neo goth: back in black

goth/ emo/ surf/ indie/ punk: something decidedly dark is permeating all aspects of contemporary culture. From its subcultural origins in eighteenth century literature, through to the movement's dedicated tribes of black-clad youths in the 1980s, Goth culture is no longer underground or fringe, but mainstream. Is this 'new' interpretation of the Gothic aesthetic just that – an aesthetic – or is the neo-Goth impulse a considered response to a darker, more pessimistic world?

The major exhibition neo goth dips beneath the surface and takes a peek at the noir underbelly of Australian culture as it is manifested across art, fashion, film and literature.

Neo Goth: Back in Black, 2008, UQ Art Museum, Meanjin/Brisbane, exhibition catalogue​​​​​​​