Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction that also borrows from other genres and from popular culture. The first use of the term steampunk dates back to 1887, when it was used to describe a Frankenstein-like machine created by French author Rene’ Girard. Steampunk aesthetics combine Victorian era fashion with inventions from the Industrial Revolution and later developments in technology. Steampunk often uses steam power as a motif and almost always features some version of cogs and gears as a visual metaphor for technology.
The term steampunk first emerged in the early 20th century, though it gained traction after the 1971 publication of H. G. Wells’ novella The Steam Man of Old London Town. Authors have embraced steampunk as an opportunity to reinvent classic works or explore new ideas within established literary genres such as science fiction or fantasy literature, which are often referred to as subgenres of speculative fiction or fantasy due to their fantastical subject matter rather than specific rules governing how those subjects may be handled in literature.
What is Steampunk?
Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction that also borrows from other genres and from popular culture. The first use of the term steampunk dates back to 1887, when it was used to describe a Frankenstein-like machine created by French author Rene’ Girard. Steampunk aesthetics combine Victorian era fashion with inventions from the Industrial Revolution and later developments in technology.
The term steampunk first emerged in the early 20th century, though it gained traction after the 1971 publication of H. G. Wells’ novella The Steam Man of Old London Town.
Authors have embraced steampunk as an opportunity to reinvent classic works or explore new ideas within established literary genres such as science fiction or fantasy literature, which are often referred to as subgenres of speculative fiction or fantasy due to their fantastical subject matter rather than specific rules governing how those subjects may be handled in literature
Literature in Steampunk
Steampunk is most often set in an alternative history of the 19th century, and often uses technology from that period. Steampunk may also take place on a world where high technology and steam power are commonplace, as exemplified by William Gibson’s Sprawl trilogy. In this type of steampunk, speculative fiction elements such as time travel and biological engineering (such as genetic engineering) may be common or even the norm.
*This post discusses what steampunk is, its origins, its characteristics, how it has evolved over time, similarities to other genres, literature in Steampunk and why it is important to write about.
Keywords and concepts of steampunk fiction
Steampunk is often intertwined with other genres, including science fiction and fantasy. The term steampunk encompasses a number of concepts that are important to the genre, such as alternate history, anachronistic technologies, the exploration of alternative histories and alternate worlds.
Steampunk fiction is set in a world where steam power has become one of the dominant forms of energy. This usually means an industrialized society powered by coal and/or petroleum have been replaced by an early-19th-century industrial revolution powered by steam engines or turbines. Steampunk stories commonly are set in our world’s past or future but feature historical events occurring before or after their present day.
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Art and illustration in Steampunk
Artists and illustrators have created a range of works inspired by steampunk. These have ranged from film, music, literature and design to visual art.
The first use of the term Steampunk was in 1887 by French author Rene’ Girard, who wrote “Les Dieux du Paysage” (“The Gods of the Landscape”). In this text he makes reference to a steampunk-like machine he had seen in the ruins of Troy that had been built by the Greek engineer Daedalus.
Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction that borrows elements from previous genres and popular culture. The term “steampunk” first appeared in print in 1912 when it was used as an alternate spelling for “steamship”.
Music in Steampunk
Music is a huge part of Steampunk. More often than not, it is used as a way to accentuate the visuals and create an even more immersive experience for the viewer.
Take for example, this piece from The United States of Steam:
The piece uses a string quartet to create a melancholic tone and then adds in sounds of steam engines mixed with chimes to create a futuristic feel. It’s not just music that is used in Steampunk settings; it’s also found in artwork and window displays.
It’s possible that design elements like clockwork gears or brass are added into the designs as well. This allows for an elegant look that accentuates the style while enjoying steampunk at its finest.
Conclusion
Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction that incorporates elements of fantasy, often in an alternate history setting, and is set primarily during the 19th century. As a style of art and literature, steampunk typically adopts the style of industrial machinery and technology with an aesthetic influenced by the fantasy and horror genres.
