The actual term "steampunk" was coined in the late 1980s by author K.W. Jeter in a letter to Locus Magazine to describe fictional works penned by himself and select contemporaries. The science fiction sub-genre incorporates retro-futuristic inventions inspired by steam-powered machinery of the 19th century. The anachronistic technology blends industrial machinery with Victorian aesthetics and styles to create a distinctive creative look for fashion, engineering and architecture. Steampunk is heavily influenced by the literary works of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells who imagined amazing machines that utilized steam power.
The style celebrates the construction of machines or items even more than the purpose they serve. In steampunk, gears, gauges, pipes, rivets and seams are proudly displayed rather than hidden. The more elaborate the design to perform a basic function the better. This complex textured aesthetic has a cinematic quality that can be seen in movies such as Dune, Hugo, Wild Wild West and more.