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Informative Rant; What is and IS NOT steampunk fiction
Topic Started: Feb 16 2009, 05:02 AM (142 Views)
Toxin
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Before we begin; credentials. I have been an avid fan of steampunk genre for a whole decade now, and have done my research thoroughly. In fact, I've been taking in the frequent updates on the subject for about five years now; this isn't something that just popped into my head last week.

We need to set some thing straight first before we delve into the topic. First of all, a definition. What is steampunk? Steampunk is a genre of fiction, fashion, and art. A subspecies, if you will, that shares a common similarity with other genres of the same parent species; cyberpunk. Steampunk fiction is an alternate portrayal of history categorized by the level of technological advancements made before a period of "Renaissance".

We all know how the modern world's history has progressed in terms of primary sources of technological power; what "fuels the world" per se. First it was steam, then it was Diesel, then came natural gas, followed by electricity and eventually nuclear power. It is argued that we are entering a post-nuclear stage of renewable energy, but that is beyond the point. The point is, imagine what would have happened if technology made such major leaps and bounds during one of these periods long past, to the point where further advancement was unnecessary?

If the technology level during this "renaissance" is steam, then we have steampunk. If diesel, then an unofficial genre that is know to many fans as "dieselpunk" that is often merged in with steampunk due to the similarity of their structure despite major technical and aesthetic differences.

The -punk genre can also be defined as an incidence of technology out of place -or more accurately, time. Imagine a knight crusader marching on the holy land with a crude PDA display inside the visor of his helmet, a rickety apparatus on his sword that generates a static-laden energy blade, and a primitive artificial, biomechanic limb to replace an arm lost in battle. THAT would be known as cyberpunk fiction.

Genres are often fused as well. A good example would be the recent video game, Bioshock. This game combines ALOT of elements from, in my opinion, two very noteworthy genres; biopunk and 50's retro pulp. Biopunk, of course, refers to a punk subgenre that involves genetic manipulation out of time and place with themes of totalitarian governments and human morality, and the 50's retro pulp simply refers to the style of presentation; exposed wiring, shiny casings, lots of neon bulbs, and old weapons like the tommy gun.

Keep in mind that -punk genres can vary in the nature of their definition; technology out of place, out of time, or even a reversal of the two.

With today's advent of modern technology, it is arguable that as we discover new inventions and leave older technologies behind, new -punk subgenres are being born every half century, with the most recent addition being something known to many fans of the genres as "Atompunk". Though this term is being used loosely given the scarcity of shining examples, there are still a couple that are noteworthy. One of these examples is a game known as "fallout" and its derivative sequels. Fallout, especially fallout 3 has a very powerful -punk theme to it; in particular, Atompunk. Atompunk describes a form of fiction that is predominantly post-apocalyptic as of current majority definitions. In fact, Atompunk is less of a -punk genre and more of a post-apocalyptic survival genre.

An example of Post-apocalyptic survival genre would be the ever famous road warrior series, the most recent Resident Evil movie, or even Waterworld. The common theme; a world that has gone completely to hell, the survivors resorting to a hunter-gatherer existence, but still using scraps of modern technology. The difference being what level of technology is available to the survivors. Waterwould could be vaguely considered dieselpunk, road warrior is definitely a post-apocalyptic dieselpunk, and resident evil is considered to be a post-apocalyptic biopunk, though the definition is weak, because the majority technology level is almost identical to that of modern day planet Earth..

Anyhow, the point of this rant [did we forget that this was a rant?] is to destroy an accusation that my recent WP concept is a ripoff of Fallout 3.
I dissect this claim as follows:
  • Fallout 3 is NOT STEAMPUNK. It's post-apocalyptic diesel/atompunk.
  • Not a SINGLE steam device is present in Fallout. Nor wire transmitter, nor hand-crank radio. It is ALL MODERN TECH.
  • BUT LOOKIT THE WEAPONS THEY HAVE WIRES AND CRANKS AND STUFF, OOOH THATS SO STEAMPUNK. No, no, and NO. -Punk fiction, yes. STEAMPUNK, NO. Just because a weapon/object has wires, cables, and hand-powered devices affixed to it does NOT automatically make it steampunk. It's the functionality not the appearance.
  • When I said "rudimentary electronics", in my WP I meant telegraphs, radiowaves, and crude lie detectors. Nothing even CLOSE to a computer, so the steampunk boundaries are not breached.

    I rest my case, and I hope you all had an informative read.
    Good day.


