Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction, which origins can be traced in the nineteenth century scientific romances, gothic horrors and pulp fiction books. In the 1990s it was called ‘VSF’, or Victorian Science Fiction, and I think it’s what describes this genre really well; steampunk can be defined as ‘Victorian with a twist’.
Steampunk mixes the ideas from the nineteenth century – called ‘the age of steam’ – and adds modern, futuristic elements to it (that’s where punk in the word steampunk comes from). In steampunk books, you can find inventions like a Victorian lift to the moon, steam-powered cyborgs or an engine with artificial intelligence.
Steampunk as a genre started in literature; however, nowadays it can be found everywhere – in comic books, movies, video games, fashion, and even music.
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These two screens come from the movies Wild Wild West from 1999 and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen from 2003. In both of them, we can find steam-powered machines, mad engineers, and mind-blowing inventions like a giant spider robot in the first picture or an upgraded limousine in the second one.
Steampunk fashion is also a wide field. It combines traditional, Victorian elements – like corsets and bustle skirts for woman, or monocles, long coats and top hats for men – and modern elements: short dresses, colorful hair, mechanical parts and gears.
If you’re more interested more in technology than in fashion, I have some good news for you – one of the main braches of modern steampunk is altering devices like computers, laptops, or pen-drives to make them look more retro futuristic. In my opinion, it’s a great way to mix art and technology.
Before I ask you what you think about this style, let me show you one more video – it’s a footage recorded at a café in Romania, where giant moving sculptures and mechanisms were built to change its interior into a steampunk heaven:
Sources:
http://steampunk.republika.pl/defin01.html
Steampunk mixes the ideas from the nineteenth century – called ‘the age of steam’ – and adds modern, futuristic elements to it (that’s where punk in the word steampunk comes from). In steampunk books, you can find inventions like a Victorian lift to the moon, steam-powered cyborgs or an engine with artificial intelligence.
Steampunk as a genre started in literature; however, nowadays it can be found everywhere – in comic books, movies, video games, fashion, and even music.
These two screens come from the movies Wild Wild West from 1999 and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen from 2003. In both of them, we can find steam-powered machines, mad engineers, and mind-blowing inventions like a giant spider robot in the first picture or an upgraded limousine in the second one.
Steampunk fashion is also a wide field. It combines traditional, Victorian elements – like corsets and bustle skirts for woman, or monocles, long coats and top hats for men – and modern elements: short dresses, colorful hair, mechanical parts and gears.
If you’re more interested more in technology than in fashion, I have some good news for you – one of the main braches of modern steampunk is altering devices like computers, laptops, or pen-drives to make them look more retro futuristic. In my opinion, it’s a great way to mix art and technology.
Before I ask you what you think about this style, let me show you one more video – it’s a footage recorded at a café in Romania, where giant moving sculptures and mechanisms were built to change its interior into a steampunk heaven:
Sources:
http://steampunk.republika.pl/defin01.html
Comments
There are dozens of artists who modify or create objects to achieve a steampunk aesthetic. Some of these projects have a practical purpose, while others are pieces of artwork or part of a costume. The designs merge the mundane with the exotic, and many steampunk artists have enthusiastic fans who will pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for one of their creations. I guess every trend have some followers.
http://www.computersciencedegreehub.com/10-awesome-steampunk-computer-case-mods/
http://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/39-amazing-steampunk-computer-mods-200834
http://www.datamancer.net
I think that a game "Bioshock" has some steampunk elements, or am I wrong? Have you played the game (any of its parts)?
And if you're interested only in human augmentation, maybe cyberpunk genre is more suitable for you.
As to steampunk computers, my dad enhanced my PC case for my birthday. Unfortunately, I don't have any good pictures of a finished piece, only this one from the process of making it: https://scontent-frt3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/1420_396505850451203_517187945_n.jpg?oh=8c1a36620e2b10fa54cdfdac419b2872&oe=56CAA6AC
Besides, Helena made a good point - even if you treat a specific genre as a lifestyle, doesn't mean you wear the most hardcore clothes every minute of your life. For example, one of the Steampunk designers, Kato, posts some of her everyday looks on her facebook page. Sometimes they consist of some steampunk elements, like leather boots or corsets, but sometimes they look pretty "normal". :)
I really like it in terms of fashion and games. When it comes to fashion I think it's rather impractical, but all these mechanisms, gears... if well combined they look amazing. Plus corsets! I'd love to have one, but they're too expensive for a piece
of clothing I'd use just a few times... well, that's a pity...
And games... I could go on and on about it. Some of my favourite games are at least partly steampunk-ish. For example Dishonored - the whole enviornment is based on victorian Britain and the main character uses awesome steampunk-inspired equipment. He's mask is very steampunk-y to me https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/46/9b/61/469b61c4c16dad219534af723c5b213e.jpg
Also Bioshock series, I've seen it mentioned before. I absolutely loved Infinity, so beautiful...
Another example could be Thief series. The newest one got rather medicore marks, but I had fun playing it and it looked really nice.
Oh, and the latest Assassin's Creed game, Syndicate, takes place in XIX century London. I wasn't so sure about it but from what I've seen so far on YouTube I think it might be quite alright. Definitely has that steampunk feel :)
http://pyrkon.pl/2015/index.php?go=opyrkonie
A lot of people coming there is dressing up in steampunk style. In my opinion making such an outfit is not easy, but looks cool.
And you're right, making steampunk outfits sure is time-consuming. This only makes me admire the designers more! :)
Thank you for this interesting article.
I have not met so far any person who represents this style, but thanks to your article certainly will be easier for me to recognize it in the future :)
Don't get me wrong, I still like it, but only a part of it. Like vehicle designs, colors and technology in general. On the other hand, I'm pretty fed up with steampunk cosplayers even though I respect their work. I understand that making such costumes is very time-consuming, but... it's just boring for me. :)
What i really wanted to do after reading this article was motivation to watch a movie :"Wild Wild West". I saw it like few times but still it's a great production.
On the other hand, it's slowly transforming into some kind of elitarism, have you noticed? Every time someone posts something 'not good enough' there's a rush of comments like "DUUH, not steampunk at all!!!". I think these comments are more annoying than carelessly 'steampunked' thing. In my opinion, art and craft should be about encouragement, not endless patronising critiques.
Anyways. I like the design and estetics of steampunk. This is why I do like to play steampunk games, being it board games (Warmachine) or computer games (aforementioned Arcanum, Dishonored) or watch steampunk movies or anime (Last Exile, Fullmetal Alchemist).
I noticed that you mentioned steampunk music but not provided any examples. You definitevly should checkout Abney Park. Maybe they're not the best but c'mon it's steampunk. ;)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WrPWFn7e2c
The video of Enigma cafe made the biggest impression on me. I love places that have their own unique atmosphere.
Do you know if there are any good steampunk computer games?
I really liked “Dishonored”, it’s not fully steampunk but really close to. Another example is Thief series - and this one really fullfils definiition of steampunk from your article - mix of Victorian era and futuristic, steam machines.. If you haven’t tried it yet, you definitely should!
I didn’t really know, that games I like are steampunk :) Thanks for your article!