How to be a Vampire

Just yesterday I was in Angus and Robertsen's and looking at the books on sale. Nothing initially grabbed me until I found a book entitled How To Be A Vampire. Here is the link in case you are interested.
Anyway, the book seemed very tongue in cheek at first, which is why I bought it. However, while I was reading it on the train home, I realised that the book was a genuine book about vampire believes who wanted to be turned into vampires.
No, don't go away now!
The book, to me, seemed that if you forgot about the 'bloodletting and fangs' parts, the book seems like a book about Goth ettiquette and lifestyle in general. For example, there is a section entitled "Ghoulish Gardening" which is about growing night bloomers, carnivorours plants and black flowers. Mmmm, it sounds lovely. There is also a whole section dedicated to vampires thoughout history such as Vlad Tepes and Erzsebet Bathory, and vampires in literature, and the book emphasises how important it is to be a well educated vamp. The photos and art in the book are stunning.

So, for the record, I don't personally believe in vampires, but I do think they're really cool. I always have. Apparently it's Such A Cliche for Goths to like vampires, and we should all avoid them at all costs. But, you know what, apparently wearing all black and having big stompy boots is a cliche too, but I'm not going to stop doing that either.

Also, apparently people are having problems with posting comments. If anyone knows a solution then it would be great if they could let me know. =)

xxxx Lilly
Listening to Emilie Autumn- Chambermaid

Australian Goth surviving summer- part one

It's a terrible photo of me, but you can see my costume

Ah, summer...
The season of heat, sun, surf and bikinis...
And many many sweaty Goths...

Is it ironic to mention that today I've spent the day rugged up in a trenchcoat, thick stockings and long sleaves? Probably, but it has been really cold the last few days. And a lot of rain, which is rare for a drought- ridden country.

My summer holidays so far have mainly consisted of parties (including a Rocky Horror party- see the photos), festivals and lots of music practice. Heaps, actually, and I need to be doing more.

Some of the more notably things I have been through this summer are a locust plague (which included many locusts meeting an untimely end via the car windscreen, and subsequently smearing themselves everywhere making it almost impossible to see), swimming in clothes, and giving my boyfriend dread lox.

In regards to the 'surving summer' part in the title, as a Goth who does wear a lot of black, I sometimes really struggle with the heat. More so, I feel that around my friends there is a lot more pressure to go swimming or to places that I'm not interested in. I think that when people have a lot of free time, they become more adventuress and want to take more risks. I don't believe that this is a bad thing, but it does get somewhat frustrating.
And then there are the endless "Aren't you hot in all that black?" questions, even from people who know that I've worn black for quite a number of years and I would expect that they are awear that I am a Goth. (Surely the Demonia boots and bat necklaces are a bit noticable?)

We are normal people...

Anyway, that is a very breif summary of my summer so far. I will try to post again at the end of my summer, which should include stories about more festivals, Christmas and a 'delightful' car journey to Queensland...

xxx Lilly
Listening to The Cruxshadows- Deception

Bad Poetry and Tom Cats

If you remember back to my previous post, you may recall a reference to a Bad Poetry site. Well, for your amusement, I present to you the The Goth-O-Matic Poetry Generator!
Here is an example of the deep, tortured poem you can 'create'

Pretty? Maybe a little.
Pretty bad? Oh, yes indeed. =P
But that's part of the fun of being Goth- we can laugh at this sort of stuff because we get the humour in it.

