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 Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 5:30 pm
I suppose this is less of a disscussion and more of a statement, a realization, an awakening...
Many times we are asked, or ask ourselves, "Why do you love Steampunk?" Normally we spout off "Airships!" or "Monoggles!" or "Automata!"
But Steampunk cannot simply be defined by a pretty pinstripe vest or mechanical marvels. It is not merely these things that retain our fascination of the genre, but they certiantly attracts many different people to it.
No, it is the ideas of the grand 19th Century that keep us, a century of relative peace and great progress. It is the idea that the world still holds mysteries, and that these mysteries can just now be fully explored, with all this wonderous new technology.
It is a world where the corners of the map have yet to be filled, a world where every mountian is higher, every jungle deeper. A universe where the planets are closer, and where men fight for their ideals, instead of the almighty dollar.
It is a place where there is still honor amongst theives, rivals, and bitter enemies. It is a state where your dreams can be realized simply by a drive to achieve them, some skill, and a great deal of tinkering. ^Q
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 5:44 pm
Yea Verily to that, kind sir!
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 6:20 pm
It's also an era where form has not yet become a slave to function. Where the aesthetic value of a creation is as vital a quality as its purpose. Not just in the polished wood paneling and brass fittings, but in the craftsmanship of every every coil and dial, every meter and gauge, every handle, switch, and knob. There is a vital unspoken ethic that states, "If it can be seen, it should look as if it has been paid the utmost attention to," that has been lost somewhere around the advent of the assembly line.
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Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 4:10 pm
Mylian It's also an era where form has not yet become a slave to function. Where the aesthetic value of a creation is as vital a quality as its purpose. Not just in the polished wood paneling and brass fittings, but in the craftsmanship of every every coil and dial, every meter and gauge, every handle, switch, and knob. There is a vital unspoken ethic that states, "If it can be seen, it should look as if it has been paid the utmost attention to," that has been lost somewhere around the advent of the assembly line. Sounds like a perfect example. I like to think of the Victorian Era as the "Golden Age" of science. New inventions were amazements, glories to behold. Jumping into the 20th century, mankind came up with amazing machines, to help them travel faster, build more, talk to each other from greater distances... the amazing thing about "scientific romances" was that it was almost concievable. With the fast pace that things were coming about, one could easily imagine these things happening. And a good many of them did, in a way. sweatdrop
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Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 8:42 pm
Very nice; a lovely post. I quite agree!
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Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 2:05 pm
I applaud you, sir. I think you've hit the nail on the head. It's the intangibles, isn't it? The ideals and mores and the general fascination with the world that modernity has lost. It's the idea that academia is invincible, and that the whole world is an adventure waiting to be had.
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Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 9:51 pm
I also submit to you that this is a fine discussion. You don't have to have a debatable topic set forth in order to discuss a subject.
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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 1:14 am
well i have always liked trains, thats one thing. the fact that these giant machines are powered by the same steam you see when you eat hot soup amazed me as a kid. ive always had a fascination for old things, wind up clocks, old revolvers, anything really, even the clothing of the time. it was a period when the world had already been traveled across, but there was still much exploring to do.
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 4:32 pm
ST34MPUNK3R No, it is the ideas of the grand 19th Century that keep us, a century of relative peace and great progress. It sounds like you're saying all Steampunk Enthusiasts are drawn by this passion for and desire to emulate Victorian society as it stands on record. Personally, I disagree. The fashion was what drew me in, originally. I also love the worldbuilding/literature, and the artifacts, and whatnot, but my world is pretty much an even combination of cyberpunk and victorian, which I deem Steampunk. It doesn't really stem from a desire to live in victorian society, and pretty much the things I most like are victorian inspired, rather than historic in and of themselves. I'm passionate about history, don't get me wrong, but I much prefer this, to this, if you get my drift. ST34MPUNK3R It is the idea that the world still holds mysteries, and that these mysteries can just now be fully explored, with all this wonderous new technology. It is a world where the corners of the map have yet to be filled, a world where every mountian is higher, every jungle deeper. A universe where the planets are closer, and where men fight for their ideals, instead of the almighty dollar. It is a place where there is still honor amongst theives, rivals, and bitter enemies. It is a state where your dreams can be realized simply by a drive to achieve them, some skill, and a great deal of tinkering. ^Q I like that part, though pirate
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Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 11:35 pm
sweatdrop
Forgive me for being one to throw a stick through your crystaline glass window.
It was, more or less, the machines and fashion that drew me into the realm of steampunk. And it is, more or less, what keeps me fascinated with it.
Much like what Ms. Kaiya above me said. It would seem like you are stating that all steampunk enthusiasts are drawn by the passion and desire to emulate the victorean era. Which I too must disagree on(although I'm sure that is not what you meant completely). Many of the political and lifestyle philosophies of the time were, in my eye at least, not so great, and possibly even foolish(Marxism and Social Darwinism are what mainly come to my mind at the moment).
Although I can say that there are things about that time period that deserve great praise.
It was a time when an invention did not need to look sleek and pretty to be functional and accepted. When something practical didn't neccissarily need to follow the current trend to be something of conciderable desire. When ones imagination, regardless of how wild it was, still had a chance of becoming something more than just a fantasy. It was a time when the world still seemed young and fresh, and there were still adventures waiting right around the corner.
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Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 12:45 pm
Hurray for the wonders of the industrial age!
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Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 3:06 pm
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Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:54 am
Couldn't have said it better myself!
i concur!
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Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:09 pm
I'll take a bit from column A and little from column B. My interest started with the style and gadgetry which lead me to research and discovering the Victorian era and all its history. Basically I like the whole packaged deal whee
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Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:49 pm
Nicely written and I fully agree.
Though I don't feel that the love of mystery and the love of steampunk should be related to one another.
It's true what you said, but it's also very true, that you don't have to have a fondness of steampunk to have a fondness of mystery.
I know that isn't what you meant, that's just what came to my mind right off reading it. And I of course felt the need to say something other then "I lurv wut you said : D"
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