Steampunk was originally a term used by British scientists in the 19th century to describe their work on steam powered machinery. It was not until World War I, when it became popular for military purposes. During this time, many of these machines were designed with steampunk influences. These include the submarine, airship, and even some tanks.
The term Steampunk is now being used as a general descriptor for any type of technology or art, that is inspired by the past. It is not necessary, that the technology actually works, or even resemble something from the past. This has lead to the culture becoming more fanciful and artsy, rather than practical.
Although the culture has grown, it still tends to have a strong British influence. Many consider it a "British thing" and not a "universal thing." However, the British influence is probably what makes this particular culture what it is. The culture has a strong science fiction influence, such as looking at technology in a more "algorithmic" fashion and inventing new technologies to make gadgets, that we would not even consider.
The Victorians were a very logical group of people, which is probably why many Steampunk artists enjoy depicting them. They also enjoyed playing with technology and many of their inventions never saw release, because they were too dangerous. This lead to some very interesting inventions, such as the imaginatively named "Time Machine."
The name "Steampunk" is a play on the word "Steam." The aesthetics of the culture are supposed to emulate those of steam powered technology, hence the name. The most obvious influence is the Victorian Era which is often mimicked. This usually involves a "gritty" look and "edgy" aesthetics. There is a heavy use of steam power technology, the color purple, brass, and lots of gears. The culture is prone to "highs" and " lows " and a cynicism towards "modern" concepts such as politics, religion, and society in general.
What Is Steampunk All About?
Steampunks are people fascinated with the Victorian era and what could have happened if some of the technological advances of that time had survived into the future. Steampunk writers and artists take inspiration from the past to create a vision of the future, that is both fascinating and believable.
The culture is very much inspired by the Victorian Era. Since much of the culture comes from that time, it can be hard to distinguish it from that time. It should be noted, that Steampunk is not simply a " Victorian version of now." Aside from the obvious technological differences, there is a certain atmosphere in a Steampunk setting. Steampunk often times see themselves as an advanced version of the Victorians.
They see themselves as a refined group, that has managed to preserve the values of the past. They are a group of noble minds united by the common thread of technology. In a Steampunk world, technology rules. Anything that wasn't a result of technology is looked down upon. Steampunks value the past not because it's good, but because it's perfect. This has sometimes caused a small group of "revisionists" to emerge. These are Steampunks, who have tried to make the culture future focused. They are looked upon with distain by the rest of the community.
Steampunk is usually set in the future, but can also be set in different periods of time. In some cases, it can be set in the present day. The exact time period can vary but one constant is that technology still plays a large roll in the their society.
The History Of Steampunk
The story of how the culture of Steampunk came to be was very different from how it is today. Steampunk as it exists today was born out of a very specific set of circumstances, that have since died out. It was only able to branch out from its roots to what it is now, because of these circumstances and events.
The Victorian society was a repressive one. Only the upper class could vote, for instance, and it wasn't until the 20th century, that those restrictions were even lifted. Many societies, and ones based on science in particular, were frowned upon by the Victorians. It was only natural, that these societies would have some influence on the creation of the culture of Steampunk.
Steampunk started out as a reaction against the Victorians. The first Steampunk stories were very much parodies of the Victorians. They poked fun at everything from art to clothing to architecture to morality. As time went on, the parodies lessened and the culture started to take on a more serious undertone. The Steampunk stories became more about the struggles of the lower classes.
This new direction didn't really start gaining major traction until the late 1890s and early 1900s. It was around this time, that the Utopian societies started dying out and were almost forgotten. It was at this time, that people started to look to the past with a certain longing. Steampunk was the result.
Despite this new direction, some of the culture never left. The mad scientists and explorers are still there along with a strong feelings of Utopianism. While Steampunk may not be as wildly rebellious as it once was, the artists, writers and musicians continue to spread the message of scientific exploration and social change.
The earliest known works of Steampunk fiction were in the 1880s and 1890s. These works were heavily influenced by the science fiction of the day. Many authors of Steampunk stories claim, that they were already writing about airships and automatons decades before those things were actually invented.
The birth of the culture was very similar to that of our own. In the beginning, it was just a bunch of people with a similar interest in technology getting together to talk about their passion. As the culture grew, these people started forming societies. Societies such as the London Steam Museum, the Birmingham Science Fiction and Fantasy Society, the New York Science Fiction Association and more.
While the people, who joined these societies were primarily writers and artists, they weren't the only ones interested in this new culture. People from all walks of life were interested in Steampunk and there seemed to be a demand for everything Steampunk. Steampunks like to re-create the past to suit their needs.
Steampunk Fashion
The clothing is definitely the most recognizable feature of Steampunk. Fashionable clothing with an eye towards the future. The clothing is most often either very ornate or very rugged, rarely a mix. There is no uniform as such, but a lot of the clothing is based on military uniforms of old boots, corset, gas mask, etc. are all common clothing for men and women.
Steampunks love to use technology from the past in their designs. Watches, jewelry, furniture, you name it and you can probably find a Steampunk designer working on a version of it. The most famous garment of all is the corset. It has been said, that a properly fitted corset can save your life in case of an airship crash. It has also been blamed for the relatively small size of Steampunk ladies.
The corset is not required for Steampunk ladies to look presentable though. The clothing is often tartans or stripes, hence the name "Stripes and Tartans." Shawls and trench coats are also very popular fashion items both for men and women.
Steampunk Skin Care
It is important to Steampunks, that their skin look good. The use of creams, oils, lotions and other items to make the skin luminous are common among the class. Steampunk doctors are also utilized to keep the skin looking good. It is not uncommon for a wealthy man to have his skin pores plugged with wax and stretched to make them appear larger.
This makes the skin appear more youthful and is popular with both males and females. There is a long standing belief, that for males to appear masculine, they should have their facial hair removed and for females to look lady-like they should have their legs waxed. Both of these practices are frowned upon by many as they remove major features of one's gender and are unnecessary, but that is a discussion for another time.
Jewelry
Stainless steel is a common metal to use for both cutlery and jewelry. Most other jewelry uses a combination of precious metals with less expensive stainless steel. Common rings for a Steampunk would be one with an enameled center, a simple ring with a silver band and a segmented silver band surrounding it.
Another popular type of ring is a "conical ring". These consist of a cone made of stainless steel and covered in precious metal, such as silver or gold. The tip of the cone has a small ring attached to it. These are worn on the little finger of the non-dominant hand and are supposed to represent a miniature hat. Watches are also popular. Watches with analog displays are common, but high quality machines with cogs and gears are not uncommon.
Other common jewelry includes earrings (no longer studs), which can be designed to have a practical use, such as holding a teacup, or purely for show, such as a model railway controller, necklaces made of chain with a flat amulet, which are popular among the lower classes, bracelets, which are always worn with two, and rings.
Lead Image Source: https://madburner.com/blogs/madburner-fashion/a-quick-guide-to-steampunk-fashion
I thunk in Kpop, this kind of fashion is used now, though mildly I guess. I am not one to be sure because I might be wrong, but the outfits I see are commonly armorlike, with some belts with little bags, etc. though they don't look as heavy as the pictures used here, because the artists have to dance. I find the fashion cool and unique. I like them.