Also, many months ago in about March or April, a tom cat casually entered out house and began roaming around. He was a lovely cat, but he disappeared. Until about an hour ago that is...
The cat is so pretty, and makes me want a cat of my own even more... *sigh*

Anyway enjoy being Mopey with your Poetry- and send me a copy, damn it!

xxx Lilly
Listening to The Cruxshadows- Defender

The Gothic Compass

First things first. Good evening to you all. I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while... =S
Also, some of you who were Piczo followers back in the day may have noticed that I've been editing and re posting some of my old blog entries there. I'll do some more of that soon. =)
Anyway, a few years ago I came accross a site that featured a generator that allowed the reader to create tortured, guilt ridden bad Gothic poetry almost instantly. This was potentially one of my first encounters with The Internet Goth, and essentially opened my eyes to the vast resource on Goth Culture that was the internet. A short while later, I revisited the site in more detail and found The Gothic Compass.
Interestingly enough, this isn't like any of the other What Sort Of Goth Are You quizzes. This really is a decent quiz that has lots of references to songs and books and that makes the quiz difficult to bluf. I encourage everyone to try it out. Remember, the author has a sense of humour, and you should too. Overall, the Dead Lounge Off Ramp is actually a rather interesting site, and yes, there is the Bad Poetry Generator for you to snicker at.
Oh and here's my result. (Taken just then) XD

I'll just point out that I'm really not that perky, and really NOT all that Industrial so I retried and it was potentially more accurate.

That's is probably more accurate. XD
So tell me, what your score???

xxxx Lilly
Listening to The Cruxshadows- Perfect

Insta Goth Kit

Upon my random internet searchings (looking at clothes, of all things!XD) I came accross a very, ahem, interesting web site. This is the link in question, and, well I think that is meant to be ironic and corny. It certainly is, and it sends up Goths on every square centimetre of the page. Yet, it generally refers to Goths as 'us' or 'we' which makes me think that it is written by Goths for a laugh or two. That's a perfectly sane normal thing to do. I'm sarcastic and self deprevating here on my blog all the time.
But the real thing that has been bothering about this site is that I think that it is a little too subtle. Granted, most if not all everything written is true to an extent, but I feel that it simply isn't sarcastic enough to be really effective.

What do you think??

Just a short post today. I may post later tonight... =)
xxx Lilly
Listening to The Cruxshadows- Immortal

Pirates....

Is Pirates of the Caribbean Goth?

My inital answer would be 'no', however it has been running over in my mind for a while now. Simply because there are elements that do appeal to Goths and have connections to the Goth 'philosophy' so to speak.

Pirates were seen as villians while they sailed the seas. They struck fear into the hear hearts of travellers. But they weren't necessarilly evil beings, just like Goths.
I do believe that the Pirates in POTC are exaggerated to make them seem cooler, but it is a fantasy, so what were you expecting?
Jack Sparrow is also a character who would be similar to Goths (in a general sense at least). He is opulent, extravagant, gay, impulsive and self centered, eyeliner- wearing, (and extremely good looking... XD)
The movie also incorperates some amazing period clothing and fashions, and makes the whole eighteenth centuary life seem fantastic.
The Curse of the Black Pearl in particular features undead skeleton pirates that haunt a ghost ship, cursed treasure and romantic conquest.

In Voltaire's book What is Goth, he talks about the 'Gay Pirate' look for men, (and why it's so bad). It used to be very popular years ago but it died out a bit. Until the enormous popularity of POTC, that is.
Is the overwhelming success of Pirates the thing that is preventing it from being called Goth, or simply because it doesn't feature crumbling graveyards or vampires? (Or other Goth cliche?)

What about something like TNBC? That is also hugely popular, but it does feature Halloween Town.
The Matrix? That's a Cyberpunk movie.

So, has anyone else thought about this? What do you think?

xxx Lilly
Listening to Hannah Fury- Flying

Goths at Folk Festivals part Two

Earlier today I got home from a weekend festival in North East Victoria. Overall I had a reasonable time, which was a good thing I believe.
This was my first time attending this particular folk festival, but I have been to many others over the years.

The biggest thing I remember was wearing Demonia (or your particular favourite brand of rather impractical yet amazing Goth boots) in mud and bad weather. In the city, this is a completly fine thing to do, but when you're in the middle of a paddock with trees and grass and a lot of much things get pretty messy quickly. (However, my feet did stay dry and comfortable while I was wearing, which was not the case for some people...)
This may seem like a very silly thing to mention first up, but in all honesty it was the biggest thing in my head for most of the weekend. I think this was because it would have been my Demonia boots in question's first 'country experience' and I wasn't sure if they'ed survive.

