by Lorelei Cohen

Created on: April 06, 2008   Last Updated: December 14, 2011

Let's face it, if you are going to costume yourself to look like the 'Grim Reaper' there are going to be some people out there in the real world who will have a tendency to look at you with a negative viewpoint.

There you are with your hair dyed jet black, your lips painted black, and dressed in black. Gosh how can that not be viewed as a positive mode of presenting yourself to the world? Why would anyone out there not assume that you are a confident, open minded, 'happy go lucky' kind of person? If you are a little confused by the issue, then I suggest maybe that you attend a psychology course, and that just might help you try to figure this one out.

Part One of lessons in learning: The color black represents death, the bad guy, gloom, doom, pessimism, unhappiness, foreboding, evil etc. etc. etc. It is a color that when used in certain contexts gives off a very negative message. White and other light bright colors give off messages of light heartedness, happiness, goodness, kindness, joy and optimism. Traditionally black is a negative color and white is a positive color.

So if a person chooses to totally remake themselves over with a negative image to display to the world, and then is shocked to find out that someone thinks they might have a little bit of negativity in their outlook on life, well lets stop and think about that one. Gosh and golly gee but I wonder why that would happen?

Part Two of lessons in learning: People usually select their mode of dress with the intention of creating an image for the people that they will come in contact with that day. They often choose what they will wear just to enhance their mood or personality on that day but more often it is to present a message to the world.

For example if we have some small degree of intelligence within us then when job seeking we dress for the job we are applying for. In doing so we are essentially telling the interviewer through our appearance that we are capable of conducting the duties of that job and encouraging him or her to hire us. If you show up with your lips painted black, your hair dyed black, and wearing a black outfit garnished with chains the interviewer is most likely going to pass you by. You just would not look like a very happy personable person to have representing that business. 

Often when we are on our own free time we dress strictly to enhance our mood or for the activities that we are planning on that day. It is almost funny how often the image a person displays just automatically seems to also reflect their personality. This is where most individuals who dress in the Goth theme run into problems. The completely black Goth costume looks not only a little scary but it also looks down and out right depressing.

Every person on this good old Earth has the right to dress as she or he chooses so long as it is done without embarrassing or harming other people. But you do have to bear the consequences and judgments that you receive based on the image that you decide to display to the world we live in. So if you choose to dress in a Goth theme of appearance than expect to be judged by the image you display.

When I dress up in my bright pink happy face T-shirt I expect to see a little smile on a few faces as I walk by. Now this might be out of sarcasm because people think that I'm half mad, or just because I am 'brilliantly bright', but I do expect to put other people in a good mood as I pass by. I am proud of the image that I portray to others around me.

If you are frustrated by the very image that you are portraying to the world, then just maybe you should consider changing it, rather than being offended that it evokes the exact response which it is intended to.

Learn more about this author, Lorelei Cohen.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.