Thread: Steampunk - what is that?

So, I keep coming across the term "steampunk", I guess it must be some sort of hip costuming flavor in the urban world fusion field - but, what exactly is it? I guess the question why also comes up. Apologies should this question be in the wrong form ;-)

It's kind of turn-of-the-century (19th-20th, not 20th-21st, lol) meets punk.

From Wikipedia:

"Steampunk is a subgenre of fantasy and speculative fiction that came into prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. The term denotes works set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century, and often set in Victorian era England—but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, such as fictional technological inventions like those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, or real technological developments like the computer occurring at an earlier date. Other examples of steampunk contain alternate history-style presentations of "the path not taken" of such technology as dirigibles or analog computers; these frequently are presented in an idealized light, or a presumption of functionality.

Steampunk is often associated with cyberpunk and shares a similar fanbase and theme of rebellion, but developed as a separate movement (though both have considerable influence on each other). Apart from time period and level of technological development, the main difference between cyberpunk and steampunk is that steampunk settings usually tend to be less obviously dystopian than cyberpunk, or lack dystopian elements entirely.

Various modern utilitarian objects have been modded by individual craftpersons into a pseudo-Victorian mechanical "steampunk" style, and a number of visual and musical artists have been described as steampunk."

Maybe someone will post a pic of steampunk fashion.

This covers the basics: Steampunk - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Steampunk is a visual style based on a fantasy concept. It involves a lot of gears and metal parts. Imagine modern life if it were accomplished through 19th century means and you will get a basic idea.

Victorian meets industrial is another fair description :)

Something from 20+ years ago that is apparently currently hitting the belly dance world! (*ducks*)

Steampunk is directly connected to fantasy and some sci-fi fiction, and in its current incarnation has a lot to do with making modern items look vintage Victorian-era old and funky.

Not to sound dismissive, but google is probably really your friend here. The internet lurves steampunk! As a big Alan Moore (comics) and China Mieville (writer) fan, I *guess* I think it can generally be pretty cool.

Steampunk is hip in some San Francisco artsy subcultures again now, which if history is any guide means it will trickle, err, or mist into belly dance in 3...2...1...

;)

It's not a bellydance thing, though people who like the steampunk aesthetic may enjoy pulling that kind of influence into their costuming.

Basically, it started out as a genre of science fiction. It grew out of cyberpunk, but instead of being futuristic, authors applied that cyberpunk hacking mindset to the technology and culture of the past, usually the Victorian era. It's heavily influenced by Jules Verne and HG Wells. If you're at all interested, a great place to start is with The Difference Engine by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (both the graphic novel and the movie) falls in to this style too.

The "look" associated with it is kind of to imagine the whole circuit-board/exposed computer bits look of cyberpunk, but then replace the computer bits with clockwork, and the color palette with the tones of sepia photographs.

And this seems like an appropriate thread to share these pictures I found on the internet from Dubai :) La Guerra de las Galaxias y Alien en plan steampunk, bonitos regalitos para el salón de casa » hombrelobo, una mente dispersa

Mahsati, those are cool!

I thought the steampunk laptop phenomenon was pretty dang cool.



&

from Datamancer.net - Technical Art and Steampunk Contraptions

I'm pretty sure there are some steampunk bellydancers hanging out on Tribe.net.

Found a website: Belly Dance Tips: Steampunk Belly Dance

Kinda typical SF/Indigo-ish tribal fusion kinda vibe in a way.

Gothla US: The Divining: Cogs In Motion

is steampunk themed this year. tinah

Isn't this more bellydance-*inspired*?

It must be a generational issue - I am sitting here, scratching my head in deep bewilderment at what I guess is the latest trend in bellydance. Oy vey.

Wow. I knew about steampunk literature, and actually read it from time to time. But, I had NO idea there was such a thing as steampunk belly dance.

