Steampunk

Steampunk was originally a term for a sub-genre of speculative fiction that imitated 19th century "scientific romances" like the work of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells. Later, the term was applied to a general aesthetic involving styles that would be "futuristic" from the perspective of the 19th century.
Steampunk is so popular that it has its own fan conventions. It is a popular style for cosplay, costuming and crafting; anything can and will be steampunk-ified. There are individual media fandoms for which the canon is steampunk, e.g. The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne. Outside of steampunk fandom, it is used in fanworks like fanfic and fanart, often in AUs for non-steampunk canons.
==History of the term==
Author K.W. Jeter coined the term steampunk in 1987, in a letter to Locus magazine.“K.W. Jeter: Rockin’ in the Steampunk World,” Locus, July 20, 2014. (Accessed May 29, 2023.) However, many important early steampunk works were written in the 1960s and 70s, and these works showed the influence of 19th century authors like Jules Verne and H.G. Wells. The literary/media genre later expanded to include works set in worlds with advanced steam-powered technology, not just those recognizeably set in the 19th century.For more on the literary genre and steampunk outside of fandom, see the wikipedia article on steampunk. (Accessed September 28, 2010.)
==Aesthetic==
The core of the steampunk aesthetic is futuristic/sci-fi styles from a 19th century, usually Victorian or Edwardian, perspective: clocks, gears, springs, steam power, analog computers, typewriters, airships, etc. This has also been described as "retrofuturism".
The influence of the fashion, architecture, technology, and interior design of Victorian London have a huge impact on the steampunk aesthetic. However, some people have expanded the style to include the same kind of retro-futurism from a non-Western perspective.
Japanese media are particularly known for steampunk themes and styles, particularly in the Final Fantasy games and in many anime and manga series. How universally these are considered steampunk and how available they are in English varies widely. Some Japanese steampunk seems to draw from the same Victorian roots as Western steampunk. Other Japanese steampunk draws heavily from Meiji, Taisho, or early Showa Japan.
Steampunk fashion often involves corsets, bustles, top hats, pocket watches, goggles, vests, and aspects of 19th Century military uniforms. It has ties to various forms of Neo-Victorianism, Elegant Gothic Lolita and Elegant Gothic Aristocrat styles in Japan, and many Goth styles elsewhere.
Steampunk objects frequently feature polished brass, inlaid hardwoods, decorative gears, and clock parts.
==Steampunk Canons==
Steampunk is a common genre and/or aesthetic in certain types of role playing games and in anime and manga. It is often hard to find in live action media (especially ongoing tv series) due to the high costs of the costumes, props, and set design, but many examples do exist. Many of the most common steampunk canons don't have fanfiction-producing fandoms associated with them, and a fair amount of non-English steampunk has yet to be translated into English. The examples below are all steampunk or have elements of steampunk, but opinions on whether they count as "fandoms" may differ.
Live Action:
* The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne
* The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.
* The Wild Wild West (both the original tv show and the more recent movie)
* The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (movie)
* Warehouse 13
* Tin Man
* Perfect Creature 
* Carnival Row
* The Nevers
* Hugo
* Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
Anime & Manga:
* Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa
* Clover by CLAMP
* Steamboy
* Many films by Hayao Miyazaki including Laputa, Castle in the Sky, Howl's Moving Castle
* Tsukumo Nemuru Shizume
* The Case Study of Vanitas
* Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress
Other Comics:
* Girl Genius by Phil & Kaja Foglio
* Lady Mechanika by Joe Benitez
* The original comic of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Games (tabletop, console, computer):
* Many of the Final Fantasy games, particularly in the character and airship designs
* GURPS
* Thief
* Dishonored
* BioShock Infinite
Cartoon:
* Arcane: League of Legends
* The Legend of Korra (for the first half of its run, it was eventually replaced with dieselpunk)
* Unicorn Warriors: Eternal
==Crafts and Costuming==
Cosplay and crafting are major activities in steampunk fandom. Steampunk events often include costume contests and fashion shows, as well as workshops where attendees can learn how to design and fabricate costumes and props.
Steampunk cosplayers tend to create their own characters, but it is also common to see costumes inspired by comic books, movies, and TV shows. Star Wars, Marvel Comics, and DC Comics are especially popular sources of inspiration.
File:52238312391 fe42f32444 k.jpg|alt=Dude Vader|Dude Vader is a steampunk cosplayer inspired by Star Wars.
File:Steampunk Batman.jpg|alt=Steampunk Batman|Steampunk cosplayer inspired by Batman.
File:Steampunk Riddler and Poison Ivy.jpg|alt=Steampunk Batman characters|Steampunk cosplayers inspired by The Riddler and Poison Ivy from the Batman comics.
File:Steampunk Ironman.jpg|alt=Steampunk Iron Man|Steampunk Iron Man, inspired by the Marvel Comics character.
File:Steampunk Spy vs Spy.jpg|alt=Steampunk Spy vs Spy|Steampunk cosplayers inspired by the Spy vs. Spy comics in MAD Magazine.
