What is Steampunk?

• It started as a literary genre, or subgenre of science fiction and fantasy that includes social or technological aspects of the 19th century usually with some deconstruction of, reimagining of, or rebellion against parts of the world. Stories can:

• Take place in the Victorian era but include advanced machines based on 19th century technology

• Include the supernatural • Include the supernatural and forego the technology • Include the advanced machines, but take place later than the Victorian

period, thereby assuming that the predomination by electricity and petroleum never happens

• Take place in an another world altogether, but featuring Victorian-like technology

There a re a l so S teampunk

• Games • Graphic novels (e.g. League of Extraordinary

Gentlemen• Movies (e.g. Sherlock Holmes) • TV shows (e.g. Warehouse 13). • Music• Performance art.

Steampunkhas become a lot

morePeople have “steampunk’d” everything from:• Computers• Desks• Telephones• Watches • Guitars • Cars• Motorcycles • Houses.

Steampunkobjects can vary

From:• The grungy look of a forgotten antique • to the shiny overwrought newness of a Victorian gentleman’s

club.

Think • brass … Copper… Glass… Polished Wood… Engraving… Etching…

Details for the Sake of Details…

• So, steampunk is also a design aesthetic.

SteampunkAesthetic

This aesthetic carries over into personalstyle with both clothing and jewelry being made in a “steampunk” style.

Steampunkphi losopy

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.).

http://www.abneypark.com/