Ode to Goblincore
Note: This is a repost of a blog from my old site, originally published December 6th 2021Recently, one of my client’s requested a Cottagecore soundtrack for their haircut and I realized — I know what that means aesthetically... but not musically. It sent me on a journey creating my own Goblincore playlist because the soundtracks that match these aesthetics in my head are going to be very different to the interpretations by Gen Z.
Here’s a quick reference for the aesthetic difference between cottagecore/goblincore if you dont know.
I don’t even need to read about it though because the phrase instantly takes me to the fantasyland of my childhood in the 80s. Starting with The Labyrinth soundtrack, as clearly Jareth the Goblin King is the King of this genre, and moving into related soundtracks: Legend, Dark Crystal, etc.
Soundtracks get tricky though because they can be so intense and dramatic (most of the Dark Crystal OST), which can be a bit much for a playlist for everyday activities. I’m going to keep working on it, but in the meantime I think what I’ve got is solid.
This playlist is best listened to on shuffle (on these headphones) while playing with frogs or sharpening your teeth.
me as J
Jareth by Iren Horrors
What is a Goblin?
When I think of Goblins, it’s literally just the art of Brian Froud. Goblins can vary in size. But when I think of Gremlins, they are always tiny.
Trying to determine the difference between the two occurred to me when I read a criticism of Goblincore, saying it was antisemitic. Why do shitty people have to ruin everything? The criticism centered around the depiction of goblins coded exclusively in Jewish stereotypes, hoarding coins etc. I bring it up because it’s important to be aware of how these things can continue to cause harm to people in the present day. And with a few incidents of antisemitic hate crimes here in Austin, that has been on my mind.
The criticism blurb of Goblincore mentioned that people are instead using the term Gremlincore. The folklore nerd in me is upset by this in a “Comic Book Guy” (from the Simpsons) kind of a way. First of all, if the depiction is coded as antisemitic how is being a Gremlin any better than being a Goblin?? Ultimately, if the depiction is racist it doesn’t matter what it’s called. Secondly, Goblins have a history, they are a legit Old World species of Fae. Whereas the term Gremlin was first recorded in the 1920s and are very specifically invisible creatures that like to sabotage airplanes and other types of machinery. Their origin myths come from the Royal Air Force, “The term gremlin, denoting a mischievous creature that sabotages aircraft, originates in Royal Air Force (RAF) slang among the British pilots stationed in Malta, the Middle East, and India in the 1920s.” These myths amongst RAF pilots increased in popularity during World War II.
Sources:
Wiki: Gremlin
One of the reasons I relate to being “of Goblin” is their tendency to hide things you just put down, or knocking stuff over. Many people in my salon have watched me drop and immediately catch a comb (or not). I’m constantly knocking stuff over at home. Thusly, I emit “Big Goblin Energy” because it’s not like these things are just happening around me often — it’s always ME that’s doing them!
Once a chiropractor asked me what my natural posture was and I said “you know, Goblin” and he didn’t understand what that meant. I hunched forward with my hands brought up in a claw gesture, like if a vulture was a person or the stance of a gargoyle. You know... Goblin.
And then there was that time I was a Depressed Goblin Nightmare Boy for the ol clock app...
So yeah, I vibe with the Goblin identity. Unsurprisingly, I’ll be DJing as Jareth for the return of Elysium’s Goblin King’s NYE Ball. I’m currently working on making a mask cover that looks Jarethesque.
And if you were still unsure about joining me in the Goblin horde, hobbitygoblin brings up a good point...
