What Is Steampunk to Me

A very common thing to happen to me is after telling someone I am into steampunk, is the inevitable question what is steampunk?

Having been involved with in the community for over a year now, I feel very comfortable in saying I know steampunk when I see it. But that doesn't really help in explaining it to someone unfamiliar with it all. My roommate likes to describe it as Victorian age meets Sci Fi and most people go 'Ahhhh' in some form of recognition. Still, that just barely hints at what the community/culture is.

There is literature ranging from the classics from the Victorian age by authours such as Jules Verne and H.G. Wells with "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" and "The Time Machine" to William Gibson and Bruce Sterling creating "The Difference Engine".

There is craftsmanship going on ranging from individuals such as Jake Von Slatt creating or modifying everyday items into incredible works of beauty to people such as Tony Hicks taking old everyday items and reconstructing them into beautiful found object sculptures such as ray guns and breathing apparatuses.

Costuming be it bringing this shirt and these pants together with this tie and vest to elaborate dresses and costumes being made by hand.

Music is being defined by bands such as Abney Park and Vernian Process.

Films going from anime such as Steamboy to classics like Around the World in 80 Days to modern ones such as the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen bring different ideas to what steampunk could be.

But after all this reading, viewing, listening, and wearing, I am still not much closer to being able to tell someone what steampunk is. So while I struggle to be able to tell someone what it is to be a steampunk, I know what I like to see happen.

I would like to see a return to quality craftsmanship when purchasing something from the store. Where items last to be handed down to children and grandchildren. Where things built for home or for public use have a beauty and aesthetic to them so tables, televisions, bridges, and tunnels are more than just there today, overlooked, and gone tomorrow.

I think someday I would like everyone to think when someone says something is steamy that it is a quality and beautiful item. When someone says they steampunked an item it is more beautiful and better than it was before. And a steampunker is someone who makes all this happen.