Steampunk, 2012

[Emperor]

If you start dressing like a bygone era of the British Empire, you start adopting its attitude

That said there is a movement that suggests Steampunk can be more radical and be a useful tool for examining some of the late 19th Century problems that still persist today (racism, neo-Imperialism, etc.). See for example:

http://beyondvictoriana.com
www.steampunkmagazine.com

I've mentioned this before (perhaps here or on chat):

Michael Moorcock:

In [1971 novel] The Warlord of the Air, for instance, I invented this specific form to do a specific job. And then 10 years later, 20 years later, I'm suddenly dragged into the steampunk movement, as a steampunk writer, which I wasn't. And again, it's disappointing to me, because very little steampunk that I've read actually does what I was trying to do with Warlord of the Air, which was, I was basically looking at, if you like, a Fabian view of Colonialism. It was an idea of Benign Colonialism, which I didn't believe in. And I was trying to explore that.

http://thequietus.com/articles/05325-michael-moorcock-interview-dr-who-the-coming-of-the-terraphiles

Charles Stross (it is well worth reading the whole piece):

consider this: what would a steampunk novel that took the taproot history of the period seriously look like?

Forget wealthy aristocrats sipping tea in sophisticated London parlours; forget airship smugglers in the weird wild west. A revisionist mundane SF steampunk epic — mundane SF is the socialist realist movement within our tired post-revolutionary genre — would reflect the travails of the colonial peasants forced to labour under the guns of the white Europeans' Zeppelins, in a tropical paradise where severed human hands are currency and even suicide doesn't bring release from bondage. (Hey, this is steampunk — it needs zombies and zeppelins, right? Might as well pick Zombies for our single one impossible ingredient.) It would share the empty-stomached anguish of a young prostitute on the streets of a northern town during a recession, unwanted children (contraception is a crime) offloaded on a baby farm with a guaranteed 90% mortality rate through neglect. The casual boiled-beef brutality of the soldiers who take the King's shilling to break the heads of union members organizing for a 60 hour work week. The fading eyesight and mangled fingers of nine year olds forced to labour on steam-powered looms, weaving cloth for the rich. The empty-headed graces of debutantes raised from birth to be bargaining chips and breeding stock for their fathers' fortunes. In other words, it's the story of all the people who are having adventures — as long as you remember that an adventure is a tale of unpleasant events happening to people a long, long way from home.

Who also mentions the second artist effect which has codified Steampunk:

it's in danger of vanishing up its own arse due to second artist effect. (The first artist sees a landscape and paints what they see; the second artist sees the first artist's work and paints that, instead of a real landscape.)

As I suggest in the comments over there, this might just be part of the evolution of a genre - the next wave would subvert the genre tropes to their own end.

www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2010/10/the-hard-edge-of-empire.html

[edit: Yes it does have connections with a few things I'm working on, most of which predate the above, although they both did help firm up the "theoretical" angle.]

[Judo]

any escapist efforts or attempts to amuse me are always appreciated. And the steampunk crew are certainly attempting both x 

[Zarjazzer]

However you dress it up it still says the past is better than the future. Of course the worry is that might be true...

[Emperor]

Anyway, as any fool knows, the future is Heliumpunk:

http://lurkingrhythmically.blogspot.co.uk/2007/03/heliumpunk.html

[Definitely Not Mister Pops]

People who use fancy dress to express themselves are socially inadequate.

Most people use dress and accessories to express themselves.

Not me. I'm one of those boring jeans/t-shirt people with no imagination when it comes to clothing. I use my big fat mouth to express myself. Although sometimes I use my fingers and a keyboard. Like now. Other times I try to draw funny pictures.

As for steampunk; I enjoyed Edington/D'Israeli's Leviathon. Does that count

And as for the snobbery expressed by a member of the Steampunk subculture in Usher's OP? . Problems arise when people in their own wee sub-cultures get grandiose, elitist notions about their interests. It's not like these take-their-hobby-too-seriously-and-ruin-it-for-everyone-else types are exclusive to steampunk. Sc0j0 anyone? The varied species of music-snob?

On the one hand there is a lot of talk about a steampunk 'community.' On the other hand there is a reluctance to talk about or examine that community's values.

See, I think the reluctance comes from people just enjoying their hobby and not wanting to engage with the more fanatical elements. That wouldn't be much fun.

[TordelBack]

People who use fancy dress to express themselves are socially inadequate.

Most people use dress and accessories to express themselves.

Not me. I'm one of those boring jeans/t-shirt people with no imagination when it comes to clothing.

And in doing so, you communicate certain things about yourself to others.  (And here dear reader we get to the very heart of my nerdy passions - as I type I'm looking at two entire bookshelves on this very subject - you, dear reader, may want to look away at this point).