EDIT:
Here are some photos that should help solidify the image of steampunk in your mind.
Spoiler: click to toggle
Edited by Toxin, Feb 16 2009, 05:57 AM.
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Revan46
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Shh...don't wake the baby. CRAP IT'S AWAKE, RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!

I just don't bother with it, that's all I'm saying.
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Toxin
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Well then stop spamming to get post counts, cus that's obviously what ur doing :|
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Zelderex
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Hey, can I ask what RP?
[RPGData:96|4|40|40|6|6|33|18|Evil Spear|Phoenix Armor|Ranger|149|None|None|7|1|1|33|None|1|None|None] My characters

Star Wars; Mysteries of the force:
Zypher Fenn http://s10.zetaboards.com/Coloholics_Anonymous/topic/7082751/1/#new

The Songs of a distant Earth:
Vansk Dor'Lanian

Warhammer 40,000:
Vladamir Vanstir http://s10.zetaboards.com/Coloholics_Anonymous/topic/7088865/1/#new

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Zin Vonsk

The power and the Glory;
Brendan Gilhooly
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Toxin
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My project called Wyred. It's not completed yet, but I posted the storyline and SexyYoy was all like LOL SO BASICALLY FALLOUT3 AMIRITE.
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Revan46
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Shh...don't wake the baby. CRAP IT'S AWAKE, RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!

Shut it Toxin, I'll do what I want to :)
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Toxin
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Revan46
Feb 22 2009, 05:02 PM
Shut it Toxin, I'll do what I want to :)
Yeah, you'll do what you want to, there's no stopping that. :| too bad in most of the world's opinions BUT NOT MINE OLOL [/exempt from homophobia allegations] you're either going to hell for doing what you want to (other men,) need to be beaten and/or burned, and basically suck major cock. OH wait. OLO /BAD PUN AMIRITE?

:|
Edited by Toxin, Feb 23 2009, 03:57 AM.
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Firelizard
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Entropic Duke

Very interesting rant. Though I'm not an avid follower of the punk genres, I'll occasionally take a glance at punk devices when I can.

Steampunk used to be my favorite genre, but due to games like Fallout, I've started to take an interest in Atompunk. What with old car designs being powered by Though I've had to beat it into a few family members that have played the game that Fallout 3 is not steampunk (Specifically a cousin).

You'll definitely see me coming to your Wyred WP soon enough.

Here are some other Steampunk pics :p

Spoiler: click to toggle
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Toxin
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Firelizard
Feb 23 2009, 11:44 AM
Very interesting rant. Though I'm not an avid follower of the punk genres, I'll occasionally take a glance at punk devices when I can.

Steampunk used to be my favorite genre, but due to games like Fallout, I've started to take an interest in Atompunk. What with old car designs being powered by Though I've had to beat it into a few family members that have played the game that Fallout 3 is not steampunk (Specifically a cousin).

You'll definitely see me coming to your Wyred WP soon enough.

Here are some other Steampunk pics :p

Spoiler: click to toggle
LOL nice. A steampunk TIE fighter.

Yeah, Atompunk certainly does have a very unique quality. Like I said, probably due to the fact that its advent has come about from our society preparing to abandon the nuclear era or something of the like. Keep on top of it. I have something I might wanna share with you.
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Firelizard
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Entropic Duke

Toxin
Feb 23 2009, 04:26 PM
Firelizard
Feb 23 2009, 11:44 AM
Very interesting rant. Though I'm not an avid follower of the punk genres, I'll occasionally take a glance at punk devices when I can.

Steampunk used to be my favorite genre, but due to games like Fallout, I've started to take an interest in Atompunk. What with old car designs being powered by Though I've had to beat it into a few family members that have played the game that Fallout 3 is not steampunk (Specifically a cousin).

You'll definitely see me coming to your Wyred WP soon enough.

Here are some other Steampunk pics :p

Spoiler: click to toggle
LOL nice. A steampunk TIE fighter.

Yeah, Atompunk certainly does have a very unique quality. Like I said, probably due to the fact that its advent has come about from our society preparing to abandon the nuclear era or something of the like. Keep on top of it. I have something I might wanna share with you.
Yeah, the steampunk TIE fighter is one of my favorites.

And go right ahead. I'm always interested to hear something new when it comes to the punks. As for Atompunk, I don't know what it is, a nuclear powered car or computer just seems too good to not be cool.

Also, here's an atompunk computer (Looks close enough, seeing as how it has that 1950's feel ;) ) I found while searching.

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Edited by Firelizard, Feb 24 2009, 06:26 AM.
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