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What is steampunk?
Published: 1/24/2013 7:10 AM
Last Modified: 1/24/2013 1:24 PM

Geek & Sundry's "The Guild" attacks the issue of "what is steampunk?" by saying "if you don't know, you should probably move on."

Steampunk is a term that's been batted around more and more frequently, and as is the case with many pop-culture references, you don't want to use the word incorrectly. The purist's point of view is this: Steampunk refers to a genre or style that takes Victorian-era aesthetics, adds late-19th-century technology (think steam engines) and then turns the volume up on both those elements. It sounds simple, but you'd be surprised how up-in-arms you can make some hard-core fans by saying something is steampunk when it's really just posing as such to get on the bandwagon.

Rather than delve into a lengthy discussion about the ins and outs of steampunk, let's play a game I just made up called "Is It Steampunk?" Here are some examples you can draw from to get an idea of what steampunk is. Here's the rating system, from 1 gear ("that ain't steampunk") to 5 gears ("nothing is more steampunk than that").

"Firefly": 1 gear
The production design of this short-lived but long-loved sci-fi show from Joss Whedon is sometimes said to be an example of steampunk. It is not. The production design of the show has a vague 19th century aesthetic, and the technology is more George Lucas than Jules Verne. Call this one a sci-fi Western and you'd be closer to the target.

This box: 2 gears

We're getting warmer. This box has a lot of gears and brass, but it's just a compass with a bunch of crap around it. I'd say this is a steampunk-inspired bit of knickknackery. And that's fine. There are all kinds of costumes, jewelry and other items that employ a steampunk design aesthetic. Expect to see lots of this - brass gears, goggles and corsets - in fashion, as it's predicted to be a trend that grows massively in the next two years. As these designs move from artisan-created to mass-produced, the definition of steampunk is going to have to lose some of its purity.

"Wild Wild West": 3 gears
Obviously, Western style wins out in this Will Smith film, but the aesthetic would still make for solid steampunk cosplay. What really makes this story steampunk is the tech. A steam-powered tank, giant mechanical spider and a crude flying machine? Yeah, that's pretty steampunk.

This jetpack: 4 gears

In addition to being awesome, this sweet jetpack by Canadian artist Ian Finch-Field is a great example of steampunk. Its design is spot-on, and it looks like it could fly you from Paris to London in 10 minutes. Super steampunk.

Steampunk Ghostbusters: 5 gears

Yeah. That's just amazing.

Do you have a topic you would like the Prairie Nerds to address? Let us know at PrairieNerds@tulsaworld.com

Written by
Anna Codutti
Scene Writer

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Dr. Strangelove (3 weeks ago)

Very cool!

Micah Choquette (3 weeks ago)

The Steampunk Ghostbusters - so much awesome right there.

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Matt Clayton floats between being a nerd, geek or a dork. Has an extensive collection of toys, comics and video games that would make any adult feel ashamed to call themselves a parent. Unlike most nerds, he does enjoy sports, but his favorite sport is soccer, so that really doesn't count as a sport anyway. Can quote "Clerks" at the drop of a hat and owns a soft-coated Wheaten Terrier named Will Wheaton. And no, Ewoks could not have possibly taken down the Empire with just sticks and rocks.

Nerd strengths: Zombies, Star Wars, Video games, Game of Thrones, Tech, cars, British soccer.

Micah Choquette is a self-proclaimed web geek who generally despises the term "nerd." He can hold his own in a conversation about comics or movies with the other Prairie Nerds, but his heart belongs to the internet and his soul was sold long ago to Apple. He routinely follows many of the design and development gurus of the day, soaking in their ideas and putting them to work for the 'World. He's also an avid user and abuser of Social Media, and can be found on Twitter, Facebook and yes, even Google+.

Nerd Strengths: Apple, Coffee, Google, Coffee, Code, Coffee. In that order.

Anna Codutti has been a card-carrying nerd since high school and the beloved academic team. Now merely a pub-trivia ringer, her refined nerd tastes have focused on Buffy (yep, she's still going!), Doctor Who and anything Felicia Day does. Her childhood crush was "TNG's" Wesley Crusher, but now she wants to marry "The Big Bang Theory's" evil Wil Wheaton.

Nerd Strengths: Music blog snobbery, tabletop/party game dominance, and ability to read supernatural young adult novels at lightning speed.

Michael Dambold is a comic fanatic who has been reading Marvel Comics since he was 11. He's read almost every X-Title book in existence. He thinks Jean Grey needs to stay dead. He also has an obsession with Star Trek, Stargate and MST3k. He's a literary nerd, obsessed with works by Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov and Jules Verne.

Nerd strengths: Coffee chugging, X-Men & Marvel Comics, Star Trek, Stargate, X-Files, paranormal mysteries (Bigfoot, etc.), classic sci-fi TV, movies and books.

Chris Moore is not ashamed to be called a Geek. It is who he is first and foremost. While some out there hide from others that they play video games, he proudly displays his love and knowledge of the pastime. He hopes one day to have a collection of games which rivals that of a city library. To this day one of his greatest moments is that he was able to watch and record the original three Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies by sheer luck.

Nerd strengths: Video games and TV.

Jason Powers is the resident geek dad. He is trying hard to raise his kids to be smart, thoughtful nerds just like his Dad raised him. He was brought up on a steady diet of Doctor Who, JRR Tolkien, Douglass Adams, Sherlock Holmes, Vertigo Comics and vintage pulp noir novels. He's been watching shows made by the BBC for so long, he sometimes has a hard time grasping American television. He still enjoys Legos a great deal.

Nerd strengths: British Science Fiction, Star Wars, Sherlock Holmes, X-files, Coffee, Zombies, Space.

James Royal can tell you what Kirby crackle is. His favorite X-Man is Nightcrawler. He owns more than two dozen Star Wars novels. He knows how much damage a magic missile does. His favorite T-shirt features the insignia of Cobra, the ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule the world. He liked the Walking Dead before the Walking Dead was cool.

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