Post by Headmistress on Oct 16, 2010 17:06:39 GMT -8
What is Steampunk?
Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, alternate history, and speculative fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s.
Steampunk involves an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century and often Victorian era Britain—that incorporates prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy. Works of steampunk often feature anachronistic technology or futuristic innovations as Victorians may have envisioned them; in other words, based on a Victorian perspective on fashion, culture, architectural style, art, etc. This technology may include such fictional machines as those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne or real technologies like the computer but developed earlier in an alternate history.
Various modern utilitarian objects have been modded by individual artisans into a pseudo-Victorian mechanical "steampunk" style, and a number of visual and musical artists have been described as steampunk.
What kind of things are found in a Steampunk-style era?
You could find many of the things that were around in that time, but a bit more future-ized. Many of the things that you would find would be mechanical, with lots of gears and cogs. You would also find a lot of steam-powered things such as Steam Locomotives.
When I think of Steampunk, I usually think of Zeppelins such as these: [1] [2]
Have I seen Steampunk before?
Probably, though you may not have recognized it. A few popular steampunk-style works are: The Time Machine by H.G. Wells, Disney's Atlantis: The Lost Empire , Hayao Miyazaki's Castle in the Sky, other Animes such as Steamboy, and in games such as World of Warcraft (the gnomes and dwarves).
Woah, that was a lot to read. What are the main points?
- Steampunk revolves around an era where steam power is wildly used.
- The technologies in Steampunk are is ahead of the technologies of typical ones, but are not magical.
- Atlantis is a really good movie.