Leah Bush, Ph.D.
Researcher Writer Musician Photographer
Exploring the World through Elder Goths
Summer 2025 News
The second Elder Gothic Introvert Picnic, held on June 1, 2025 in Hunt Valley, MD was such a success that a third picnic will be held in November. Donations will go towards adopting a bat from the Bat Conservation International!
I had the honor of being interviewed by Lol Tolhurst, the founding member of the Cure, as an expert on Elder Goths for his best-selling monograph Goth. Thanks for the opportunity!
About Leah
My research examines the Elder Goth subculture through interdisciplinary lenses that bridge ethnography, identity formation, and community dynamics. Central to my work is a reconceptualization of "subculture" not as static phenomenon but as a dynamic, lifelong process that evolves throughout the lifespan.
My work has been featured in the Washington Post Magazine, TERP Magazine, and I was consulted by Lol Tolhurst, founding member of the Cure, as an expert on Elder Goths.
I hold a Ph.D. and M.A. in American Studies from the University of Maryland and a B.A. in Sociology from Eastern University. I'm a musician forever, a photographer for fun, and proudly call Baltimore, Maryland home.