Steampunk

[Terminator X]

So, anyone else interested in this genre of literature/art? It seems to be getting pretty popular, as I'll be attending a sci-fi/fantasy convention this weekend, and steampunk gatherings show up everywhere on the schedule. There are steampunk fashion shows, steampunk art exhibits, steampunk cosplay, even a steampunk-themed disco.

I'm a pretty big fan of China Mieville's books, some of which have a distinct steampunk flavor, but I never really knew people took it to such extremes as to almost make it a lifestyle. I also hear that there is a steampunk music genre, which is similar to goth/industrial/EBM. There also seems to be a link between the genre and left-wing politics, as the entire production seems anarchist/anti-authoritarian in nature.

I'd be curious to see if anyone else here is interested in this scene and has some good recommendations on literature, music, websites, etc. :cool:

[Sasha]

i love the aesthetics of steam punk, don't have to much time for the really nerdy die-hard fans.
some good (anime) movies in the style are a.o. the animeversion of Metropolis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolis_%282001_film%29) and of course Steamboy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steamboy)

[Tim Finnegan]

i love the aesthetics of steam punk, don't have to much time for the really nerdy die-hard fans.
Am I alone in finding that there seems to be a certain ideological dissonance between the genre and the fandom? The former often seems to contain a lot of criticism, implicit or explicit, of Victorian society and of capitalist society generally- which makes sense, given that it originally grew out of the more subversive side of science fiction- but the latter seem to be more interested in the Victoriana, to the point of borderline aristocracy-fetishism. Even in terms of aesthetics, this seems to emerge, with the creations often playing up the social qualities of technology, but the subculture seeming to treat it as a sort of apology for their otherwise rather mundane games of neo-Victorian dress-up.

But, then, I may be over-generalising, and perhaps speaking from a distorted experience. Part of me is just bitter that you get seven steampunk dukes for every steampunk prole, which seems to flaunt a detachment from the "-punk" part ever so slightly. http://media.bigoo.ws/content/smile/miscellaneous/smile_280.gif

[Rooster]

Am I alone in finding that there seems to be a certain ideological dissonance between the genre and the fandom? The former often seems to contain a lot of criticism, implicit or explicit, of Victorian society and of capitalist society generally- which makes sense, given that it originally grew out of the more subversive side of science fiction- but the latter seem to be more interested in the Victoriana, to the point of borderline aristocracy-fetishism. Even in terms of aesthetics, this seems to emerge, with the creations often playing up the social qualities of technology, but the subculture seeming to treat it as a sort of apology for their otherwise rather mundane games of neo-Victorian dress-up.

But, then, I may be over-generalising, and perhaps speaking from a distorted experience. Part of me is just bitter that you get seven steampunk dukes for every steampunk prole, which seems to flaunt a detachment from the "-punk" part ever so slightly. http://media.bigoo.ws/content/smile/miscellaneous/smile_280.gif

You're not alone. The genre seems to be a breeding ground for Ayn Rand fans.

[Aloysius]

I'm a steampunk. I've got the goggles (it's techinically a monoggle+eye-patch, but whatever) and I'm planning a shopping spree with my friends to Goodwill and Salvation Army for additional costume pieces.

I don't know about the leftist part of it, but the guy that introduced the genre to me is a socialist.