What is Steampunk?

From the NY Times:

“It has an intellectual tie to the artists and artisans dealing with a world in turmoil at the time of the industrial revolution,” said Crispen Smith, a Web designer and photographer in Toronto, and a partner in a steampunk fashion business.

Now, as in the late 19th century, “we have to find a way to deal with new ethical quandaries,” Mr. Smith said, alluding to issues like cloning, the dissemination of information and intellectual property rights on the Web.

Steampunk style is also an expression of a desire to return to ritual and formality. “Steampunk has its tea parties and its time-travelers balls,” said Deborah Castellano, who presides over salonconvention.com, which organizes neo-Victorian conventions. “It offers an element of glamour that some of us would otherwise never experience.”

It reminds me of the video game Arcanum, which I loved to play for its mood more than the story.


Matt and I spent the entire trip back from Havasu imagining how we would dress for it. He ended up with something between a motorcycle rider and a metal worker from the Victorian age. Of course mine involved pink tailored clothing and spiked hair. Don't know if we will ever do it, but it is fun to think about.