The term "Gothic" originally referred to the East Germanic tribe, the Goths, who were known for their crude and barbarous ways. However, during the Renaissance, the term came to be associated with a particular style of architecture and art characterized by ornamentation, grandeur, and romance. In the 18th and 19th centuries, "Gothic" also came to be associated with the Romantic movement in literature, which celebrated emotion, imagination, and the supernatural. Today, "Gothic" often refers to music, fashion, and subculture that is characterized by dark and melancholic themes, and a fascination with death and the macabre.
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