Steampunk is a subculture that is believed to be heavily inspired by the Victorian Era (1837-1901), centered around the romanticism and new technology of that time. This subculture is known as the Victorian Era science fiction because authors took inspiration from the technology, aesthetic, and philosophies of the time to create fantastical literature. The term “steampunk” is first linked to the Author K.W. Jeter, but the subculture can be traced back to the Victorian Era it is believed to be inspired by. It has even been argued that steampunk originated from Frankenstein, a popular novel published in 1818 by Mary Shelley about a scientific experimentation resulting in the creation of a man out of pieces of corpses. When individuals first begin to understand steampunk, they generally imagine goggles, corsets, top hats, lace parasols, steam valves, gears, and even time machines. But steampunk has a variety of different attributes and identities, meaning everyone has their own experience within this subculture. The way individuals incorporate steampunk into their clothing and lifestyles varies as well. It is common for people to wear steampunk inspired costumes, while others incorporate steampunk into their everyday lifestyle. Steampunk has grown over the years including more genres and elements of other time periods, such as the modern and innovative designs from the Art Deco Movement in the 1920s.
Despite the inherently British roots that Steampunk, it did not take long for this influence to reach Japanese pop culture. Drawing parallels between the British Empire during the Victorian-Era and the Japanese regime during the Meiji and Tashio Era as both were characterized as booming era for technology and power. With the Japanese globalization towards western technology and influence, Victorian-Era literature started to make an appearance among Japanese bookstores and pop culture. However, the rise of steampunk in Japan grew as Japanese writers such as Juza Unno, also known as the “father of Japanese science fiction” (McElhinney, 3 D., 2023), began adapting to this style with his early steampunk fiction. While the interpretation for what is steampunk is very much an individual interpretation that sets a broad landscape of works that fall under this category, some of the most associated elements involve steam-powered machinery, floating dirigibles, brass-valued automatons, and period-style clothing. With the rise of Manga and anime, these themes were developed even further. Many famous film directors like Hayao Miyazaki worked to adapt famous fantasy literature into anime films, and used this inspiration to co-found Studio Ghibli which is “renowned for romanticizing old world values” (McElhinney, D., 2023). Ultimately it is these films, literature, and beloved characters that have inspired steampunk to not only be influential among the media world but also be incorporated into streetstyle and themed festivals. As this unique genre continued to gain attraction, western fashion took influence from Japanese Manga and Anime films and the subculture aesthetic.
With the rise of advancing AI technology, there are tensions that suggest that we are on the cusp of another technological revolution, where there is a power dynamic between man and machine. Steampunk reflects an optimist interpretation that breeds invention where utility and aesthetics are of equal worth. With advancing technology that evokes a fearful uncertainty of the future, this has been a dichotomy that Japanese culture has struggled to accept and balance protecting traditional values while remaining technologically innovative. But some suggest that this is why steampunk has been able to find a market in Japan, as “it allows these conflicting ideals to meet in fictional harmony” (McElhinney, D., 2023).
One great representation of steampunk in westernized culture is Christian Dior’s Spring 2010 collection. This collection includes elements like top hats, veils, ball gowns, and horse- riding gear that has allowed for a modern twist of the Victorian era styles. Many of the desirable traits of steampunk come from the humanness that an old-style aesthetic can provide, and Dior
Spring 2010 did exactly that. In modern times, this oldness can be translated into a new and fantastical feeling that steampunk is described to have. Other designers with well-known steampunk designs are Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen, John Paul Gaultier and Dolce and Gabbana. Vivienne Westwood’s designs are well-known for including corsets and voluminous skirts that were seen in the Victorian era. Gaultier includes leather accessories and accents in his Spring 1994 collection, as well as corsets. Alexander McQueen presented a collection with dark brown leather boots and chunky belts and buckles, and Dolce and Gabbana interpreted double-breasted coats and high-waisted trousers that reflected the dandyism of the Victorian Era.
Steampunk did not seem to receive the same recognition that it had in the past until the young generations started to dive into and explore different subcultures and style aesthetics as a trend and as a hobby. Now, there is a resurgence of steampunk in people’s everyday fashion thanks to the popularization of it throughout social media platforms. Most modern-day explorations of steampunk include mostly corsets, waistcoats, top hats, large glasses or goggles, and a mix of vintage and modern clothing and materials. Accessories are also a crucial part of meeting the Victorian and industrial elements with the modern ones. People accessorize their steampunk outfits with leather belts, leather boots, canes, and pocket watches, as well as styling their hair with braids, curls and updos. Steampunk has been wildly popular in literature and fashion but has also been successful in film, video games, and music. The time machine in George Pal’s The Time Machine (1960) and the submarine in Disney’s Nautilus are both influenced by the steampunk movement and steampunk designs. Countless video games have adopted the steampunk aesthetic, with the first being The Eidolon (1985). Genres of music including dance, punk, dark cabaret, and folk rock are also known to take influence from
steampunk. Music videos such as The Ballad of Mona Lisa by Panic! at the Disco and Turn Me On by David Guetta and Nicki Minaj present steampunk settings and themes. With the focus on technology in the steampunk genre and in today’s pop culture, there is room to think about the culture of technology getting out of hand and hypothesize technology taking over our bodies and the world. Steampunk is a way to display how people and the world would look in a scenario of the sorts.
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