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What is Steampunk?
This is a good question that is difficult to answer.
To me, Steampunk has always been first and foremost a literary genre, or least a subgenre of science fiction and fantasy that includes social or technological aspects of the 19th century (the steam) usually with some deconstruction of, reimagining of, or rebellion against parts of it (the punk). Unfortunately, it is a poorly defined subgenre, with plenty of disagreement about what is and is not included. For example, steampunk stories may:
- Take place in the Victorian era but include advanced machines based on 19th century technology (e.g. The Difference Engine by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling);
- Include the supernatural as well (e.g. The Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carriger);
- Include the supernatural and forego the technology (e.g. The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers, one of the works that inspired the term ‘steampunk’);
- Include the advanced machines, but take place later than the Victorian period, thereby assuming that the predomination by electricity and petroleum never happens (e.g. The Peshawar Lancers by S. M. Stirling); or
- Take place in an another world altogether, but featuring Victorian-like technology (e.g. Mainspring by Jay Lake).
“It’s sort of Victorian-industrial, but with more whimsy and fewer orphans.”
- Caitlin Kittredge
There are probably plenty of other combinations I’ve forgotten, but that’s steampunk as a genre in a nutshell. Steampunk has also cross-pollinated its way into other genres, so there is steampunk romance, steampunk erotica, and steampunk young adult fiction. I haven’t spotten any steampunk picture books yet, but I won’t be surprise when I do.
And it isn’t just written fiction anymore. There are steampunk games (e.g. Bioshock II), steampunk graphic novels (e.g. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen), and even steampunk movies (e.g. Sherlock Holmes) and TV shows (e.g. Warehouse 13). There is even steampunk music and steampunk performance art.
“To me, it’s essentially the intersection of technology and romance.” – Jake von Slatt
But steampunk has become a lot more. What with all the cool contraptions in the stories, it was only natural that some people would decide to make some of them (or at least things like them). Thus, steampunk gadgets came into the real world. People has “steampunk’d” everything from computers, desks, telephone, watches and guitars to cars, motorcycles, and whole houses. These objects can vary from a grungy look of a forgotten antique to the shiny overwrought newness of a Victorian gentleman’s club. Think brass and copper, glass and polished wood, engraving and etching, and details for the sake of details. So, steampunk is also a design aesthetic.
“Steampunk is what happens when goths discover brown.” – Jess Nevins
This aesthetic carries over into personal style with both clothing and jewelry being made in a “steampunk” style. The clothes are not exactly Victorian, adding in technological bits or hints of a more adventurous life than a typical Victorian citizen likely enjoyed.
So, steampunk is a genre and a design aesthetic.
But wait, there’s more! Steampunk has a philosophical angle as well, which is somewhat of a combination between the maker ideals of creativity and self-reliance and the Victorian optimistic view of the future. This last bit has led to accusations that steampunk includes a fair amount of empire worship, which is a reasonable concern. Another criticism has been that steampunk focuses on the best of the past and quietly sweeps the bad (i.e. slavery, child labor, widespread disease, etc.). Again, this may be a valid criticism and it is somethat that steampunk will have to address. Paul Jessup’s piece “The Future of Steampunk” offers a good discussion of these issues.
Final answer: steampunk is a genre AND a design aesthetic AND a philosophy.
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As far as picture books go you should really look into what Rick Berry did for Harlan Ellison’s “Repent, Harlequin”, said the Ticktock man.
steampunk is a way of life. A philosophy, a set of moral ethic codes which entitles us to challenge artistic side and strive for the future, while brining out the best in the past. It is seeing both good and evil in things, and the challenge to do something about them.
Eloquently put. I would enjoy seeing an expansion of those thoughts, though; I’ve become newly interested in steampunk. I like what I see–so far!–but as a “newbe” I realize I still have much to learn…
Aside from the massive philosophical dissertations of intellectual spectacle,
Steampunk is a “Revisited Design of the Industrial Revolution”…
Nothing less, nothing more.
Unlike most science fiction that looks forward to what might be, Steampunk looks backward at what might have been.
I’m a little confused by one of your examples, and I am sure it was just a misprint. You said that some novels were based in the Victorian era but had more modern 19th century technology. The Victorian era covered well over half the 19th century and 22 days of the 20th century. Since I have not read the book you refered to, can you please tell me whether you meant that it was based earlier in the Victorian era but had technology from later in the era, or did you mean they used 20th Century technology?
The genesis of Steampunk was “The Wild Wild West” — the original television show with Robert Conrad and Ross Martin, not the awful remake with Will Smith.
“So… What the hell is Steampunk?” is a question I’ve tried to answer on more occations than I can count. I wish I had this page in the past to give out. A brief (if you ask a devoted “punker”, VERY brief) but very informative look at a very involving genre. My thanks to the author for spelling out as simply as possiable.
Lots of people say steampunk is a way of life, philosophy, etc. But all of these are completely undefined. Being undefined is what defines steampunks. You can read the Great Steampunk Debate and find no definition of life style, etc.
