My Love / Hate of Steampunk
Fairly recently I discovered a new sub genre of science fiction called Steampunk. Now I know some of you may think where has this poor fool been hiding? Steampunk's been around so long it's almost passe! Well boo hoo to you alternative hipsters with your waxed moustache's and velvet smoking jackets! It's not that I don't like the idea of Steampunk - believe me I do. The idea of alternative histories with advanced technology, Airships, and 19th century visits to the Moon are the kind of stuff that I really enjoy reading about or watching. There's just one small problem. I have this thing about gears that do nothing, brown leather and brass. I don't like to say this but I hate them - I hate them a lot.
Why such a strong emotion towards something so innocuous I hear you ask (or would hear you ask if you were here to ask the question)? That's a hard one to answer. Is is the whimsy of so many Steampunk aficionado's with their costumes covered in gears and quaint optical accessories? No unlike some of the haters here I'm happy for anyone who finds something in their life that brings them joy. Is it the 19th century Imperial setting where most stories of this genre take place? No give me a brandy, a Walrus Mustache , a General's Uniform, and some kind of mechanized war machine and I couldn't be happier. No I think it comes down to one small detail. For a world powered by coal burning, smoke billowing machinery it all seems just a bit too... well... clean.
Why such a strong emotion towards something so innocuous I hear you ask (or would hear you ask if you were here to ask the question)? That's a hard one to answer. Is is the whimsy of so many Steampunk aficionado's with their costumes covered in gears and quaint optical accessories? No unlike some of the haters here I'm happy for anyone who finds something in their life that brings them joy. Is it the 19th century Imperial setting where most stories of this genre take place? No give me a brandy, a Walrus Mustache , a General's Uniform, and some kind of mechanized war machine and I couldn't be happier. No I think it comes down to one small detail. For a world powered by coal burning, smoke billowing machinery it all seems just a bit too... well... clean.
Hmmm. Interesting piece of writing. I think I'm inclined to agree: steampunk is very sanitised and clean. Not as much grit as the aesthetic seems to call for.
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