Were you a Goth in the GDR?
Did you know Goths in the GDR?
If you have any memories that you would like to share about your DDR days, please contact me .
As an academic researcher, I treat all people with strict ethical confidence. Each contact is kept strictly confidential.
Email: [email protected] or Contact
Stasi records held in various regional Stasi offices were largely destroyed in 1989 as the GDR was transformed into a re-unified part of the Federal German Republic. Nevertheless, many records remain, and amongst these documents and artefacts are records of Stasi activities and procedures that may provide a wealth of insight into the “Grufti” scene.
Typically, “Gruftis” were perceived as anti-social and anathema to the GDR philosophy of Socialist labour oriented integration into a common society. Perceived as such, they were persecuted, spied on and treated with deep suspicion by the Stasi who appear to have been determined to extract a clear understanding of what sort of threat the “Gruftis” posed.
The Goth scene today is a thriving subculture in Germany, and in many countries around the world. Having originated in the United Kingdom as a disassociated, non-violent, non-political music and fashion subculture, it was adopted, through its primarily melancholy music style and dark/black fashion statements (generating the term “Darkwave”) by many disaffected and frustrated youths in the GDR in lieu of violent or politicised protest.
Did you know Goths in the GDR?
If you have any memories that you would like to share about your DDR days, please contact me .
As an academic researcher, I treat all people with strict ethical confidence. Each contact is kept strictly confidential.
Email: [email protected] or Contact
Stasi records held in various regional Stasi offices were largely destroyed in 1989 as the GDR was transformed into a re-unified part of the Federal German Republic. Nevertheless, many records remain, and amongst these documents and artefacts are records of Stasi activities and procedures that may provide a wealth of insight into the “Grufti” scene.
Typically, “Gruftis” were perceived as anti-social and anathema to the GDR philosophy of Socialist labour oriented integration into a common society. Perceived as such, they were persecuted, spied on and treated with deep suspicion by the Stasi who appear to have been determined to extract a clear understanding of what sort of threat the “Gruftis” posed.
The Goth scene today is a thriving subculture in Germany, and in many countries around the world. Having originated in the United Kingdom as a disassociated, non-violent, non-political music and fashion subculture, it was adopted, through its primarily melancholy music style and dark/black fashion statements (generating the term “Darkwave”) by many disaffected and frustrated youths in the GDR in lieu of violent or politicised protest.