Turning (Gears) Japanesey -- Oriental Steampunk

Imperial Airship - artwork by James Ng

     Previously in this humble blog, I have discussed wild west American Steampunk and Dieselpunk.  So now we move on to another interesting mix -- Oriental steampunk.  (I use the word with respect; Orient means "east", and was the term used in the 19th century, so it makes perfect sense to refer to it in that manner when referring to a steampunk genre.)  The Asian part of our planet has a history rich with tradition and beautiful art and architecture.  It is those aspects which can be blended with steampunk in order to create something completely different.

 

     Some of the most wonderful examples of Oriental steampunk art are by James Ng, who creates computer-generated images which ignite the imagination.  His characters and subjects transcend the disconnect between technology and humanity that pervades today's societies; they seem to be at peace and one with their unique devices and robotic companions. 

art by James Ng

art by James Ng

     The use of classic Oriental symbols and motifs combines the warmth of tradition with the edgy feel of 'what if.'  You may purchase prints of James Ng's work from his shop here.

     Luxurious and expensive fabrics made and formerly commonly used in the East also provide an opportunity to meld steampunk and eastern style. ( This site seems to have a good variety of silk brocade fabric, though I have never ordered from them.)  In the LiveJournal community "steamfashion" one may find at least one post about Oriental fashion. (The whole steamfashion LJ section seems a magnificent source for clothiers and anyone seeking to spruce up their wardrobe in a steampunk manner. It covers "what is", "how to" and more.)  On other parts of the aethernet, I found talk of creating Victorian dresses out of pure silk brocade and wonderings about how else to integrate the fabrics into a Victorian aesthetic.  As ever, one may just choose to combine the two and see how it turns out!  Perhaps some leather spat boots with miniature paper lamp tassels atop the instep might be nice. (*ponders*)

    If you wish to learn more about the history of Asia during the Victorian period, here is an M.I.T. exhibition and essay entitled "Throwing Off Asia" in which "the remarkably swift "Westernization" of Japan in the late-19th and early-20th centuries was most vividly captured in popular woodblock prints. Images from the Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf Collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston illustrate the great political, social, cultural, and industrial transformations that took place." 

     I hope these sources will provide you some insights and inspiration from the Orient.  All in all, compared to other types of steampunk, this combination seems almost untouched by steampunk artists.  Perhaps we shall see more of it as steampunk continues to evolve and include so many cultures and forms of art.

 ~DreamSteam

 

Hold onto Yer Gear Spurs! -- A Gander at American Steampunk

 

     Since I brought up the topic of the wild west at SteamCon, it seems fitting that I should speak about their theme, "American Steampunk."  (The aspect of the genre based on the United States' wild West, not simply Americans who "do" steampunk!)

     It pictures a steam-powered society without the constraints of corsets and monarchs; the well-defined class structure of the Victorian era was replaced with new strata of society and associated conflicts between those groups.   Despite the difficulties that came with the country's growing pains, the American west allowed for almost unrestrained individualism.  Steam-driven locomotives running on tracks stretching thousands of miles across an entire country enabled the settlers of the American West to venture far out into what was then the wilderness.  When they arrive, the established a society fueled by entrepreneurial gusto.  They believed that those who sought success could work hard and with a little luck, find it.

     Societies all over the world made advances in the use of electricity, steam power, and more.  Technology is often a result of ideas put into use during war.  The Civil War in the United States brought about new inventions in several areas: sturdy and deadly guns aplenty, spy balloons, rudimentary aircraft and other "horseless" vehicles to transport people and supplies.

      "Necessity is the mother of invention" could have been coined in those times, as well.  People used what they had on hand to accomplish tasks in their daily lives.  They did not have fancy stores to which to go and purchase items; at most, their town might have a general store for the most basic necessities of life, and everything else was made by individual craftsmen.  If something broke or wore out, they fixed it themselves or had it repaired by a qualified craftsperson.  This spirit of extending the useful life of items also lies at the heart of steampunk, which helps make the period a tidy fit for the genre.

     If you want a connection of all three groups and places (wild west, native Americans, and Victorian England), Queen Victoria herself attended Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show when they ventured over to Europe for a bit in the 1880's; the show included native Americans and cowboys alike performing amazing acts of shooting and horsemanship.

      About this time, cowboys (and girls!) and native Americans alike out West began to adopt some European fashion into their wardrobes.  In the absence of Twitter and Facebook, it is possible that the performers of Wild Bill's show liked the the Victorian fashion aesthetic that they saw, and brought back some of it to the West.

     The steampunk aspect comes into play when we delve into the history of that time and customize it to make something unique.  It is a celebration of what was, and an imagination of what might have been if a society had built today's devices with their level of technology and understanding.    This aspect of steampunk seems virtually untouched; I could find hardly any examples of it online, other than two large conventions coming up (SteamCon II and Wild West Con).

     As for what people can actually create that would be considered American steampunk, the possibilities are limitless.  Just take something from the wild, wild west and modify it to suit your desires along a steampunk aesthetic, and you're all set.  Perhaps a steam-driven single-action revolver.  A brass filigree tomahawk.  Or a clockwork bridle for a horse.  Limitless, I say!

~DS