What is Steampunk? - AW Blog Chain

Steampunk and Retro-Futurism are genres that take the aesthetics and technology of the past (the Victorian era, interwar Art Deco era, etc.) and add futuristic technology. Examples include The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, the Downey Sherlock Holmes films, and (or so I'm told) some wacky Japanese animes like Fullmetal Alchemist, Steamboy, and a bunch of the Miyazakis.


When I sat down to write my entry for Absolute Write's September Blog Chain, my mind went blank. I tell myself I can do this, now that I know the definition of Steampunk.

Come with me
And you'll be
In a world of
Pure imagination

No problem, right?

Wrong!

I can't pretend to be a serious writer of this genre if I can't get my mind off silly things like those contraptions created by Dr. Seuss and similar machines used by Willy Wonka in his chocolate factory. Where's my creative flare? I know what people looked like in the Victorian era. I've seen movies, so combining these elements should be fairly easy.

Remember this?

And this?

I also thought the Everlasting Gobstopper machine was pretty cool. It had noisy steam and a honking "in process" mechanism moving things along. Steampunk? I think so. Others may not be so inclined to agree with me. I am the newbie. Someone straighten me out.

Anyone in for a chocolate river ride on this boat?

After all this nonsense of trying to come up with a clever story for you, I decided to do this topic some justice and share with you an educational video. "What is Steampunk?"

If you are an enthusiast of the Steampunk genre, let us know something about your characters and their contraptions. I would love to learn more.

Enjoy the video!

Please visit these other participants and their posts:

orion_mk3 

Ralph Pines 

BBBurke 

ishtar'sgate  

Amberly 

asnys 

pyrosama   [YOU ARE HERE]

Dear Writer's Block,

It's not you, it's me. I'm not saying this to make you feel better about the break up. I'm calling it quits because I need new direction in my life. I feel like sticking with you, while feeling the way I do, is only going to make matters worse. I have a story to tell, and if I don't have the opportunity to tell it, I may regret it for the rest of my life. I know you don't want to see that happen.

You've been a great deterrent and have protected me long enough. I'm stepping out into the real world. I'll need to write. No longer will I use you as I've so conveniently done in the past. I know you were only trying to help me, but progress must be made, and it must be made now.

Chapter 13, here I come!

Love,

~~Muse 

Have you ever had to write a break up letter to your writer's block? Try it! It was inspirational to finally get these words written. Now onto some real writing.