipstick was before I did. So, I marched up when she realized where the makeup was (right beside the place of payment) right to the makeup. It turns out the Blackheart collection at Hot Topic sells all makeup for $5.00. So, not only did I get my black lipstick, I got some red lipstick, & I got some eyeliner. 
4.          That is the story of the first time I have ever bought black lipstick. Thank you & goodbyee.
   
   

What Every Alternative Subculture Needs

   Hello again, everyone. I am not much farther in my writing. But, I just had a thought that I had to share with you.

  I was just thinking about my subculture while listening to Evanescence, & I've just figured out what the heck ALL alternative subcultures need & only the Metal Hip-Hop subcultures has achieved much of at all recently.
   Has anyone ever seen Ru Paul's Drag Race? Well, here's where I am going. Prepare for a boring lesson.

   A long time ago, in  presumably North America or Europe but definitely not the Middle East or Asia, there was a guy that, bravely/stupidly/drunkenly/smartly, you decide, for some reason, saw some wigs, some shiny clothing & some jewelry belonging to a female the person knew presumably, and decided that "hey, I'm not having enough fun as a guy, maybe dressing as a girl will be fun." Thus, the Drag Queen was born.
   Many years later, around the 1970s, Drag Queens exploded onto the scene. But, Hollywood & many others blew them over as just guys who are desperate for something or just trying to entertain us. And, they weren't shown as much as they should've been.
    However, in 1993, a Drag Queen named Ru Paul Charles released an album, with the hit song "Supermodel (You Better Work)". And, as time went by, Ru Paul became a socialite, focusing on gay rights & trying to expand Drag to new levels. Beginning in the 2000s, Ru Paul then got two televisions: Ru Paul's Drag Race & Ru Paul's Drag U. These shows helped Ru Paul (as well as many other Drag Queens) make Drag as well as GLBQT, make it in many countries around the world.

   You see what I'm talking about? We need one person from one subculture to step up to the plate. We need one person from one particular subculture to go up on television & say "Hey, I am a (Goth, Metal-head, Punk, Skater, Hip-hop, Vampyre, Emo, Furry, Hippy, etc.), and my subculture is OK. I am proud to be one, & I can function in today's society. To prove it to you, I have a cable access show about my subculture for my subculture that can be viewed by everybody regardless of whether or not you are part of our subculture.", and then, actually getting a chance to do it. We need a good television representive.
   Like I said, Metal & Hip-Hop are the only subcultures that have branched out in the way I am talking about. Especially Metal. In fact, they have two shows for Metal-heads. One is called "That Metal Show" & it is basically a show hosted by radio DJ Eddie Trunk, Jim Florentine, & Don I forget the third guys' last name because I have the attention span of a three-month-old squirrel. The other show is called Metal Evolution. The show is a spinoff of the documentary "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey". It is hosted by anthropologist Sam Dunn, who happened to be a Metal-head himself. Both shows focus more on the music & the musicians than the subculture itself. But, that is OK, as the Metal subculture is a subculture focused around a music subculture more than it is a subculture focused around a bunch of different things. However, I could see Sam Dunn eventually doing a season on the subculture itself.
   But, I think you get my drift. And, it could help if Goth, Punk, etc. had shows. Because while Goth has many books written on the subculture, the amount of literate people has decreased considerably, &
other than books & Abby Sciutto on NCIS & other websites (http://www.gothic-charm-school.com/), Goth has nothing to go on. And, that gives Hollywood an excuse to walk all over us, even planning shows that give Goths makeovers.
    Another reason is it keeps subcultures alive. I have been a Goth since I was 13, &  I am still the only Goth I know. I have met people in my art class that I feel those are steps in the right direction. But, I have never met anyone in my particular subculture that lives in my particular area. My mother has on multiple occasions told me that there used to be a Gothic movement in the area I lived at, but, everyone moved out. Maybe if there was a show hosted by Goths for Goths & people who enjoy them, more teens will see our subculture  as well as many other subcultures & determine that "hey, I am one of these people". In that way, we might be able to prevent any more teen suicides, & do what Lady Gaga never could (oooh, *snap*snap*snap*).

