…is a lot harder than it looks, as any of us who immerse ourselves in the retro-futuristic ideals of steampunk realize. Newbe’s Steam Powered Blog tackles the problem in his own words in order to resolve a few sticking points for world-building of his own, calling steampunk “a “can do” genre where if you can have an idea that seems plausible, then it should be possible.” Which in my eyes is the heart of science-fiction, even though sci-fi worked solely with the pure aspects of technology and its effects, whereas one of the responders points out that steampunk is more loose and free-wheeling. I personally love the idea of returning to that ‘what if’ wonder the Victorians had of the infinite possibilities of the future. I love that steampunk includes the culture and etiquette and mindset of the Victorians themselves, with its emphasis on classical training and unhampered joy of beauty, not to mention when people still treated each other with respect.
To wit, poster Marcus Tairov said : “Not only is Steampunk where Science runs the world but that people are cordial to one another. They dress in creative and mad scientist looks. Gears are common. The individual is unique and more importantly, can contribute to society easily. The focus on success is what you can accomplish, not how much money you make. The quality of life is better. The science though is a bit more important than anything else and you run the risk of loosing your humanity in it.”
I think the 20th century worked very hard to call the century before it every dirty name in the book, including Puritanical and repressive and staid and stuffy and unyielding and frozen and then worked even harder to get rid of everything that we might actually discover about the 19th century in terms of the wonder and awe. Some might blame the atom bomb for this, some might say it was the 60s Hippies. Anyone who reads up on what Victorians were really like discovers a much more vibrant world. A view I have held for a LONG time is that the 20th century discarded the 19th as useless junk and we have crudity and blandness instead. Cynicism replaced wonder, thus leading some at the end of the Millennium to declare that we have reached ‘the end of history.’ So I would have to say that for me, steampunk means going back to the heap and taking what was discarded and rediscovering what worked…and having FUN with what did not.
June 2, 2008 at 5:37 pm
A very thought-provoking article, Dr Nunn! First, I am glad to see the emergence of a new, eloquently-written blog that delves into the world of Victorian speculative fiction and Steampunk.
One aspect that I enjoy of Victorian Steampunk is the idea of placing one’s self in the position of a literary Victorian scientist and pondering the question “What can be?” In such, Steampunk is Science Fiction, but has gone down a specific path where nuclear fision had not been invented, but afternoon tea is essential! Though Steampunk, in general, is not necessarily constrained by such Victorian genialities.
Case in point: Girl Genius. Although some of the settings appear antiquated, the clothing seems more akin to 1980’s glamour rock than 1880’s High Street haute couture. Incidentally, I love that series of comics!
In my view, one cannot extract Steampunk from Sci-fi any more than one can extract Star Wars from Sci-Fi. Both share a common thread in that they are speculative in their treatment of another culture’s view of what can be. Of course, both are filled with literary license!
You have also got me thinking about the treatment of the ideas of previous generations. I agree that society has tended to focus on the negative aspects of the Victorian era to some degree in order to dismiss it. For people to view that era as Puritanical is odd at best. I, as a Canadian, have viewed American television as somewhat Puritanical. I’m sure that Europeans would extend that view to Canadian television as well.
We tend to look back at previous generations as quaint, silly or wrong in some manner. I feel it is that dismissal that tends to move society forward (although forward is not always better).
Just today, I read a blog that spoke of how Generation Y would redefine the office workplace. Of course, coming from Generation X, I see things a little differently and feel that the article, though intriguing, had a naive view. I could, of course, could be wrong. After all, my generation is likely quaint, silly or wrong.
June 3, 2008 at 11:33 pm
I love steampunk in its inherent flexibility. Sure, it’s not as definitive as some strands of sci-fi or fantasy, but it’s nearly limitless in its flexibility. This is why, I think, it’s so hard for so many of us to put our fingers on just what steampunk is. Or what it isn’t. Or what it should be.
As I deal primarily with the literary incarnation of steampunk, I’m amazed by the width and breadth of variety I see. It’s like steampunk is a wonderful spice mix you can sprinkle on any food to transform it into something even tastier than it was before!
And regarding Victorians and our perceptions of them. What I’ve always loved about Victorians is their perception of the time before them. They adored the Middle Ages, and tried to redesign and redefine them, bringing about a resurgence in myths and fairy tales that, if it wasn’t for their interests, we wouldn’t have with us today.
I suppose it is all a matter of perception, eh?