Why Steampunk is Awesome and You Should Love it. A Counterpoint.
Recently fellow co-writer here at GC posted a scathing critique of steampunk and why it sucks like getting a splinter driven under your fingernail. Well as a writer in the steampunk genre, I just can’t let that stand. First things first, what the hooha is steampunk? Good question, I had to explain this once to my mom. It’s not as easy as you might think.
Brian was right in his claim that the genre was defined after the inception of the cyberpunk genre in the ‘80’s. The thing is though, while the name was only coined later, the writing style had been in existence for some time, most widely known examples are the works of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells. Steampunk came into being much like high fantasy, literary examples (which are solely responsible for the existence of these definitions in the first place) existed for some time before the term came into common use. Tolkien perhaps being the greatest example of high fantasy writing, though it wasn’t called such at the time, nor was he the first. So steampunk has been around for some time, even though the genre is seeing a definite renaissance in pop culture.
At its core, steampunk involves the juxtaposition of an advanced technology placed in an era where the technology shouldn’t historically be available. Often times these mechanisms and technology are powered by clockwork or steam power. And in many previous literary examples, these settings were set in a Victorian timeline, hence the rise of steampunk, clock punk, and diesel punk sub-genres. Basically this makes steampunk and all the various related “punk” genres science fiction, just like the genre’s granddaddy, cyberpunk.
So now that we know we’re just dealing with a sub genre of sci-fi, what about that whole “punk” issue? Again Brian was right in stating that cyberpunk traditionally entails much more than just a quasi-futuristic setting with cybernetic upgrades. There is a real social commentary that happens with cyberpunk that isn’t often found as clearly in steampunk genres. If you check out the comments on Brian’s article you’ll find a good summary of some of the steampunk ideals by Mike Pondsmith, game designer. So does that make it wrong to refer to steampunk using the “punk” tag if it’s not as clearly anti-establishment as cyberpunk? No, the title is fine, because despite the origin of the genre name, steampunk is a unique genre on its own. The inclusion of the “punk” tag, originally intended as a statement of the writers defying current historical conventions, isn’t meant to mean the same thing as the cyberpunk use of the word.
You hear me Brian? It’s a different genre. It’s okay. Take this nice blue pill. Yes it’s tasty. Why don’t you lay down now? Yes in the giant bronze tube that will put you back into the matrix…ahh, there’s a good Viking.
Okay now that he’s back in his happy place with his war yaks, let’s get on with exactly why steampunk rocks.
Haya Miyazaki
The great thing about steampunk, as we’re seeing a lot these days, is the ability to fit into many settings. And yeah I’m talking about the literary form of steampunk, not the artistic and cosplay interpretations. They’re great and all, and I’d kill a clockwork zombie Nazi for that steampunk inspired Mac mini mod, but ultimately the point here that interests me is steampunk as a fiction genre. Cherie Priest and Scott Westerfield are two examples of authors currently using steampunk, but outside of the Victorian setting usually associated with it. Manga and anime master Hayao Miyazaki is known for many of his works being heavily influenced by steampunk, but most certainly not in a traditional setting. Sucker Punch? Anyone saw that movie? Yeah not Victorian, but steampowered clockwork Nazi zombies anyone? In gaming we see examples from Bioshock in video games to Warmachine, Dystopian Wars, and Leviathans in miniature gaming.
As with most things that begin within a set boundary, overtime they are stretched beyond those boundaries that once defined the genre, and become more well known for those examples that lie outside the original form. So therein lies the beauty and appeal, at least to me as a writer, of steampunk. There are some conventions that must follow the genre, but in general it’s supremely flexible for application in different settings and worlds.
Steampunk also allows the writer to play with the visual textures of a world. Adding elements of science and technology in new ways. So the creativity of the storyteller can explode in finding new and exciting ways to make two seemingly opposed ideas make sense, like magical computer world destruction machines in a Warhammer fantasy setting, or airships and giant earth movers in a frontier western Seattle.
There’s nothing wrong with steampunk. As a genre, either you love it or hate it. And that’s fine, that’s why genres exist. Sure it’s probably not as anarchist as cyberpunk but it’s okay, it’s just a name. So don’t be ashamed that you have a pair of flight goggles, a brass cane, and leather vest that holds a bronzed nerf gun in your closet. It’s fine. Steampunk is awesome, and you should love it.
Just what appeals to your or turns you off to steampunk? Me? I like the contrasts of technology with impossible settings.
