Steampunk 101
By Philip Schweier
October 26, 2010 - 12:02
Dragon*Con 2009 was a significant disappointment in that regard. Selection in the dealers’ room was weak, and most vendors were over-priced. But I did come away with a growing curiosity for a science fiction sub-genre known as “steampunk.” This year, comic books took a backseat as the growing curiosity has become a significant interest.
Sometimes referred to as “alternate history” or “gas lamp romance,” steampunk is a relatively new venue for storytelling, though in some ways it’s almost a precursor to what has been regarded as science fiction during the past 50 years.
The term “steampunk” was coined by science fiction author K. W. Jeter in a letter published in the April 1987 issue of the science fiction magazine Locus. Jeter, referring to the Victorian fantasies replacing the “cyberpunk” movement, took the term from the notion that steam was the prevailing power source of the 19th century.
Like many sub-genres, steampunk comes with certain elements that help define it. However, one missing ingredient might be archetypes; characters who embody and are representative of a genre, such as Indiana Jones, Sam Spade or Gandalf.
Unlike traditional science fiction, which often takes place in technologically advanced settings, steampunk is often set in a pre-industrial society, usually the late 19th century. Heroes are often young, and most stories feature an eccentric inventor/scientist type who may be either an ally to the hero or the hero’s arch nemesis.
The common premise of steampunk writings often involve the “what if?” scenario: What if a specific technology was applied to the late 19th century? And by extension, it is possible to reverse the thought: What if pre-industrial technology was applied to the future? Some fans might suggest Joss Whedon’s Firefly answers that question.
Like any creative movement, the aesthetics of steampunk can be found in the visual arts as well, often resulting in the creation of steampunk-style devices and clockwork-style kinetic sculpture. Some of the more inventive afficianados have created fully-functional items, such as lamps, CD players and even home computers.
Many steampunk costumes feature a Victorian-era design, though sometimes comfort and practicality are sacrificed. In addition, steampunk has infiltrated the music scene as well, influencing such bands as Abney Park and the Extraordinary Contraptions.
On film, Steamboy (2004), an Japanese animated feature, is perhaps the epitome of steampunk on film. Other examples include Castle in the Sky (1986) and Howl’s Moving Castle (2004), both from Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki. Both films contain elements of magic as well as science, but in science fiction and fantasy stories, this is allowed.
Steampunk has yet to be portrayed suitably in a live-action film, though such mainstream Hollywood movies such as Wild Wild West (1999) and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003) might be the closest approximation. The ABC TV series Castle recently featured a steampunk theme.
Some fans of steampunk might be quick to dismiss such films, perhaps due to their overall lack of box office success. In my opinion, success or failure is an inaccurate means of gauging the degree of steampunk elements.
Praise and adulation? Scorn and ridicule? E-mail me at philip@comicbookbin.com
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