Steampunk culture has deep ties to the maker and DIY subcultures, which celebrate do-it-yourself crafting and invention. As with cosplay, some of these creations are inspired by TV shows and movies.
Events such as Burning Man and Maker Faire have been showcases for large-scale art projects such as The Neverwas Haul, a three-story self-propelled Victorian house, and Nautilus Submarine Art Car. Steampunk conventions and festivals often include art galleries featuring works by fans as well as professional artists.
File:Burning man 01286.jpg|alt=Nautilus Submarine Art Car|Nautilus Submarine Art Car at Burning Man. It was inspired by the 1954 Disney movie adaptation of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
File:Nautilus Art Car at Maker Faire.jpg|alt=Nautilus Submarine Art Car|Nautilus Submarine Art Car seen at the 2015 Bay Area Maker Faire.
File:Neverwas Haul.jpg|alt=Neverwas Haul|The Neverwas Haul, a three-story Victorian house on wheels by Obtainium Works.
File:Steampunk Art Gallery.jpg|alt=Steampunk art gallery|Art gallery at the Clockwork Alchemy steampunk convention near San Francisco.
File:Time Machine by Richard Murillo.jpg|alt=Time Machine replica|Richard Murillo with his Time Machine replica. It was inspired by George Pal’s 1960 movie adaptation of the H.G. Wells novel.
File:Nautilus Submarine Model.jpg|alt=Nautilus submarinemodel|A model of the Nautilus submarine from the 1954 Disney movie.
File:Steampunk R2D2.jpg|alt=Steampunk R2D2|Steampunk R2D2 by Paul X. Stewart.
File:Trish in the Dish.jpg|alt=Trish in the Dish steampunk art|Trish in the Dish by Paul X. Stewart, inspired by the 1962 film The Brain That Wouldn't Die. 
==Publications==
* SteamPaper
* The Steampunk Explorer
* Steampunk Magazine
==Criticisms of Steampunk Fandom==
There is some criticism of steampunk (of fan- as well as pro-works) in fandom because it is often seen to overly romanticise the Victorian era, even valorizing it and certain of its narratives (like of the scientist explorer), without also examining the colonialism, imperialism and racism that underpinned it:
However, steampunk as a genre can also have non-Victorian settings (such as futuristic settings, or other worlds), and can also serve as a critique of the Victorian era or to develop stories and narratives from non-imperial, non-colonialist nations during the same time period.
==Example fanworks==
===Harry Potter===
Fanart:
*Fantastic Voyage by Miyoung_Boz
===Merlin===
Fanfic: 
*The Metal Dragon series by Miakun
*Flight by danse-amore
*Steam by new_kate. A canon timeline reincarnation futurefic.
Fanart:
*Steampunk Merlin and Arthur and Steampunk Morgana and Gwen by bunnyluz
*Arthur Steampunk by CallistaMythol
*Woo Merlin by fera-festiva
*Mechanic!Gwen, Steam!Morgana, some tree and background talk and Steampunk!AU - Merlin & Morgana, nowhere to be found by Yue KX
*steampunk!Merlin and steampunk!Arthur + the dare by aeroport_art
*Drawbles! steampunk!Uther by phoq
*Steampunk Morgana by dealan311
*Steampunk Handjobs by pandora_gold. After a Con, Merlin and Arthur dressed as Steampunk, and make out back in a hotel room. NSFW!
===SGA===
Fanart:
*It's a Strange World by steammmpunk (done for Painted Spires)
*Steampunk AU by Leyna55
Fanfic:
*Blue Colorado Skies by Xparrot
*Little By Little To the Truth; or a Narrative of the Atlantis Expedition by Telesilla
*Atlantis: Quest for the Lost City (Chapter 5) by Rheanna (inspired by Leyna55's Steampunk AU fanart, see above)
===Star Trek===
Fan Film:
*Steam Trek: The Moving Picture by Dennis Sisterson
===Star Wars===
Fanart:
*Steampunk Star Wars by Eric Poulton 
===Supernatural===
Fanart:
*Brass and Feathers by oatmeal_queen
*Steampunk Sam by Gnatkip
Fanfic:
*Steam by bellatemple (for a Big Bang, so it comes with art by mithborien )
===Hetalia===
Fanfic:
*You Can't Take the Sky from Me by EverthingIsMagic
==External Links==
*Wikipedia article on Steampunk
*Steampunk redux by Naraht
*steampunk: my issues, let me show you them by forthwritten
* steampunk @ dreamwidth
* Beyond Victoriana - "Beyond Victoriana is a blog about multicultural steampunk and retro-futurism--that is, steampunk outside of a Western-dominant, Eurocentric framework." 
* Works tagged with "Steampunk" at AO3
* Just Glue Some Gears On It - music video by Pikedevant about the correct definition of the word "steampunk" (on Youtube)
==References==
Category:Tropes & Genres
Category:Fandoms by Community
Category:Science Fiction Fandom Glossary