   So, does anyone have any ideas on how to do something for your or someone you love's subculture like what Ru Paul has done for GLBQT & Drag? I have a few ideas, but, I'll pitch them later. And, if you have any ideas, leave them in the comment section below or send them to me at:
bonovika@comcast.net

Advice on How To Be Goth During the Summer

   Hello again dear readers. It is Saturday May 26th, 2012 Memorial Day Weekend beginning. I am now COMPLETELY done with a movie script  I was writing, except for typing it. I am almost done writing Borders & Envelopes, only one chapter left to go in writing, and Chapter Nine in typing. For The Devil Horns' Toss, I am still on Lacrymosa (Chapter Three) writing wise, however, soon, I could possibly be typing Schadenfreude (Chapter One). Enough about my writings (even though I am really excited about them). Since I now have an audience, I would like to give my first piece of Goth Advice.


    Now, before I go on, I realize that one in my audience is from Russia, which may mean the fact they even got on this here blog is a miracle. But, either way, I kind of have to explain what Memorial Day Weekend is to the foreigners on this blog. Memorial Day is a holiday that falls on Monday every year, & it is a holiday in which many government buildings are closed, mostly schools are closed in memory of all the American MIA/POW/killed in action soldiers. However, many people (in particular, schoolchildren but mostly all Americans) treat it as the true first day of summer. A lot of swimming pools open, amusement parks open, girls start wearing shorter clothes.
       However, when you are a Goth like me & a lot of other people reading this blog, Summer is to you what a cat is to a mouse. So, here are some tips on how to be a Goth during the summertime:

• First off, wear lighter shades such as grey or white. Now, you may want to wear colors such as black, & you can. It's just more difficult.
• Wear very light fabrics, such as silk & cotton. DO NOT WEAR HEAVY FABRICS SUCH AS VELVET, LACE,POLYESTER, & TAFFETA. I wore both on two days a Memorial Day weekend or two ago. I was outside so much I was near dead from heat stroke.
• Now, for those of you who wear heavy eye makeup, pick some good eye foundations. I personally used to use MAC's paint pot shade Painterly. However, that shade would have my makeup fade off by the end of the night in heat over 85 degrees. So, I switched to using CLINIQUE Lid Smoothie Antioxidant 8-hour Eye Colour shade 02 Cashew Later. (*A quick side note: I am not trying to advertise either makeup brands. I am just making a recommendation from personal expierience.)
• It is perfectly OK to wear boots in temperatures over 85 degrees. It is also appropriate for Goths to wear open-toed shoes/flip-flops. Enough said.
• If  you are one of those Goths that wear very short sleeves & skirts/are slightly into the Bondage-sadomasochism subculture as well as the Gothic subculture, this advice applies less to you. 
• Don't go overboard with your makeup.  In addition to looking like Alice Cooper (unless that's what you're going for), melting eye shadow & eyeliner might get into your eye & really cause some serious damage. Don't believe me? Just recently, someone I know had to flush her eye out because she got eyeliner & mascara in her eye & it really irritated her eye.
• Sometimes, with what you are planning to wear, the weather will just refuse to cooperate with your outfit. So, a lot of you Goths are going to hate me for what I am going to say. But, here it is: When in doubt,  don't wear it. And, don't wear trenchcoats at this time. 
• Ladies And Gentlemen of the Class of '99, wear sunscreen.  The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proven by scientists. In all seriousness though, wear sunscreen. It's better to look like Amy Lee than look like Snooki I always say. And, you won't get skin cancer.
• For swimsuits, Ladies: No one wants to see your unmentionables. Wear a swimsuit that fits properly, unless it's a bikini. But, even then, don't show too much. Gentlemen: Please don't wear a banana hammock unless you absolutely have to. Enough said.
• Drink more than eight glasses of water a day.  Scientists recommend drinking at least eight glasses of water a day. But, trust me. Since you are wearing all black/dark colors all the time, your clothes are absorbing more of the sunshine, which is making you hotter than the average nonGoth human. So, I'd recommend at least 9-10 glasses of water a day.
• Last But Not Least: Elegant is not always appropriate. So, Ladies, try as much as humanly possible to avoid those cutesy little Victorian-Edwardian outfits during the day. And,  guys, I know you want to seem suave for possible girlfriend's parents. BUT, FOR CHRIST'S SAKES, DO NOT WEAR ANY OF THOSE TUXEDOS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO LOOK LIKE ONE OF THOSE TUXEDOS WORN BY MARILYN MANSON DURING THE GOLDEN AGE OF GROTESQUE PROMOTION!

   Well, that's all I can think of to advise right now. If you have anything to add to this, or if you have any questions for me, leave them in the comment section, or email me a bonovika@comcast.net.