There are also several dozen people who do define it for themselves, each differently. Most self described steampunks say steampunk can be anything you want…which means it is undefined by definition. Logic would also say if it’s defined to be everything then it is nothing.
I would say the life style is a fantasy. A pretend game, played online, where everyone considers themselves artists, Generals, Lords or whatever grand and noble character they can dream.
Unlike most role playing games the goal here is to present it as an actual life style, philosophy or any other noble sounding attribute. In the highest plane an individual convinces themselves it’s all real. The base plane is to convince others which is easily obtained.
The group as a whole agrees to always accept everyone else in the group as authentic without any definition. And that is key to keeping the fantasy going. Criticism would lead to requiring an actual life style, philosophy, art, etc. That’s work and steampunk is about having a bit of fun.
If this makes your head spin then good. It’s suppose to in order to perpetuate the fantasy. If you can’t understand it you’re likely to accept it as real. This mind screw is commonly used to get people to believe all kinds of stuff from selling soap on TV to any religion.
Only the literary genre is defined better but very broadly.
Steampunk is an invasion of the past mixed with rebellion of the present , hence the punk elements.
great descriptions of steam punk.
I’m a jeweler who loves tinkering around with bits and bobs and some of my work i would class as steam punk. i don’t really know exactly what it is that makes it so but i just know that it is!! Handmade plus industrial plus old and new and i think also beautiful and a bit mysterious.
steampunk has always been there in the corner trying to make you look at it. I looked at it. And it definitly got me thinking.
In my opinyon is that steampunk is also a go getter fot browney points. For example, what looks better? A steam train or a deseal. The look of a costom shape and moveing parts look a lot sweeter than a sleek “arow-dynamick” design.
And the steampunk “era” never really happened…sadly. BUT that leaves lots of room to creat new ideas and feed our imagination. Who knowes,maby steampunk will be the leading idea in a few years.
Thats my kind of world. So screw all the vampires, there gay. Goths, get a life. “pink” people …GO AWAY. STEAMPUNK IS COMEING BABY WOOO HOOO!!
Another partial steam punk movie is 1979′s “Time After Time” with Malcolm MacDowall as H.G. Wells. The design of his time machine is definitely steam punk! Great movie too!
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Thank you so much for these brief descriptions. My 12 year old daughter has always lived in fantasy with fairies and such as I did as a kid. With her styles changing and her parents coming from punk backgrounds It is interesting to see her leaning into the steam punk era. I really like it. It is very romantic. I love the Edwardian and Victorian Era and to see that combined with punk is very romantic.
Steampunk is when the mind tries to escape from modern reality, falls in love with the culture and aesthetic of a time lost, and decides to have more fun with it than the actual Victorians ever did.
Steampunk is a side effect of reading too many Jules Verne novels at a young age.Steampunk is wonderful and beautiful and I am so very glad it exists.
definitely checkout the steampunk rings on Etsy.com. really cool. I never knew what steampunk was this was exceedingly helpful.
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New to Steampunk — but intrigued by the fantastic devices I saw in old films such as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Master of the World, and later of course, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and others. There’s a certain whimsy here, daring to think “what if …?” I like it.
It has a name???? Being freaky is cool with me, why kill it with some BS marketing need an Identity look at me DON’T look at me. FAD LIKE NEW WAVE “punk” Rock, Be what you are, don’t buy what you want to be.. you will just be embarrassed by it one day.. When you grow out of it… BOUGHT IDENTITY IS NOT ORIGINALITY….
ive just recently heard of this and its everything i love
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Steampunk is the fecal-matter bi-product of the novels of Jules Verne (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea) and H.G. Wells (Time Machine & War of the Worlds). People who fancy themselves steampunks are nothing but plagarists of these original works of art. They try to co-opt this wonderful genre by saying it is a ‘lifestylE.’ POPPYCOCK!!!
I found you looking to see if there is a term for the “reverse-anachronisms” I’ve been encountering while re-reading “Stranger in the Strange Land,” set in a 1961-future. They have flying cars but no GPS or cell-phones, for example. And of course, sexism rules in this future.
“Steampunk” isn’t quite the right word, but it’s definitely in the right direction. Perhaps it needs a new word. It’s basically a “vacuum tube future.”
But I find the concept of “Steampunk” intriguing. It may have found a new fan in me.
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John Whipple’s work may be of interest. This piece: http://bit.ly/jslox4, has aviation formulas painted in the background. John is a very talented full-time artist.
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I’m currently involved in some Steampunk role play. Geeky, I know. But it sucked me in all the same and has inspired me to write a book. I was doing a bit more research on the topic to decide where I would go with it when I stumbled upon this site. I’m relieved to know there are more out there that enjoy Steampunk than I had originally thought. If any one has any comments or input, please do. I’m not afraid of constructive criticism. I will post the Prolog when I have finished it.