Steampunk Bellydance fits within the realm of Gothic Bellydance - it's one of those cross-culture culminations - been doing Neo-Victorian and Victorian/Sci-Fi Fantasy for years - and I like to kid that Steampunk is essentially the logical solution for old school goths - it's the best excuse to work white and brown into your wardrobe, because trying to find the black shirt in the sea of black shirts gets a little old. And it's more of that generation as well - 30-40 somethings. More on the geekier side :) But it's not about superfluous gears ;)

Originally Posted by steffib

It must be a generational issue - I am sitting here, scratching my head in deep bewilderment at what I guess is the latest trend in bellydance. Oy vey.

Well, I'm 25 and was doing the same thing. So I don't think it's just generational. And here I thought the latest trend in belly dance was still Dina (though I'd prefer Didem over her any day!).

Originally Posted by steffib

It must be a generational issue - I am sitting here, scratching my head in deep bewilderment at what I guess is the latest trend in bellydance. Oy vey.

I really think calling it a "trend" is making too much of it. I don't think it is trendy in the way that people who don't read steampunk would be performing "steampunk bellydance" just because other people are doing it, but I think there are people who love steampunk literature and love to dance, and feel compelled to try to find away to combine their two interests.

I checked out Dunya's video, and I actually really liked that music, although I'm not ready to invest in a corset and velvet tassel belt and declare myself a steampunk belly dancer.

The funny thing is that from what I saw browsing a few websites, the whole steampunk goth aesthetic looks an awful lot like a return the 80s goth style I remember - with velvet and lace and sad music with wailing violins.

Originally Posted by Zamira

The funny thing is that from what I saw browsing a few websites, the whole steampunk goth aesthetic looks an awful lot like a return the 80s goth style I remember - with velvet and lace and sad music with wailing violins.

That would be the old school goth influence I was referring to. You can generalize the generation went 2 ways: either into industrial/cyber land or into steampunk - two VERY different perspectives on the future methinks. The music is certainly much more akin to old school goth. I suppose you could say: Old School Goths don't die, they just go Steampunk ;)

imagine victorian fashion... if it happened to exist in a time when we had flying spaceships and steam powered hover cars.

Steampunk is a literary genre that became a fashion genre. It has its own conventions (Steampunk Convention 2009) and also some related music (Abney Park - Steampunk Band). Steampunk as I know it (through SF and costuming circles) does not have a dance component, but clearly Abney Park has a dancer as one of the members. Any time there is music to inform dance, you could have dance outgrowth of the trend. But to me steampunk evokes images of airships and clockwork, Girl Genius (Girl Genius Online Comics) and live-action role play, brass fittings and gas jets. Not bellydance.

Originally Posted by steffib

It must be a generational issue - I am sitting here, scratching my head in deep bewilderment at what I guess is the latest trend in bellydance. Oy vey.

Have you ever seen the re-make of Wild Wild West with Kevin Dalton (I think that's his name) and Will Smith? That movie is part of the steampunk genre - not so much the clothes, but the machines, for sure.

While I don't like belly dance involved in this, I absolutely *love* the fashion! It's beautiful. Industrial meets feminine. Check out the couture clothes here:
VECONA Fashion Show BACKSTAGE: Cabaret Gothique Brugge Nov 2008

How bizarre....20,000 Leagues Under the Sea meets Adam Ant

Steffi-

Zafira's costumes when they danced with Raquy and the Cavemen and August from Mesmer Society a few weeks ago? With the bloomers and the lace? That was steampunk, if you saw it.

Edward Scissorhand's black clothes... without all the blades... very steampunk.

Some recent pix of one of my "Steampunk Gypsygoth" costumes. Folks at Rakkasah East (live with Djinn) and November Noir (to Voltaire) got a peek at this one..

Originally Posted by anala

How bizarre....20,000 Leagues Under the Sea meets Adam Ant

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea meets Adam Ant meets the belly dancers!,r:;

Originally Posted by anala

How bizarre....20,000 Leagues Under the Sea meets Adam Ant

and a touch of "Rocky Horror"?

Gotta love Fusion!

Originally Posted by anala

Gotta love Fusion!

No you don't. But to each his or her own. :Awink: <shrug>