The goth subculture is a contemporary subculture found in many countries. It began in England during the early 1980s in the gotic rock scene, an offshoot of the post-pank genre. The goth subculture has survived much longer than others of the same era, and has continued to diversify. Its imagery and cultural proclivities indicate influences from the 19th century Gothic literature along with horror films.The goth subculture has associated tastes in music, aesthetics, and fashion. The music of the goth subculture encompasses a number of different styles, including gothic rock, deathrock, post-punk, darkwave, ethereal wave, and neoclassical. Styles of dress within the subculture range from deathrock, punk, and Victorian styles, or combinations of the above, most often with dark attire, makeup, and hair.The goth music scene thrives in Western Europe, with large annual festivals in Germany and a goth music festival in Whitby, England. In the US, VampireFreaks hosts a wide number of events in the New York City area. There are also a variety of zines, magazines and websites that are aimed at members of the goth scene. Another aspect of the goth subculture is its approach to sexuality; since the late 1970s, the UK goth scene has accepted and celebrated "unusual, bizarre or deviant sexual practices."
