Definition of Steampunk (as Literary Genre)

Literary creation continues to reinvent itself with new subgenres and narrative perspectives. In the case of science fiction, a literary version appeared in the 1980s with a focus renovating and original, steampunk. The cyberpunk subgenre is considered its most direct literary source.

Five characteristics of the steampunk narrative

1- The plot takes place normally in the historical context of Victorian England and at the height of the Industrial Revolution.

2- Technologies often appear outside of your framework and in this sense a deliberate anachronism is provoked.

3- The science fiction narrative of Jules Verne, H.G Wells and Mary Shelley are the main references of this subgenre.

4- The narration it is historical and at the same time uchronic. Thus, the frame of reference is the English nineteenth century, but with a distortion of historical reality (the literary genres that resort to uchrony describe realities of what could have happened in the past).

5- Steampunk works are a combination of technology, fast-paced adventures and a 19th century setting.

The novel science fiction "The Differential Machine" written by William Gibson and Bruce Steling is considered one of the literary peaks of this subgenre

This novel published in 1990 has all the ingredients of steampunk. Thus, it is set in Victorian Britain, a mad genius invents a computer mathematics that is a century ahead of the era computing and a series of real historical figures appear but with a identity different.

Beyond literature

Although the origin of steampunk is in the narrative, its influence is present in the sphere of fashion. Those who follow this trend make up a new urban tribe with its own aesthetic.

They wear clothing that combines various trends: retro-futurism, cyberpunk and Victorian aesthetics. Some of the characteristic elements are the extravagant glasses, the classic hats, the corsets, the vintage umbrellas and some technological adornments that recreate the aesthetics of the 19th century (current technological devices are redesigned with the canons of this current).

It is a fashion that bets on elegance and should not be confused with Gothic fashion

On the big screen there is also the steampunk universe. Three films stand out from the rest: "The city of kids lost "of 1995," Adéle and the mystery of the mummy "of 2010 and" April and the extraordinary world "of 2015. Among the video games inspired by this trend, one stands out, "The order: 1886".

Fotolia photos: Warmtail / Andrey Kiselev