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?

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.