Excuse me, but have any of you read Leviathan and Behemoth by scott westerfield? that is as steampunk as steampunk gets.
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Steampunk: the moderned day, romanticized ideals of art, science and literature from bygone eras, predominatly the Victorian.
Steampunkers embrace the finest of these values as an escape, all be it a limited one, from the trials of our current day to day living. To pare it down; it’s fun! So lighten up. Enjoy all our differences. Life is way to short.
Now let’s flip the coin.
Steampunkers need to be careful in what they are wishing for. The 1840′s to the 1910′s were indeed a time of cultural and scientific advancement. All this was to be had, providing you were wealthy. Even then some of them went off the tracks, i.e. Drs. Kellog and Graham, and Freud had all of Europe on a cocaine toot. Even Edison had a machine he thought would contact the dead. Good times, hold that thought!
Hell, have fun with whatever does’t hurt anyone else, realize the darker side and don’t be as quick to bandwagon judging as the former mentioned.
A note to Clifford, prove read your grammer, use spellcheck and stop using words like “gay” to refer to something you don’t happen to like. I would hate it it the former mentioned refered to anything Steampunk as that’s so Clifford.
Hi, I’m a newcomer to this genre, but it has been drawn to my attention by the theatre group “Not Cricket” currently playing at the Edinburgh Festival http://www.wolvesofwilloughbychase.co.uk/index.html with a production of Joan Aiken’s “Wolves of Willoughby Chase” the first of her alternate world fantasy series which certainly were forerunners in the field of Steampunk! Take a look at this amazingly inventive series of books all set in her own fantastic historical world – Aiken’s language, use of made up historical events, styles of dress, and the presence of “whacky” inventions, like Lord Battersea’s balloon or the long gun on Nantucket create an imaginary time at the start of the Industrial Revolution that is full of experimentation and exploration, an England in the reign of the Stuart kings who never were, where wolves coming through the newly built channel tunnel are terrorising the country, and attacking the trains racing across the snowy landscape….
http://www.joanaiken.com/pages/wolves_chronicals.html
or “The Cockatrice Boys” set in a terrifying future where monstrous Cockatrices have taken over, and a brave band of warriors set out in their special train to defeat them…
http://us.macmillan.com/thecockatriceboys
As I read your blog, I had a thought: “I wonder if Gillette Castle is an original steampunk”!
http://www.ctrivervalley.com/4-Connecticut-CT-in-of/Major-attractions-in-CT/gillette_castle_state_park/index.html
I have visited this castle a few times, and adored the pocket doors, the folding telephone in the wall and other “doo-dads” that were beyond the time period that this castle was built.
Would like to know your thoughts on this. I’m a newbie as well, just trying to decipher “steampunk”. I like it but am finding it hard to put my finger on. I am looking to see if I can recognize things that I’ve seen and determine if they are steampunk or not. Thanks
Well. bout picture books.. I’m working on a comic with main genre is steampunk.. I myself found out about steampunk about 3 days ago, because a friend of mine said ‘ so, u’re genre is steampunk’.. And that’s how I found out.. I’m still in the designing time. But If there is somebody who likes to brainstorm on a nice original storyline is free to send me a message..
love ya’ll..
Gertrude
You didn’t mention Michael Moorcock’s Warlord of The Air series!
Inspiration.
Steampunk is inspiration. It is “what if.” It is inspiration to be a better person, to write, to explore who and what and why.
It is a literary genre, and a social movement, and a ‘Go Green’ movement and so much more.
It is without boundary or border. It is an homage to the rose-colored impressions we have of a “better time.”
I can continue, but it’s better I don’t. Instead, I invite one and all to visit my blog where I discuss this same question in detail with fellow steampunks.
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The coolest, most applicable to my mindset, thing I’ve heard of in ages…and I’m old! (Handelbar moustace included).
I think of Steampunk as kind of industrial goth, with brown thrown in. I’ve just recently become aware of it and feel I have found my people!
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I think of Steampunk as the unsung technology of a lost time period. Sure, we all see Victorian age customs and designs from da Vinci (Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends). This conglomerate of lost tech from one of our greatest illustrators in history, never seen before the 1900s.
Of course, being a fantasy short story writer, I do have a small affinity for magic used by technology. I have come to the conclusion of steampunk to explain this incredible conglomeration.
I don’t like Steampunk because of how it defines things. I’m bad at explaining but I’ll try.
Say if somebody made a design for something like a time machine maybe that resembled the steampunk style then it would get labeled as so when that might not have been what the creator was after at all and not how they wanted it to be viewed. I kind of feel like it destroys a way for originality.
I hope that makes some sense, and I don’t have a problem with people who like steampunk, it just doesn’t appeal to me.
Steampunk has pervaded the art of home-made greetings cards. We use distressed paper and card, distressing inks and grunge- board. This all gives a faded, antique effect (look up Tim Holtz products, the pioneer of steavmpunk in crafting).