Goth, Gothic

Why does the term Goth often have such dark and disconcerting overtones?
 
The origins of the word Goth are unknown. The Goths were an ancient Germanic people who lived in Eastern Europe; in particular, in the region of the lower Danube. The Goths called themselves Gutos or Gutbiuda (Gothic people). The ancient Greeks and Romans called them Gothos. The Old English word Gota is first seen around the end of the 1st century CE.
 
During the early years of the Christian church the Goths became Arian Christians, one of the many Christian sects of the time. During the evolution and development of mainstream Christian orthodoxy in the 4th to 7th centuries, the Arian sect was increasingly perceived and persecuted for heresy.
 
It didn’t help that Arian Goths sacked Rome in 410 CE. In addition to being heretics, Goths were now perceived as barbarous, rude, and cruel.
 
Goths have had a bad name ever since! Seems like some words have long memories!
 
However: The ‘Gothic’ art style that emerged in northern Europe in the Middle Ages (e.g., Gothic cathedrals such as Notre Dame in Paris) has nothing to do with the ancient Gothic people. Apparently, this use of ‘Gothic’ was originally a derogatory term used by Italian architects of the Renaissance in their scornful reaction against northern European architecture.
 
The Gothic typographic lettering style used for German text is from 1781 in England.
 
In the 19th century, the term ‘Gothic revival’ referred to a style of architecture and decorating that harked back to the Middle Ages. Also, in the late 18th and 19th centuries, the term Gothic referred to a literary style used to suggest horror and mystery (i.e., the ‘Gothic’ novel; for example, Frankenstein and Dracula).
 
The modern use of the term Goth refers to the punk rock subculture which emerged in London in the early 1980s.
 
Reference: Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
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