Steampunk is an aesthetic that has been growing in popularity for several years now. It’s not a new genre by any means but it has recently gained so much traction. People are going gaga for steampunk at the moment and there are many reasons for this.
The Steampunk aesthetic of Victorian scientific ingenuity mixed with fantasy and steam power. This combination of old world charm and industrial enlightenment comes together in the form of an imaginative era that is both functional and fantastical. There are many different types of steampunk – some look more like science fiction than others. However, there are some common elements that we see across all versions of the genre, as well as some variations within it.
What is steampunk?
Steampunk is an aesthetic and genre that has been growing in popularity over the past few years. It’s not a new genre by any means but it has recently gained so much traction. People are going gaga for steampunk at the moment and there are many reasons for this.
There are many different types of Steampunk – some look more like science fiction than others. However, there are some common elements that we see across all versions of the genre, as well as some variations within it.
Where did the concept of steampunk come from?
The history of steampunk dates back to 1877 with the publication of Jules Verne’s novel, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. The work was a satire on the Victorian industrial revolution that had just begun and became a best-selling book. Verne used steam power in his story – which is appropriate because it was during this time period when the first steam-powered trains were made. The original idea for Steampunk comes from Verne’s work and has since become an expansive genre that includes everything from literature to fashion.
Steampunk is a genre of fiction in which retrofuturistic science fiction settings are combined with 19th century industrial and cultural aesthetics, sometimes to produce something which simultaneously evokes 19th century Victorian era Britain while also being steampunk in nature.
The term steampunk was coined by KW Jeter, who defined it as “a subgenre of science fiction or speculative fiction set in an imagined past where steam power is still widely used”. However, he did not create the definition; he only popularized it.
The dominant themes of steampunk
The most dominant themes of steampunk are high-tech, steam power and a mix of fantasy and industrial reality.
There’s a strong taste for technology in steampunk, as evidenced by the gadgets that people wear on their person and the machinery they use. There’s also a focus on steam power as it is one of humanity’s key inventions which has been used for everything from powering industry to transportation. The fantastical elements come in with things like magic, mythological creatures and aliens which bring this genre to life.
Key differences between fantasy and steampunk
The main difference between Steampunk and fantasy is that Steampunk is rooted in reality. Fantasy, on the other hand, relies on the supernatural to drive its storylines. Here are some differences:
-Steampunk incorporates real technology into its fictional world while fantasy makes up new technologies by using magic
-In a Steampunk universe, Queen Victoria rules over a unified world where technology has evolved (usually in some way leading to a utopia) while in a fantasy universe, there are many different realms with different rulers
-In Steampunk, characters can be either human or animals that have been “upgraded” through technological means; however, in fantasy, animals play only very minor roles
-In steampunk stories, people are more likely to find love and romance because they live in an era of progress and discovery whereas in fantasy stories there is less focus on romance
Popular variations of the genre
For example, steampunk is often associated with the literary genre of science fiction. We see this type of steampunk in the works of authors like Jules Verne or H.G. Wells. This kind of steampunk is often more fantastical and relies on ideas that haven’t yet been proven to exist or to be possible.
Another variation that we see in the steampunk genre is steampunk horror. This has a much more gothic feel than other variants and takes place in an alternate universe where Victorian England has devolved into a dark and dystopian version of itself.
Steampunk can also be found in different genres such as fantasy, science fiction, paranormal romance, cyberpunk, and many others. The idea behind all these variations is to explore what different eras would have been like if they had had access to advanced technology like steam power and inventors like Nikola Tesla or Thomas Edison instead of having our modern day world with its technology advancements. As you can see, there are many variations of this aesthetic and it’s huge because people are interested in the concept so much that it’s gone mainstream!
Steampunk clothing and accessories
Some of the most popular styles of Steampunk clothing include Victorian fashion and military uniforms. These items are typically made out of leather, cotton, or silk with metal accents in the form of buttons and buckles. Jewelry is also a big part of steampunk style. Popular pieces include necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, and pendants. Accessories in the form of goggles or hats can also be very popular in this style.
The Steampunk aesthetic often includes accessories like goggles and hats
Other common features are gears, clockwork mechanisms and other mechanical devices that might be found on a piece of jewelry or a belt buckle. You’ll find plenty of different versions of Steampunk design all over the internet but there’s always one common element – machinery. Hints at what this era would have been like can be found in everything from gadgets to clothing.
Conclusion
Steampunk is a genre of speculative fiction set in an alternative history of the 19th century and early 20th century that typically features steam-powered machinery, Victorian-era clothing, and often anachronistic architectural styles. It often incorporates elements of the supernatural in its narrative.
There are many subgenres of steampunk in which different themes are used, such as alternate history, modern fantasy, or post-apocalyptic fiction. The term is sometimes used to describe anything with an industrialized, futuristic setting that contains some elements of 19th- and early-20th-century aesthetics and culture. These settings are usually called “Gaslamp fantasy” by fans of steampunk.
Steampunk is a genre of speculative fiction set in an alternative history of the 19th century and early 20th century that typically features steam-powered machinery, Victorian-era clothing, and often anachronistic architectural styles. It often incorporates elements of the supernatural in its narrative. There are many subgenres of steampunk in which different themes are used, such as alternate history, modern fantasy, or post-apocalyptic fiction. The term is sometimes used to describe anything with an industrialized, futuristic setting that contains some elements of 19th- and
