Steampunk and its growing following

[Rani Zemirah]

I wish I could make it down there for a tea date, Taffy!!!  That would be so much fun!  Unfortunately, it's a bit of a haul for me, so I'll have to beg off until TRF, but maybe I can figure out how to stay for an extra day then so we can find a nice hotel that serves High Tea somewhere... 

[Taffy Saltwater]

For some reason, SP seems to draw the frothers.  I personally love the hats and clothing and hats and boots and hats.  But I can take my love for this venue back to the days - and I couldn't have even been a teen yet - when I fell in in love with H.P. Lovecraft (nightmares!), H. Rider Haggard (sexy goddess!), Jules Verne, et al, not forgetting cheesy historical romance novels.  Back in the '80's there was a Victorian movement, which continues w/a magazine by the same name, and my adult love of Victoriana springs from there.  Many of us have had a lifelong exposure to SP, we just didn't realize that there was a label.

Sure, there's areas I'm not crazy about - some of the music, the punk-ier elements, but that's the great thing.  I can distill it down to what I love.  And other people can do what they love.  And it's ALL good.  As there is a time travel element, there is probably no wrong element of SP.  If I add nylon lace to my petticoat, why, I brought it back from a trip to visit my great-great granddaughter in 2010.

Rani, I think a tea date is a marvelous idea!  Maybe, o, maybe we could have a picnic at the Museum of Natural History grounds or some such on a Friday before TRF AHE?  How does that sound to you, Mieljolie?  Anyone else?

[mieljolie]

... Maybe, o, maybe we could have a picnic at the Museum of Natural History grounds or some such on a Friday before TRF AHE?  How does that sound to you, Mieljolie?  Anyone else?

That sounds marvelous!  I'm all "geared" up for it!  Hehe

As for the article, I understand what they are saying.  I see a lot of jewelry and costumey stuff that tout "Steampunk" just because a couple of gears are glued to it. But, I think the writer was a bit over zealous about it.  I can never understand the human need to label the world around us and apply rules to it.  I've always enjoyed sci fi and fantasy writings as well as many other types of fiction and nonfiction.  Doesn't mean I have to justify myself for liking SP.  As a kid, history was very dull to me coming straight out of a stale textbook.  But now, with all the reenactments and faires bringing the past to life, it's really enjoyable to explore different time periods.  Why not also explore how it COULD have been.  That's wonderful to me.  When we search for the past, we are all being time travelers in a sense.  Lets just have fun with it and make it fun for others.

[Rani Zemirah]

Yay!!!  Steamy tea!!!  Sounds wonderful to me, although I won't actually be sitting on the ground for a picnic if I'm wearing my corset...  LOL  I'd have to lay down, I think! 

[Elennare]

That article confused me.  The author appeared to be saying that she likes Steampunk as an idea, but that anyone who takes it as anything more than a vague idea to be written about in books is an idiot and a poser, just trying to be cool?  What good are ideas if you don't do anything with them?  I see her yelling and screaming, but I can't quite figure out what she's upset about. 

That other people have cooler clothes/better inventions that she does?  That something she thought was so subversive isn't?  Or maybe the fact that because of it's very nature it doesn't perfectly fit with her ideas of what it should be?  Or is it the fact, that like many "alternative" styles, not everyone who's interested in it is hardcore.  I think that may have been what she's getting at.  Since you're not so into SP that you actually live in a steam-powered house and only make clothing from original Victorian patterns, you're just a poser and are COMPLETELY RUINING EVERYTHING!!!!   

I also don't quite get her jab at Abney Park.  I like their music and could care less what they wear and try to style themselves after.  Though, I think their last 2 albums have been better than the previous ones.  They found an inspiration that has caused them to improve their music, and is making them more successful.  Why is that wrong?  Isn't that what good bands do?  If somethings not working, find something that will?

Maybe if she gave her definition of a "Steampunk," rather than discussing "Steampunk the idea," it would have made a little bit more sense.  Since she seems to think no one can actually *be* a Steampunk.

