Am I More Emo or Goth?

Take this quiz to find your subculture!

Emo and goth are like siblings: alike, but different. There are many ways to define both scenes, but which scene do you most belong to?

Answer a few simple questions, and we'll tell you if we think you're more emo or more goth!

A woman wearing black and white at a concert.

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Questions Overview

1. Where would you rather hang out?
  1. A gorgeous, ancient cathedral
  2. An underground rave
  3. A multi-day music festival at the beach
  4. At home, in bed, surrounded by plushies
2. How do you feel about rainy weather?
  1. I love it. I thrive in rainy weather.
  2. It's nice sometimes, but it can get old.
  3. I hate it. It just reminds me of how dark the world is.
3. Which feels more true?
  1. The world is messed up.
  2. Something about me is messed up.
  3. Both are equally true.
  4. Neither is true.
4. Choose an accessory:
  1. Rosary worn as a necklace
  2. Friendship bracelet
  3. Studded belt
  4. Lace choker
5. You're more likely to wear:
  1. Boots
  2. Skate shoes
6. Choose an animal you feel connected to:
  1. 🕷️ Spider
  2. 🦇 Bat
  3. 🦄 Unicorn
  4. 🦔 Hedgehog
7. Choose one based on vibes:
  1. Full moons
  2. Graveyards
  3. Abandoned malls
  4. Skateparks after dark
8. Which of these best describes your perspective?
  1. I find beauty in darkness and pain. It's the only way.
  2. I find pain and darkness pointless. This life is unfair.
9. You prefer music with lots of:
  1. Synthesizers
  2. Shredding electric guitars
  3. Keyboards, pianos, or organs
  4. Screamy vocals
10. Choose the band you enjoy most:
  1. The Cure
  2. Bauhaus
  3. Paramore
  4. My Chemical Romance
  5. Sisters of Mercy
  6. Fall Out Boy
  7. Cocteau Twins
  8. Bring Me the Horizon
  9. None of these, tbh

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Goth vs. Emo

There’s a lot of debate about what counts as goth and what counts as emo, and it’s been raging since both scenes got started. We’re probably not going to quash the rivalry here and now, but we can weigh in and give our own perspective! Ultimately, goth and emo are music genres, and their respective scenes evolved out of the music itself. The borders between the genres are sometimes clear and sometimes murky: emo tends to lean more rock ‘n’ roll and pop, while goth tends to lean more heavily into synthesizers and atmospheric sounds.

For this quiz, we tell you which scene you belong to more, and here’s what those possible answers mean:

Goth
As someone who leans more goth, you're an existential, profound thinker. You see the darkness and suffering in the world, and instead of running away from it or pretending it doesn't exist, you lean into it and embrace it, making the shadows part of your wardrobe and the pain part of your personality. Most importantly, you turn that darkness into elegance and beauty, refusing to let it be ugly or distasteful. If you can't change the darkness in the world, you can at least control it and make it work for you, rather than destroy you.

Emo
As someone who leans more emo, you're tapped into pop culture and the world at large. You're tuned into the current happenings in the world, and they don't look good! That's what being emo is all about: it's a culture that sees all the nonsense going on and rejects it, spinning it into art and attitudes that are counter-culture and defiant in their own ways. You understand that life isn't fair, and while a lot of people would tell you to suck it up, you know that actually, the best medicine is to get loud and angry about it, whether that's with crunchy, punky music or a look that'll turn heads on the street and make people think twice about their own lifestyle.

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