By Hilda Gutierrez
Before visiting the site, I was a little skeptical about the quality
of content that would be there. I've seen various other Goth sites
that tend towards a feel of "trying to hard to be Goth".
Upon entering the site, I was immediately impressed by the center
graphic. The front page is largely void of clutter, and very simple
to navigate; the only banners/advertisements are at the very bottom
of the page and do not interfere with the importance of the content.
The links of the main menu are within the center graphic itself which
is visually pleasing to work with. The one important thing to realize
and appreciate is that this site is intended to provide an online
space for teenagers, who may or may not relate to being Goth, where
they can freely express what they want, whether it be through poetry,
art, fiction, non-fiction and similar mediums.
Throughout the site, the content is arranged very efficiently and
effectively, once again omitting clutter which adds a lot of quality
and respect to it (with only one banner that is very mildly distracting).
There was one thing I saw that I was once again skeptical about, gothic.net
store. I was unsure what they would try to sell and how much of it,
etc. I was pleased to find only a couple of stickers and t-shirts
and not a online-trendy-mall that I thought it may have a chance of
being. I am highly impressed and excited about the postcard gallery
they exhibit. It features original works of art of people who have
some original thoughts and ideas. Their work is presented extremely
well, and in terms of sending the art work as a postcard, it couldn't
be simpler. I am actually really pulled towards the art that this
site offers. Besides my opinion, it goes beyond that to once point
out the purpose of the site that this is an online space for young
people who have something to express about their personality, identity,
or what they choose to identify with, and that should be commended.
Our current society is without say full of trendy-teenage clutter
that hides the beauty that is within everyone as an individual. It
is too often seen that clones of teen-queens and boy-bands take over
and push the boundaries of originality.