Humans are unable to use material culture without conveying information, intentionally or not, to other humans.  Dress (and adornment) is one of the most expressive aspects of material culture.  By choosing 'jeans/t-shirt', or in my case whatever happens to keep me warm and keep me out of jail, we are indicating that we don't put value on modes of dress beyond practicality and basic levels of social conformity - other humans will interpret this message according to their own preconceptions, but they will interpret it, and hence even in avoiding complex choice we are expressing ourselves through dress.  "I don't give a shit about clothes, I express myself in other ways" is still a message we are sending, however it is received.

The 'fancy dressers' of the original topic are doing exactly the same thing, they're just self-consciously selecting a different message.    As are the label-wearers, the goths, the rugby shirt brigade, the hen parties, the Metal t-shirters, the suits, the whole shooting match.  Even, maybe especially, the nudists.

[Molch-R]

Even, maybe especially, the nudists.

You win the internets today.

[Proudhuff]

A revisionist mundane SF steampunk epic would reflect the travails of the colonial peasants forced to labour under the guns of the white Europeans' Zeppelins, in a tropical paradise where severed human hands are currency and even suicide doesn't bring release from bondage. (Hey, this is steampunk — it needs zombies and zeppelins, right? Might as well pick Zombies for our single one impossible ingredient.) It would share the empty-stomached anguish of a young prostitute on the streets of a northern town during a recession, unwanted children (contraception is a crime) offloaded on a baby farm with a guaranteed 90% mortality rate through neglect. The casual boiled-beef brutality of the soldiers who take the King's shilling to break the heads of union members organizing for a 60 hour work week. The fading eyesight and mangled fingers of nine year olds forced to labour on steam-powered looms, weaving cloth for the rich. The empty-headed graces of debutantes raised from birth to be bargaining chips and breeding stock for their fathers' fortunes

While I on the other hand like the sound of that as a background to a story

[Emperor]

A revisionist mundane SF steampunk epic would reflect the travails of the colonial peasants forced to labour under the guns of the white Europeans' Zeppelins, in a tropical paradise where severed human hands are currency and even suicide doesn't bring release from bondage. (Hey, this is steampunk — it needs zombies and zeppelins, right? Might as well pick Zombies for our single one impossible ingredient.) It would share the empty-stomached anguish of a young prostitute on the streets of a northern town during a recession, unwanted children (contraception is a crime) offloaded on a baby farm with a guaranteed 90% mortality rate through neglect. The casual boiled-beef brutality of the soldiers who take the King's shilling to break the heads of union members organizing for a 60 hour work week. The fading eyesight and mangled fingers of nine year olds forced to labour on steam-powered looms, weaving cloth for the rich. The empty-headed graces of debutantes raised from birth to be bargaining chips and breeding stock for their fathers' fortunes

While I on the other hand like the sound of that as a background to a story

Exactly. Steampunk stores of posh folks piddling around solving Ripper-like crimes on steam-driven penny farthings misses out on vast swathes of inspiration. I have "The Victorian Underworld" which details the frightening range of innovative crime people got up to, which could inspire a dozen stories*. The iniquities of Empire, social Darwinism pushed to its extreme by anachronistic technology and well... all the perfidies of Albion seem far more interesting than another SteaMech^(tm). I think it is this kind of approach that will be useful in the "third artist" wave, although you can possibly see some of that in China Mieville's Bas Lag books where he takes the genre tropes and runs with them.** I'd also argue Grandeville might fit in here - using Steampunk trappings to tell a story with some very modern political undertones, but Bryan Talbot as been drawing Steampunk since before it was invented, so no surprise there

* Looking at my shelves I also have "Victorian Grotesques" and "Victorian Inventions" which could inspire many more (although flicking through the latter does feel a bit like looking at the second half of the first Nemesis volume ).

** I also think there will be more people taking inspiration directly from Victorian sci-fi*** - just open Jess Nevins' "Fantastic Victoriana"**** at a random page and you'll find some useful nugget of story fodder in there.

*** plus other genres and sources of inspiration, again the Bas Lag books drag in all sorts.

**** Which should come with a warning, when I got it I unwisely snatched it from the box and nearly injured myself.

[Judo]

Educational opportunity for you all darlings about the REAL LIFE happenings of the steampunk fans via some charming photographs and my experience of events and the society...

These are steampunkers at some balls. preferred venues are always somewhere of historical significance....
(members and non members)




They usually have pretty variety shows with ranging acts (some amazing and some really dire). Acts include music, short dramatised stories, photography exhibits of genuine victorian photographs (one i saw of an original freak show was amazing), poetry, djs, magicians, fictionalised science exhibits (steam powered lap tops and such).... i could keep going but just accept its lots of weird and wonderful stuff. Heres an example as the only photo of an act i have, its a guy playing video game and film themes on a laz0r harp - as i said some cyber punk crossover.


this is how they dance and its usually to like Bauhaus and Sisters of Mercy. The DJ was a white androgynous looking guy with cyber punk dreadlocks. nice guy and fair does if ridiculous hair helps people remember him and dj profile etc I dont care what anyone looks like if im not seeing them naked...



they hold lots of craft fairs and make their own jewellery...


they raise money for charity by carol singing at christmas. Awwww isnt that nice...


