A Few Words on Steampunk

There’s nothing like that new blog theme smell, is there? So let’s hop in this bitch and DRIVE!

Since my current theme of choice is an older Victorian / vintage style, I thought now would be a good time to post on an obsession of mine: Steampunk.

For those not being beaten over the head by digg/reddit articles on “this-or-that+STEAMPANK[sic]!”, Webster’s New Millennium™ Dictionary of English has this to say on the subject of Steampunk:

steampunk – noun : a genre of science fiction set in Victorian times when steam was the main source of machine power.

While the definition is sound, it fails to properly convey the entire realm of what people  refer to when they reference loving the style. In fact the majority of people that I have spoken with about the subject very seldom mention literature at all.

My affection (and I assume I speak for others here as well) for the style and what it represents is mainly visual and partly cultural. Visually, because in my eyes filigree and gearworks trump the extruded plastic blobs of today’s aesthetic by an obscene degree. Culturally due to the unique swagger of the industrial era from which inspiration is pulled.

It may be stating the obvious here, but the current inventions of the world  come across as somewhat homogenous. With the success of the iPod and the Mac computers we have seen an upsurge of “clean” looking technology and an aesthetic geared more towards smooth plastic and simple, functional design.

Steampunk is the counterculture response to the simplistic and mundane. Take, for example, Datamancer’s Steampunk keyboards, compared to the traditional Mac keyboard.

For me, the choice is easy (and it’s not just because the “von Slatt original” is a fooking $1500 keyboard that’s hand-made in New Jersey).  It’s got style AND functionality, with style being the primary focus during production. This turns the mundane, run-of-the-mill keyboard from the realm of office equipment to functional art.

The Mac keyboard is functional, yet that is about the only justification for it’s extremely plain design. It’s the style equivalent of a sociopath serial killer… Unremarkable from the outside, yet still functional and probably out to do no good. If the von Slatt is a rockstar… the Mac is “a very quiet man. Kept to himself. Did he really murder all them orphans up in Winnipeg?”

All in all, the Steampunk movement has surfaced from the underground and is gathering… steam. I for one think that’s a good thing so long as we keep on the right track and maintain the spirit of creativity and playfulness throughout.

For those interested, here are some linx for your Steampunky pleasure.

Brass Goggles – A blog dedicated to aggregating as much about Steampunk as humanly possible.

Datamancer.net – Home of Richard R. Nagy, craftsman and generally kooky guy.

Abney Park – Steampunk band with a gothy vibe and some pretty wicked visuals.

The Aether Emporium’s List of Essential Steampunk Works

Dr. Grordborts Infallible Aether Oscillators – Rayguns!

Steampod – A podcast of Steampunk stories, as suggested by one of my intrepid readers! Thanks!

Steampunk Star Wars! – Re-imaginings of the Lucas franchise in a steampunk fashion, of course.

Steampunk Guitar! (image)

Thinkgeek T-Shirt – Pipeskeleton FTW! This and the previous two from the incredible Antha!

Steampunk Dalek – Thiefree rides again!

Steampunk Jewelry

EDMdesigns (etsy) – The jewelry of the uberlady Ricky!

Rivaksmom (etsy) – Jewelry as reccommended by the ever-awesome Thiefree!

Project Wonderful – Your ad here, right now, for as low as $0.00