What is Steampunk? In three words, it is Victorian Science Fiction.

Hollywood style, it would be 2000 Leagues Under the Sea, The Wild West, and Sherlock Holmes. Each of these epitomize what Steam Punk is about. The philosophy is based on epicurean-ism (everything in moderation) and tailor-ism (makers). Tailorists think that there is a mechanical solution to everything. They idealize the Victorian era, dress as they do because it feels good, and there is a cutlture of taste, rather than philosophy. There is an extreme sense of romanticism in their sensibilities.
The look generally requires aviator goggles (not glasses), an Amelia Earhart-style aviator cap

for both men and women. Men might wear top hats or bowlers, Victorian facial hair, generally mutton chops, a beard or mustache. The mustache may be long and curly (Simon Legree) or trim, and beards may be short and trim or long and potentially split, like a part. Women will wear corsets, low-cut tops (think heaving breasts), long skirts or bow-peep style undergarments (think bar wench or prostitute), and of course bows, feathers, gloves, jewels, and hats, with all of the above.
I attended the
SteampunkCon at the Hilton in Emeryville. It can feel a little strange going to a convention like this by yourself.
First of all, I'm not a Steampunk

(SP), secondly, I'm not really an enthusiast of that era, and finally, most people are with their friends who have similar interests. But there were all types of people there and I did my best to blend in. I dug up my early 1900's-style lace-up boots with elastic on the sides, wore black hose, a lace skirt, frilly top and velvety embroidered long coat (a big hit). I didn't look steampunky, but I didn't look entirely out of place either.
It wasn't cheap to attend. I forked over thirty bucks, got a badge

and entered into the vendors area where you could buy your goggles, corsets, hats, buttons, bobbles and bows. I struck up a conversation with a lovely woman from a book shop in SF that specializes in SP and SciFi. She was happy to tell me what it meant to most people - how in the Victorian era there was a sense of hopefulness (antithetical to true punks), and where the industrial age meant that things could be solved by invention. Which is why so many of the SPs are makers (
Maker Fair is coming up). We chatted for a bit, I bought a quintessential SP book and wandered the floor. After a bit I headed upstairs to the "museum" - really just some cool stuff that was put out on display, and then attended two speaker panel sessions. One was on SP garb for Life on a Budget and the other was SP Philosophy. I popped into another room to listen to some SP music (base and radio waves), and also listened briefly to the authors of "
Girl Genius".

And like the other Con I attended, after a while you start to feel like you've had & seen enough. The panel discussions were interesting, but by 3:15, I felt like I needed and wanted to get back to real life.
Fun: 4 (fun/interesting - yes)
Easy to implement: 1 (just costs money)
Worthy of repetition: 3 (maybe - maybe not)
Try This: 3 (if you like that sort of thing)
Cost: 4 ($30 felt a bit high)
1 comment:
OMG, you are learning about people and things I never even knew existed. How fabulous that you have such an inquiring mind! I am getting an education without even trying. Keep it up!!!
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