My friends and I are non-members and heres us 'expressing ourselves' aka having a hella lotta fun good times, good times!!






I dunno if this answers anyones questions but I hope it enlightens. The shit photos were taken by me and the good ones by photographer stuart crawford (he does many of the comic events too but he is a steampunker). Again i am NOT a member but do enjoy going along to some of the events so haters be hatin dont bother me. also, yes, we are all very very drunk in these x x x

[Emperor]

My friends and I are non-members and heres us 'expressing ourselves' aka having a hella lotta fun good times, good times!!

The Nerf Maverick is a classic for Steampunk mods. One day I will have an Airzone Punisher and look into giving it a fancy Gatling gun-style paintjob (despite major competence issues on the front).

[M.I.K.]

Are those actually steampunks in the third photo down? They look very flappery.

[Judo]

Yes Emperor NERFs are loved by all ye steampunk brigade for their crafty adaptable nature and classic design. My mate ben (on the right in that pic) modded it, and his entire costume, by hand. He's 'the one that does it right' of the RPG boys and has even made us all kick ass guild tshirts for Conpulsion this weekend http://i.imgur.com/nmRNU.png

Lol MIK declares too sexy to be steampunk freaks x

edit - the one staring at the camera with the beads on was head of the steampunk soceity and has many hawsum outfits. Basically the only concrete fact about them is that they all like to imagine a fictional scenario where electricity was never invented and steam remained as our main power source x

[von Boom]

Hmmm. Something is missing in all those photos... oh, yeah. Steam. Someone should pop a kettle on at least.

JvB

[WhitBloke]

What this suggests to me is that if you find elements within steampunk to be conservative, socially divisive and not conducive to the common good then you should keep quiet about it. Enthusiasts seem to want to be told by knowledgeable insiders; they don't seem to want to acknowledge that two knowledgeable points of view can exist or that claims are contestable.

....

Am I right? Do Mr Sirkin's explanations for the popularity of steampunk stand up to scrutiny? Do they seem conservative to anyone else but me?

Perhaps it's not his attempts to explain the popularity of Steampunk - which he makes surprisingly few of anyway - but the flaws in his attempt to define the damn thing that would seem to have been what led you to latch onto the (perhaps unwitting?) indications of blithe conservatism and after-the-fact pigeonhole elitism that crop up in his article.

Steampunk and its undercurrent of s/electively elaborate moral and/or societal finitude are surely nothing new to plenty of people, by which I mean anybody who really gives a concerted piss, although I do admit that I say that as a fella wot owns brocade clothing but can't be buggered with dressing up when I'm going to Lidl for cheap food.  Still, it is nice to see all those people who used to turn up to the London Mage: The Ascension LARP sessions as Sons of Ether and House Thig Hermetics back in the late 90s still have their bunged-together costumes, even if they no longer have the waistlines.  (And here's me thinking a lot of them seemed to succumb to a high rate of suicide, depression and alcoholism...)
One extra XP to the bloke in the green costume outfit in Judo's pictures.  Nil pwuh to Sirkins for contradicting the crap out of himself with points 1 and 6.

Yes, sure, the man's listing some common elements of the popular allure of Steampunk for members of the gang and not a definitive recipe for countercultural compliance but I can't help but note that even further contradiction is in his essentially saying, "Here's a knowledgeable stab at what Steampunk is about... no, really... trust me, I'm all over Steampunk, me... and it's broad enough to contradict itself, as I shall outline, and so am I, though my tone rather skilfully suggests otherwise.  It's about this and that, but not quite, or not at all.  But it does involve a bit of this and that, but not quite.  Oh, bugger, it's actually quite amorphous, really, isn't it?  Steampunk is amorphous.  And here endeth the drivel."

Despite being lobbed out as an article attempting to explain Steampunk that includes in its otherwise shambolic gaspings the reasonable assertion that, The word 'Steampunk' necessarily needs to apply to a specific set of things or else it loses all meaning its every attempt falls markedly short of also asserting even one nailed-down specific component. 

God, I'm a bitch today.  Please forgive my narky verbosity.  I shall summarise the article thusly, to perhaps make amends:

"Hello.  I'm into Steampunk and have been for ages.  What's that you ask?  What is Steampunk?  Oho!  Why, it's Steampunky... stuff... and I believe I want a better world, quite possibly involving more books I like and members of my gang wearing posh gloves... you know, the ones with the single fiddly button at the wrist... so as to avoid touching people with less disposable income."