Goth philosopher: Michel Foucault

The question isn't: was famous philosopher Michel Foucault a Goth? No. We need to ask ourselves: was he a closet gargoyle?

Like a gargoyle, a dreadful mystique looms around Foucault. But the dread is not elicited by his dark visage. Unfortunately, it is due to an unwarranted reputation as a near impossibly difficult writer with an incomprehensible style. Foucault is one of those French postmodern philosophers that gets lumped together with Derrida, Lacan, Althusser et al. Superficial similarities notwithstanding, Foucault is a wonderful stylist (not that Derrida, Althusser, Lacan et al don't have their good qualities also) who while discussing difficult topics is rarely difficult to understand. And best of all, there is a distinctively Gothy theme in his writing. He writes about madness, outsiders, and sexuality with a desire to destabilize and decentre the mundane while providing room for the freaks to get their freak on. What else is Goth about?  


Besides, he's got a Gothy look:

A uniquely personal version of academic Goth, non?

If you're thinking of taking the plunge and trying out this great thinker, might I suggest starting with The History of Sexuality: An Introduction: Volume One? The subject matter is interesting to say the least and the book is easy to read and full of the contrary ideas of this arch-contrarian. Here is a little taste from the first page:

"For a long time, the story goes, we supported a Victorian regime, and we continue to be dominated by it even today. Thus the image of the imperial prude is emblazoned on our restrained, mute, and hypocritical sexuality.

At the beginning of the seventeenth century a certain frankness was still common, it would seem. Sexual practices had little need of secrecy; words were said without undue reticence, and things were done without too much concealment; one had a tolerant familiarity with the illicit. Codes regulating the coarse, the obscene, and the indecent were quite lax compared to those of the nineteenth century. It was a time of direct gestures, shamelss discourse, and open transgressions, when anatomies were shown and intermingled at will, and knowing children hung about amid the laughter of adults: it was a period when bodies 'made a display of themselves.'

But twilight soon fell upon this bright day, followed by the monotonous nights of the Victorian bourgeoisie...(The History of Sexuality: Volume 1, p. 3)"

Very well-written, easy to understand, intriguing...non?