The gothic punk look is one that is often misunderstood.  In actuality, goth and punk are two separate subcultures.  Punk is more closely drawn to the punk rock music scene, and many punk and rock music fans are mistaken for being part of the goth subculture. 

Goth, rather than being based upon any certain type of music, is seen as its proponents more as a means of personal expression.  Often, dressing in the goth style is a reaction to feeling separate from those around them, whether as outcasts, or as a general feeling of just being different.

The gothic look draws its influences from many sources.  Clothing typically emulates that of the middle ages, Victorian age, or early twentieth century.  The make-up is heavily dark, with use of black eyeliner by both male and female goths. 

This cosmetic style is thought to be influenced at least partially by the early silent film actress, Theda Bara, whose large eyes, dark make-up, and dark hair was especially striking on screen.

While gothic punk isn't a style all its own, it's common for goths and punks to share some similarities in their dress and attitude.  Both are fiercely independent and believe strongly in self expression. 

Typically, both are meticulous about their specialized hair styles and make-up.  It is in choice of color and fashion that the two differ the most. 

Punk clothes are often deconstructed.  That is, they are purposefully torn, or they can look unfinished, and additionally, they are usually modern. 

Goths, on the other hand, rely on well-fitted garments and convey their style through choice of color, fabric, and most importantly, accessories, and their clothing is usually based on earlier centuries' fasions.

The other typical focus of gothic clothing is on emphasizing sexuality.  The goth look is often revealing.  Fitted garments and corset accentuate the female form.  Hose and tights are ripped to showcase the legs, and tight pants on both genders have the same effect.

Both punk and goth dressers reject mainstream styles and sensibilities, so it is common for people to confuse or combine them into a sort of gothic punk. 

Gothic architecture was first used in cathedrals in France during the 12th and 13th century. The Cathedral Basilica of St.Denis is one of the most famous examples of a Gothic cathedral created during the medieval period. Abbot Suger (1081-1151) a French historian and Gothic architect, was the mind behind its creation. Suger's inspirations came from travels to the east where pointed arches, varying colours and detailed patterns were used.

Traditionally, monks were the architects that designed churches in France, and often their creations were basic and practical. However; as powers in France increased there was also an increased desire to create symbols of religion and authority that were grand and spacious. Out of this need emerged concepts in Gothic architecture and design.

One of the first changes Gothic architecture brought to cathedral design was a change in vaulting. Architects worked on how to substitute a stone vault for a wooden roof, while incorporating the use of intersecting stone ribs. That lead to the development of expanded of windows, the use of flying buttresses for support, and the use of slender piers.

Gothic windows covered almost the entire wall surface and had varied designs with delicate stone decorations.The thick and heavy walls traditionally used in Romanesque cathedrals to create stability were abandoned and walls were made thinner and used as an active skeleton that integrated arches, piers and buttresses.

During the medieval period cathedrals were built in two forms: Romanesque and Gothic. Romanesque cathedrals had a few distinctive features. Firstly, the buildings used rounded arches for structure support. The rounded top of these arches exuded an increased force onto the cathedral walls, and thus the walls had to be thick for support. Additionally, buttresses were added along the side of the outer walls as support. Due to the thickness of the walls around the base of arches and the obstruction of the buttresses, windows could only be placed near the top of the walls and were small in size. Only smaller windows could be places along the lower sides of the walls, if they were even placed at all. The overall structures in these cathedrals resembled that of a fortress.

 Gothic cathedrals created structures that managed structure forces differently. Gothic architects used flying buttresses to support cathedral arches. Basically, this meant that rather than placing the buttress directly next to the arch wall for support, the buttress was attached to the wall with a smaller connecting arch arm, creating support for the walls and rounded arches. This displaced the force from the arch walls and buttress to the foundation. Because of the space the flying buttress created between the walls and the supporting buttresses, windows could be placed lower on walls where the sun could enter and could also be made larger.Additionally, pointed arches were used as opposed to rounded for increased roof support.

Gothic architecture in cathedrals became the art of erecting buildings with stone vaults and thin walls, whose ribs intersected (concentration of load) and whose thrusts were supported by flying buttresses (the grounding of the thrusts). The downward and outward thrust of the vaulting was met by an equivalent resistance in buttress and solid earth, resulting in an equilibrium from well-adjusted opposing forces.

Although many think Gothic architecture was mainly concerned with elaborate design and heavy ornamentation, in actuality Gothic architecture emerged as a response to structural need with sound engineering. All forms of decoration came as an after thought to the practical designs. Gothic masters of work often said "nothing which is inherently needed could be ugly." Gothic cathedrals sought to create larger buildings with increased support while doing away with blank walls and solid bland surfaces. Interestingly, modern copies of Gothic architecture tend to ignore the original engineering intent of the structures and often place a heavy emphasis on decoration.