The Cybergoth subculture's influence on cyberpunk aesthetic
Cybergoth is an aeshtetic and a subculture of industrial music, it is mostly known for its unique visual style combining dark, military and gothic imagery with bright, neon and plastic-filled toxic wastes. It is believed to originate from a swarm of gothics in the 90s entering the industrial scene while still keeping in touch with their goth roots. This resulted in a clashing and brillant work of electric gloom. Before the Cybergoth term was coined, this population was referred to as the “Gravers”, an amalgamate of Gothic and Raver. Think of goth kids popping molly and you get the idea.
This aesthetic is very relevant to cyberpunk for multiple reasons.
Firstly, the industrial music genre is the founding cement of cyberpunk music as we know it today. This genre grew out of a profound realization that industrial society was taking over individuals and that we were all very short of melting into the global machine of consumerism. In terms of social commentary, it’s hard to get more cyberpunk than that.
Not only industrial, but Cybergoths tend to listen to more electronic variants of the genre, such as aggrotech, which really encapsulate the technological aspect of this industrialisation and this take-over, oftentimes touching the concepts of the internet, Artificial intelligence and entertainment.
Close to the Rivetheads, Cybergoth encapsulate the birth of cyberpunk as a movement and incarnates its very first steps into the world. It compels as the physical manifestation of toxic industrial wastes being brought to life for the sole purpose of entertainment and hard party, a truly amazing commentary on the current state of our lives.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of Cybergoth fashion elements and visual examples.
Cybergoths are neon-blooded, meaning if you’d cut them they’d probably bleed the fluorescent liquid from glow sticks on the floor and they’d keep dancing all over it with the least amount of care in the world.
This neon obsession works strongly in favour of de-humanizing the aesthetic and making it look like an intense, energy-packed partying machine, on top of being a classic of the rave scene which enjoys bright colors, lights and neons, especially because of their mesmerizing effects once magic candies have been consumed.
Cyberlox are the synthetic dreadlocks that are iconic to the Cybergoth look. They are usually a mix of tie-wraps, tubular crin, pierced foam pieces and any other accessory that the wearer desires such as LED threads, cords and wires, fishnets, etc.
They are a great addition to the Cybergoth look, if not even their core element, since they add fluidity to the outfit when dancing at raves. They also visually blend the limit between the consumerist society and the human beneath, having even their hair - an organic piece of their identity - be replaced by very obviously synthetic materials.
A great classic of futuristic dystopias is wearing gas masks and goggles. Cyberpunk is no exception. Masks already are a classic in themselves solely to preserve someone’s anonymity in a world ridden with surveillance, making it a gas mask only adds functionality, as the air quality is expected to degrade further and further, especially in big cities. Same with goggles : if the very air is hurting your eyes, wear them when you go out. There is not much to add on this subject. Masks and goggles are useful, good for your health and, let’s admit it, hecking cool.
