Am I Emo?

Take this quiz to find out!

Heavy eyeliner. Long side-swept bangs. Dreary mood. Does this sound like you? Well, maybe you’re emo!

Emo is short for “emotional” and categorizes a dark, moody style and way of life. So, if you’ve been feeling sad or angsty, answer these personality questions to see if you resonate with an emo identity.

A woman in emo clothing and striking makeup lies on her back, holding a flower.

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Questions Overview

1. On average, you typically feel:
  1. Depressed. Life is full of pain.
  2. Sad. My glass is always half empty.
  3. Average. My mood depends on the day.
  4. Happy. There’s always a way to turn a frown upside down!
2. Take a look inside your closet. What color do you see the most?
  1. Black, like my soul.
  2. Gray. I like to keep things neutral.
  3. White and a few other colors. Nothing too crazy.
  4. Everything but black. I like wearing the rainbow.
3. How do you like to style your hair?
  1. Long, straight bangs that cover my eyes.
  2. Purposefully tousled with a deep side-part.
  3. I don’t know. I brush it and call it styled.
  4. Curled, straight, or whatever’s trending.
4. Out of these bands, which one is your favorite?
  1. My Chemical Romance
  2. Paramore
  3. Fall Out Boy
  4. Panic! At the Disco
5. What does your ideal outfit look like?
  1. Black skinny jeans, tight band tee, and studded accessories.
  2. Tight pants, a graphic tee, and combat boots.
  3. Ripped jeans, an oversized sweatshirt, and maybe a beanie.
  4. Trendy jeans, a bright-colored top, and stylish sneakers.
6. How would your friends describe you?
  1. Gloomy. It takes a lot to make me smile.
  2. Edgy. I put up thick walls.
  3. Distant. Sometimes I like to be alone.
  4. Bubbly. I’m the life of the party.
7. You can only watch one movie for the rest of your life. What do you pick?
  1. Donnie Darko (2001)
  2. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
  3. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
  4. Clueless (1995)
8. Yay, it’s the weekend! Got any plans?
  1. Yeah, sitting in my dark room blasting music and crying.
  2. I might pour my feelings into a new song or poem.
  3. Not really. But I’ll probably paint my nails a dark color.
  4. I’ll probably head to the beach and get some Vitamin D.
9. You’re heading to the mall. Where do you stop first?
  1. Hot Topic or Spencer’s, duh.
  2. Journeys. I could use some new Converse.
  3. Target. They have some cool graphic tees.
  4. Old Navy. My whole wardrobe is practically from there.
10. What do you think of tattoos and piercings?
  1. The more, the better. I’m a canvas that needs to be filled.
  2. I really like them, but they might get me in trouble.
  3. I’d consider getting 1 or 2, but nothing super visible.
  4. They’re okay, but I wouldn’t jump at the chance of getting one.
11. You wake up to a gloomy day. Your first thought is:
  1. Huh. Glad to see the world feels as dreary as me.
  2. So, this seems like a day to sit and do nothing.
  3. Well, I guess that sets the tone for the day.
  4. Boo! I hate rainy weather.
12. What quote do you resonate with the most?
  1. “If I didn’t think, I’d be much happier.”
  2. “I’m not sure which is worse: intense feeling, or the absence of it.”
  3. “I felt very tired and vague in the head.”
  4. “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”

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What is Emo?

In 1984, Guy Picciotto formed the band Rites of Spring and introduced a new sound of hardcore rhythms and personal lyrics to the music scene. This poetic punk rock music was quickly coined “emotional,” and the term “emo” was born. The emo music scene grew, and by the early 2000s, emo became an aesthetic and a musical subculture. Sporting long side-swept bangs, dressing in ripped jeans and tight band tees, and listening to emotional hardcore music was now mainstream.

Over the years, this edgy lifestyle has been mistaken for other similar aesthetics. The emo subculture has its own unique sound, style, and attitude, but was greatly influenced by the gothic and punk movements.

Goths became a mainstream subculture in the 1960s and 70s, preceding the emo movement. A modern goth dresses in lace or fishnets, black, and leather and adorns themselves with metal, studs, and religious or anti-religious accessories. Goths and emos may have similar stylistic expressions, but they view one major topic differently: death. Both subcultures are fascinated with the idea of death; however, goths revel in the beauty and supernatural element of it, while emos wallow in its inevitability.

Punk emerged around the same time as goths in the late 1970s. This subculture’s ideals mirror post-WWII youth movements and focus on anti-government, individual freedom, and nonconforming beliefs. Although emos have similar ideals, an emo’s style is different than a punk’s. Those that identify as punk often wear baggy jeans, leather jackets, and Chuck Taylors or Doc Martens, while emos prefer tighter clothing of a darker shade.

Emo, goth, and punk have made tremendous strides in music and pop culture since they first became known, but their aesthetics have stayed true to their roots.

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