Steampunk

[revolution_grrl]

So you'll have noticed that what was a passive interest in steampunk has become, or at least is becoming, more active. Part of this, of course, is that I've had hundreds of hours to surf the webs lately, and I've found a whole bunch of cool steampunk stuff. In trying to explain steampunk to people, I've found myself kind of fumbling for a concise

Comments

[liddle_oldman]

Here from Fyrenze.

One of the books I had to read when I was getting my MBA was Megatrends, which was hot at the time. One of the trends I did think was interesting -- and I have been sort of tracking it over the decades was presented as "High Tech/High Touch". That is, as technology advanced and stuff got shinier and more Roddenberry, hand-crafted, unique, more primitive and sensual objects would also become more popular. An excellent example is Fyrenze's hand-bound books.

It seems to me that "Steampunk" has quite a large share of that high-touch factor. It appears to be electro-mechanical; often hand-assembled; and is comprehensible (in theory.) It's a Babbage Engine vs. a PC. A PC is a black box; a Babbage Engine glitters and meshes and needs to be cranked (or run by steam!) as it works.

Also, of course, polished wood and brass and mica windows beat the heck out of beige plastic!

[firynze]

It's all about keeping in touch with our past; about remembering the traditional ways when technology seems to divorce us from our surroundings and even the simplest, most integral parts of life - like our food. This is where Slow Food comes from - I think of that as the culinary version of steampunk. Interesting to watch the trend in different areas of life, really.

Also interesting to think of how once-essential skills, like sewing and knitting and spinning and even cooking, are now LEISURE pursuits only attainable by those with enough money/technology/access to have free time...

[baralier]

Because I am evil and serving your addiction rather than helping to break it....

http://www.brassgoggles.co.uk/brassgoggles/
http://paleo-future.blogspot.com/
http://voyagesextraordinaires.blogspot.com/
http://steampunkwallpaper.com/

And I'm pretty sure you're reading this but if you've lapsed you shall have to do penance at the alter of Heterodyne.
http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/