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Steampunk Envisions an Earlier Future, and the HOT Babes that Come With

Steampunk

Most people don’t realize that the “steampunk” craze is something which grew away from “goth” sub-culture. Probably, because it seems like such an iconic culture of it’s own. At first glance, one might call the avant garde aficionados “post-apocalyptic,” but the symbols and costumes have more of a “pre-apocalyptic” feel. There’s a really good reason for that.

The world of Steampunk

Unwary observers of the steampunk scene are often confused by the apparent contradiction and general hodge-podge look of things on the surface.

Once you dive deeper, the first thing you notice is that the technology of this hypothetical alternate reality is as fully advanced as what we’re familiar with. The only difference is that the primary energy source is steam.

As Steampunk Avenue explains, by substituting steam for electricity, gas or oil, “steampunk technology takes on a retro look reminiscent of the Industrial Revolution era.” Douglas Fetherling once wrote, “steampunk is a genre that imagines how different the past might have been had the future come earlier.

Fans quickly congregated around an aesthetic “inspired by the fashions of Victorian Era in England.” That was from 1837 to 1901. The Belle Epoque in France which spanned 1871-1914 is just as popular. Meanwhile costumes from the American Civil War era work great, too.

Steampunk

Steampunk clothing from any or all of these era’s combined “is often modernized by the addition of mechanical elements with gears showing.

These folks go crazy over anything with clockwork. The more moving and spinning parts, the better. The clothes have well determined customs in the culture.

Long coats and top hats

The heights of steampunk fashion require long coats and top hats for men. Women look most stylish in corsets and goggles are part of every costume.

Of course, you simply must have a highly mechanical timepiece somewhere on your person. It’s easy to see where the steam part fits in but the punk part isn’t so obvious. For that, you need to go back to the very beginning.

The absolute first time the steampunk term was used, it appeared in a letter printed by Locus Magazine in 1987.

In his op-ed, Kevin Jeter “jokingly used the word steampunk to describe the Victorian fiction he was writing with his acolytes Tim Powers and James Blaylock.” In his context, punk referred to “cyberpunk” because “the libertarian ideology of punk is much less pronounced in steampunk than in cyberpunk.

Steampunk

Jeter’s joke was taken really seriously and it morphed into what we have today. Steamers have invaded every aspect of pop culture from film, to TV, to video games.

Jules Verne has practically been adopted as an honorary member of the steampunk movement because “some of the illustrious Jules Verne’s novels could almost be placed in the steampunk category.” Especially his submarine Nautilus from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Dirigibles are a favorite method of air travel, but don’t forget there’s always the good old fashioned ornithopter, flapping away on mechanical bird wings.

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Written by Mark Megahan

Mark Megahan is a resident of Morristown, Arizona and aficionado of the finer things in life.

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