[LadyElizabeth]

Elannare, I'm totally there with you, that is exactly how I'd describe her article!! 

I think she's just jealous she didn't discover SP back before all the populace did and now she's so behind the times and UNCOOL, that she has to diss everyone who is joining the band wagon or who were into it before it got popular!!!  As for me, I didn't discover it until recently, so I joined when I could... haha!  And I don't think there's ANYTHING wrong with that! 

[Zardoz]

Well,
SP is a Science Fiction/ Alt. History sub-genre, which gererally takes place in 19th-century  Victorian settings. It started in literature in the 60's, and spread into other media, Comics, Art, Film and TV in the 80's . Early on SP imitated actual Victorian speculative fiction such as H. G. Wells's 'The Time Machine' etc. It didn't really get the name till the late 80's when some authors came up with Steam Punk, a parody of the name of the more futuristic genre "Cyber-punk". Up till then I think it was often called 'Victorian Sci-Fi' if anything.
I think the author might be a little overwrought, but I get where that 2008 article is coming from. It's the reaction a lot of people have when a cultural thing, or elements of a thing, that they might have felt was unique, is all of a sudden co-opted by the masses. I think her main beef seems to be with costuming fans who only embrace the trappings of the genre without the deeper understanding she has.
I know I've seen a lot of that sort of thing, mostly among costuming folks, and of course it bleeds over to other stuff too like online  Victorian and old west clothing vendors opening SP stores, and yes, even unremarkable goth/industrial bands reinventing themselves with tophats, goggles and gears.
I have been seeing a few SP costumes at Sci-Fi cons for the last 5-6 years or so, you see more at Anime cons, there is a lot of SP Manga and Anime,
But there a a LOT more now. I have to tell you that while I'm a easygoing guy, even I get a little annoyed with fans that are obviously unaware of any of the background of the thing, past seeing Girl Genius on the interweb, discover SP, and throw some 'goggles and gears' on what used to be their goth/vampire costume. But in the long run, I don't dislike or begrudge it, hell they're cooler outfits than all the Firefly kids had! And it lets folks express their creativity, and hopefully they will get a little more 'into' what Sci-Fi in general has to offer because of it.

But like a lot of stuff in SF and Fantasy costuming, it's trendy now, a phase, if you will, and something else will come along and replace it.

[Joyce "Delfinia DuSwallow" Howard]

I've been thinking about a SP outfit lately and with me it's all about HATS! I LOVEEEE hats! So this is my first find,now be honest,am I on the right track,will this work?

[Tammy]

I LOVE it!!!!! It reminds me of my mini witch hat!! I love the mini hats!!!!!!

[Jademozingo]

Speaking of technology, I finally have internet so I can reply on a regular basis!

I really wish I lived closer to other steampunks out there.  But I may have to make do with convincing my friends it's a good idea and picnicing in the middle of Triangle Park in Lexington.  Maybe a walk around town looking at historical markers...

Jade

[Manwariel]

I've been thinking about a SP outfit lately and with me it's all about HATS! I LOVEEEE hats! So this is my first find,now be honest,am I on the right track,will this work?

Cute hat!

[CelticOne]

I've been thinking about a SP outfit lately and with me it's all about HATS! I LOVEEEE hats! So this is my first find,now be honest,am I on the right track,will this work?

Cute hat!

Seconded! Really cute hat.

Ohh speaking of hats...my newest number.

I put the pin together tonight, as the hat was just too dull and black it told me it wanted some color.

[Rani Zemirah]

Great hats, ladies!!!  I'm really tempted to find a hat blank like that one, Phoenix, and cover it in leather... 

[CelticOne]

Rani- if you have a mall near you with a Spencer's Gifts that's where I found this one and the lady at my store they should be getting in more styles to coincide with Alice in Wonderland.

[LordEustace]

at Spencer's, do you think they'd have a cheap top hat? I'm looking for one.