When I saw this question posted by five months ago, it went through my head that this is a simple yes or no reply and dismissed it out of hand. But, I kept seeing it, and thought that maybe there is something more to this question. In my ignorance I thought that 'Emo' was another of those characters like 'Wally' until I started to investigate.

I googled 'Emo' and boy wasn't I surprised!

I discovered that 'Emo' is not a person nor a characature but whole lifestyle, a lifestyle that seems to be enveloping our young people, where their emotions are to the fore and they are not afraid to display them nor admit that they even have them. Their whole persona takes on a change, from what they wear, how they do their hair, their hobbies, and even the music they listen to.

The characteristics of an emo from an outward appearance is similiar for both male or female. Their clothing is tightly fitted and often bought from thrift shops and altered or they go to a specialist boutique for Emo Wear. Their clothes are generally dark and highlighted with bright splashes in the form of colourful belts , brightly coloured t-shirts under a dark jacket and the girls will also wear bows and hairpins of a brightly coloured nature.

Their hair is almost always an unnatural colour , generally jet black , this is to express their feelings. If they are in a real dark mood their hair will stay jet black, though many emo's will colour their hair, such as their layers or as a streak, the most popular colours used are red, frost or purple.

The hairstyle of an emo is mot about the hair being straight or even, it is more about expressing emotions and feelings. An emo hairstyle is often uneven, shaggy and a-symmetrical. You will find that more often than not , one side is longer than the other,generally covering one eye. If you are emo, choosing a hairstyle, you should always think of your mood at the time.

So, while anything can go in an emo hairstyle, there is only one rule that you should really follow, and that is , 'Don't follow the crowd.'

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Make-up

There are websites full of advice on how apply make-up, and emo sites are no different, except, they are directing at children, some still in school. I found a site that teaches them how to apply eyeliner that will create the look they want, whether it be for soft every day or evening vampy look. Once they have applied the eyeliner, they then contrast with a brightly coloured eyeshadow.

I found this amazing, and also to see how they encouraged the youngsters to be themselves and not 'to follow the crowd'

Emo hobby - Their Poetry

Emo's write poetry, unusual you may think from looking at them.  My first impression was , well I cant really pinpoint the exact feelings, enough to put into words, but , Emo's , they can.  They have a gift of being able to express themselves through their poetry and their music.  They do not hold back, they are able to transfer their inner emotion , however dark , into beautiful poetry. 

The poem you are about to read comes from a website, Emo Corner.  I picked this poem because it moved me and I thought that youmight like it too.

Autumn Times

Autumn breeze frigidly touches ailing dreadful lives
Harshly darkness quietly surrounds the broken souls
Mellow serenades that once played between hearts
Pathetically have transformed into bitter sad songs

Somewhere beyond the flossy clouds
Cupid has lost his romancing arrows
Plays sad sonorous tunes on his bow
Dedicated to all weepy lonely hearts

Howling chilly wind blows through the mist
Sounds of sorrow spread allover the place
Fuzzy humid air submerges the inner lust
Lives decay slowly as the autumn leaves fall...

As Emo poetry their music and musical videos are equally emotive. Their deepest feelings are expressed through music , most commonly accompanied by the guitar.

The first video here is by Pink Floyd, Wish you were here...here it is expressed how he feels following the death of one of his friends . The music is soulful and draws you in. It's a piece of music that stays with you long after it has finished.

The second video is from Korea - the music is also haunting but the video is a little disturbing, but unfortunately is a portrayal of what these youngsters put up with. I closed my eyes and listened to the music, before I watched the video.. I suggest that you do the same, just to see and hear what I saw, heard and felt.

Before I head off into my conclusion, just wanted to say that the stories relating to the link between the emo scene and the act of self harm is a myth.  Whilst this is true of some , it is also true of people who are not Emo. There is no medical or cultural link between the two.

Self harm stems from a borderline personality disorder and there is no reason why the wrongful claim that cutting is a fundamental part of the Emo Culture.

Researching this topic, has really opened my eyes, I have learnt about a culture that embraces emotion, and will openly express their feelings.

The emotion can be that of love, hate, hugging, violence, happiness and depression,even suicide and they talk about it. They write poetry and make videos, paint and write short stories all to tell people how they feel, and in doing so, they help others to deal with whatever problems they have.

Ok, so they dress different, and over emphasize the makeup around their eyes, but arent the eyes , the windows to their souls. I think that all of us can learn from them.

We, all of us, have a preconceived idea when we meet a group of young people that look and dress different. We all think TROUBLE.. me, personally, I want to know more, I would like to see this generation grow and to be our future.

Thoughtful, expressive and above all independant.

Am I Emo ?  Not in every sense , but in some ways, I would like to believe I am.