Goth is the most iconic subculture in the world. Public historian Tomas van den Heuvel takes you through two centuries of cultural history full of dramatic, ominous, and morbid manifestations of this dark counterculture.
This program bears the SG&USE label and is therefore part of TU/e bachelor education. Due to COVID-19 measures, until 25 February only TU/e students are allowed to attend a lecture on campus. Everyone, however, can watch the MS livestream.
The imagery and tropes that underpin goth are much more widespread and influential than we realize. Originally a youth culture stemming from 1980s post-punk or new wave music, the very word now conjures up images of dark glamour and strange hauntings, moonlit cemeteries, macabre fashion and bats leaving the bell tower. Gothic is everywhere, ranging from visual arts and design to architecture, literature, film, and video games.
In this lecture, Tomas van den Heuvel gives a working definition of “the gothic”, highlights examples of it in our popular culture, and explores its relationship with society. He argues that the emergence of gothic is closely bound up with the anxieties and realities of modern life. The goth phenomenon raises profound questions about identity, performance, style, and authenticity.
Tomas van den Heuvel, M.A., is a public historian and assistant curator at Design Museum Den Bosch. He studied History at the University of Exeter and Public History at Royal Holloway, University of London. Recently, he co-curated the exhibition GOTH – Designing Darkness, about the history and impact of the goth subculture.
Exhibition Design Museum (Den Bosch)
The exhibition GOTH – Designing Darkness is currently on show at Design Museum Den Bosch, until 18 April 2022.
Please note: only book a ticket if you want to attend this program on campus. To watch the livestream via MS Teams, please do not reserve a ticket.
On campus: ticket reservation required
This program will take place on campus. At this moment only TU/e students can attend this SG&USE program. Making a reservation via the website (black "order" button) is mandatory if you want to attend this program on campus.
Via livestream: do not reserve a ticket
This program will also be streamed live via MS Teams. You can attend by clicking on this LINK TO LIVESTREAM. Students who want to register for SG&USE should login with their TU/e students email account and watch the entire program.
Please do not book a ticket if you want to watch the livestream.
SG&USE registration
On campus:
Please register your participation upon arrival when attending the program on campus. You can register by scanning your student card before the start of the program at the venue.
Online via livestream:
- Do not make a reservation if you want to watch the program online via the livestream.
- You can only register for SG&USE if you watch the entire program live via MS Teams and are logged in with your TU/e student email account (i.e., you can’t watch it at a later time) and if you complete an online SG&USE registration form within five minutes after the end of the program. Before the program starts, we will explain where and when you can find the link to the registration form. You will need to have your student ID number on hand because you'll need it to fill out the form. Please make sure your registration is done properly, otherwise we will not be able to verify that you were present.
More information about SG&USE can be found here.