In a different aspect, the music at this particular festival was the most varied. There was some folk, rock, techno, funk, cabaret, punk, celtic, fusion and a Hell of a lot of other styles mashed together. My favourite performance was by a local band called Rapskallion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq_kPISO9fI&feature=related

This obviously wasn't the performance I saw, but there aren't many examples on the internet.
 They have just returned from a tour of Europe which included places like Camden in London (I believe) and France.
I had seen this band earlier this year in Canberra over Easter which was amazing.

Another thing that happened to me that wasn't particularly enjoyable was once, while I was walking from the festival arena to my campsite (Yes, camping...) a little lady stopped me and asked me what I was wearing. "What is it? Something like Goth?" She asked.
"Er, yes. Goth with some other things" Was my reply. (She didn't actually ask me if I was even Goth, just my clothes. I could have been some tracksuit wearing gansta and she wouldn't have known...)
"Like what?"
"Goth boots, socks, punk stockings..." I hurriedly listed what I was wearing...
The little lady kept following me and talking to me, even though I was a complete stranger to her. Later in the night while I was slightly more intoxicated and not in the best of moods (I am currently suffering from a particularly uncomfortable back pain which is severly inhibiting my ability to play the flute) and the woman, who had by this stage forgotten my name, came up to me and asked if I had remembered her. I had, but I said no just to be casual. This may seem fine, and it did to me, until the lady came up and approached me for the third time. I believe she may have had some sort of 'special substance' due to her dazed expression and forcefullness. Needless to say that after the third encounter with the Little Lady I felt that it was time to avoid her. I did not feel comfortable around her.

Lastly, upon arrival in Olde Melbourne Towne, after checking some emails, I had a delicious hot shower. After not being able to have a proper wash for three days, (there was a creek, but you cannot wash your hair for example), the First Shower really is the best shower you will ever experience.

xxxx Lilly
Listening to The Band Who Knew Too Much (Who played at this festival. It was insane!)- The Rent

Christmas in Goth Land

Yes. I'm being highly original.
Not. I'm writing another post about Goths and Christmas. This is probably because I've been wanting to post for a few days now and been  lacking in some substantial idea, and becuase I think that everyone, including Goths, has a unique and finely defined view on what a successful Christmas should entail.
On a more profound and intellectual level, I am going to attempt to unravel the mystery behind the reason why my family celebrates the Christmas that we do. (I do believe that it is very different to a Christian Christmas)

Firstly, I don't necessarilly encompass many of the seasonal personality traits that we are expected to embrace around the Christmas time. There are reasons for this, and very decent reasons at that. Firstly, I am the person who I am and I have learnt to accept all of the elements (or at least most of them) that make up my personality. I believe that it is crazy for a person to think that I would change my personality during the 'festive season' just as I would not expect anyone else to. Also, way down here in Australia, Christmas occurs in the middle of summer. I fail to see how anyone can be jolly or merry in 40*C+ heat that I regularly have to endure. Hot sun and dry weather do not equal pleasant for me.
In general, especially in the last few years, Christmas hasn't been overly fun and I have simply waited in my room until the whole thing ends before drinking my weight on new years eve.
There are positives, though. Spening quality family time is good, and my family enjoys nice food and presents together.
Possibly the big reason why my family celebrates Christmas would be because my parents were brought up celebrating it.
Another, possibly equally big, reason would be because Christmas is so commercialised nowaday that it is impossible to escape from. There are Christmas carols blasted out of every single shopping center in the country. And they began a week ago...

I do feel that there are many nice things about a Christmas spirit, and it can be a really wonderful experience.
A White Christmas would be really REALLY nice and visually beautiful... but I sadly live in the southern hemisphere... =(

This post took a week to compose... I must be more vigilant.

xxxxx Lilly
Listening to The Dresden Dolls- Girl Anachronism