Steampunk is a movement, a creative outlet and an art-form which embraces literature, painting, photography, fashion, music, film and a myriad other avenues of expression. Its origins lie in the first wave of science fiction writing, which arose during the Victorian era, and with early film pioneers such as Marie-Georges-Jean Méliès. At its heart, steampunk fuses the old (particularly Victorian and Edwardian) with futuristic technology, creating a fascinating hybrid which is nether new nor historic. Presented below are ten talents whose work embraces the steampunk aesthetic.
Highly influential German-American film-maker Fritz Lang covered many genres. His career coincided with the birth of popular cinema, running from 1919–1960, during which time his stylish direction helped shape modern film. It is for his early, silent classics that Lang makes this list, with Metropolis (1927) and Woman In The Moon (1929). The former, in particular, with perhaps the first depiction of a robot on-screen, remains a fascinating watch.
The work of photographer Gary Nicholls perfectly demonstrates the steampunk aesthetic, marrying Victorian and Edwardian fashions to outlandish retro technology. His pictures display a painting-like quality, which further adds to the sense of adventure and imagination. Grimy urban streets and fairground attractions merge with gas-powered guns, brass contraptions and cyborg limbs.
Deus Ex Vapor Machina, in their own words, are “a Theatrical Society of Musicians dedicated to Steamy Victorian Couture and Edwardian Opulence!” Their mission is to combine classically-styled music with modern technology, thereby merging the past, present and future. With their retro-future outfits and “stringpunk” music, DEVM are a captivating example of contemporary steampunk in action.
The Cog Is Dead, with tongue firmly in cheek, describe themselves as “a trio of steampunk musicians who came from Victorian England in the year 1893 aboard their marvellous flying time ship.” Founded by John Mondelli, The Cog Is Dead was initially conceived as a studio project, but as their fan-base grew, so did demand for live shows. The Florida-based musicians have released three albums to date, and remain a beloved part of the modern steampunk community.
One of two pioneering writers of science fiction, H G Wells’ (1866–1946) fantastic imagination outpaced the science of his times, creating worlds where space travel, aliens and time machines collided with his contemporary society. Key works include: The Time Machine (1895), The Island Of Doctor Moreau (1896), The First Men In The Moon (1901) and the seminal The Shape Of Things To Come (1933). All four have been translated to film.
French novelist, poet and playwright, Jules Verne (1828–1905) is another writer whose name cannot be omitted from an overview of steampunk. He is most noted for his series of novels, referred to as The Voyages Extraordinaires which includes early examples of classic science fiction. Journey To The Centre Of The Earth (1864), From Earth To The Moon (1865) and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea (1869) are perhaps the most famous of his highly influential works.
American science fiction and fantasy author James Blaylock is often cited as a major influence on contemporary steampunk literature. Inspired by Jules Verne and H. G. Wells, among others, Blaylock’s novel, Homunculus (1986), in particular, is noted for its high importance. Mentored by the great Phillip K. Dick, Blaylock’s works combine the everyday with the extraordinary, often with a humorous edge.
A writer of extraordinary vision (and output), Moorcock is justly famed for his epic Eternal Champion series of novels. Many of his works fuse a fantasy or alternate-reality setting with science fiction technology. See, in particular, Moorcock’s trilogy of novels; A Nomad Of The Time Streams, which feature Edwardian-era British Army Captain Oswald Bastable, and his adventures in a re-imagined version of the 20th century.
American writer Tim Powers (another on this list mentored by Phillip K. Dick), Powers novels often concern “secret histories,” blending factual accounts with supernatural or otherworldly elements. His is perhaps best know for The Anubis Gates (1983), a time-travel fantasy concerning gods and magicians, which jumps between the 1800s and 1980s. As a fascinating aside, Power’s On Stranger Tides, inspired the beloved Monkey Island franchise of video games.
Based in Toronto, Canada, artist and writer Eric Fan has a passion for “ vintage bikes, clockwork contraptions, and impossible dreams.” Fan received formal training at the Ontario College of Art and Design. His work, appropriately, is a mix of traditional and contemporary techniques, using ink or graphite mixed with digital tools. Fan’s art explores a range of ideas, but it is his striking mix of the old and the new which leaps out at the viewer.
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