Steampunk, Makers, Neo-Victorian Futurism & 21st Century Leadville June 25, 2014 Friends of Lake County Public Library
Steampunk makers, neo victorian futurism and leadville's 21st century future
May 26, 2015
Steampunk + Makers/DIY culture. A third industrial revolution. Exploring the steampunk and maker sub-culture through the lens of a focus on economic development in a small Victorian town.
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Steampunk, Makers, Neo-Victorian Futurism
& 21st Century Leadville
June 25, 2014
Friends of Lake County Public Library
Foreword
This presentation was prepared and presented at the request of the Friends of the Lake County Library on June 25, 2014
in hopes of sparking a community conversation about the tourism and economic development possibilities of
Steampunk and the Maker/DIY movements for Leadville,
a small Victorian mining town high in the Rockies of Colorado.
Um, What IS Steampunk?
Fashion and Fun Think “Futuris-c Neo-‐Victorian” with gadgets, goggles, gears, balloons,
octopi, steam-‐powered -me machines…
Philosophy/Culture/Economics
Philosophical links/cultural connec-ons to Maker/DIY/ Arts and CraGs movements
What Is Steampunk?
Literary Genre
Cultural Movement
Fashion Trend
Neo-‐Victorian Futurism
Techno-‐savvy, DIY (do-‐it-‐yourself), crea-ve, op-mis-c
A nostalgia for a past
that never was
Steampunk Is. . .
Victorian aesthe-cs/Industrial age technology
An--‐establishment/ DIY, crea-ve, self-‐expressive
Steam Punk
Steampunk Is. . .
A design and fashion aesthe-c
“A movement, not a costume”
Fun and Fashion Counter-‐Cultural Movement
Vs.
Literature – Science Fiction
1980s “Steampunk” Science Fiction Emerges
Steampunk vs. Cyberpunk
Cyberpunk: dystopian, pessimis-c Steampunk: utopian, op-mis-c
posits mankind can overcome these problems and achieve higher ideals,
relishes idea that technology can make things beSer, and does it with style
Themes of both: • social disorder • takeover by
machines • technological
change
1990s – Fashion – Neo-Victorian
Hats
Goggles
Corsets
Gadgets
Steampunk fashion genres*
aesthete inventor
adventure seeker eclec-c
*Per Hannah Rothstein, fashion writer for @modcloth, drawing on Libby Bullock, Diana Vick, G.D. Falksen
Aesthete
Female • Victorian upper class • Elegance • Period-‐accurate Victorian dress: bustles, tucks, ruffles, lace
• High buSon laced boots • Complex hairstyle • Masculine hats, -ny hats • Cut-‐off fingerless gloves • Corset, inside or out • Parasols and fans
Male • Victorian upper class • Elegance • Period accurate fine wools and silks • Top hat, fine derby • Officer uniforms • Victorian-‐era suit or tux • BuSon shoes and spats • Fine brass weaponry
Aristocrats, dandies, ci.zens, officers “brainstorming infernal machines over cigars and brandy”
Aesthete
Aesthete
Aesthete
Inventor
Female and Male—more unisex, u;litarian a<re • Makers, DIY aficionados, craGspeople • U-litarian • Lots of straps, pockets, containers, belts, aprons • It’s all about the gadgets and accessories • Tinkerer’s tools • Rayguns and jet packs and mechanical arms • Goggles. Really amazing goggles
Mad scien.st, .nkerer, gadgeteer, miner “always with one ear to the music of maker culture” Focus point of steampunk’s DIY and maker energy
Time Magazine 12/14/2009
Steampunk: Reclaiming Tech for the Masses – Why steampunk is the subculture of the moment “…steampunk is brass and wood and leather. Steampunk isn’t mass produced; it’s bespoke and unique, and if you don’t like it, you can .nker with it .ll you do.”
Inventor – Art and design/Maker
Fully func-onal steampunked Apple computer created by steampunk Datamancer Richard “Doc” Nagy “contraptor, technical ar.st, and jack*** of all trades. I don’t just build products, I create heirlooms.”
Inventor -- Jetpack
Inventor – Mechanical Arms
Adventurer
Female and Male – more unisex explorer, aviator, fantasy pirate a<re • Fond of khaki color, linen and leather • Boots and leather gloves • Jodhpurs and knickerbockers and kilts • Pith helmets • Goggles (aviator) • Compasses (explorer, airship pirates) • Bomber jackets and military aviator jackets • Excellent weaponry and ray guns • Pirate fantasy wear
Explorers, aviators, airship pirates “the embodiment of steampunk fantasy”
Explorer
Aviators and Airship captains
Airship Pirates
Eclectics
Female • Lolita goth • Belly dance pants • Corseted kimonos • “scrappy craGitude” • Re-‐invented Victorian • Destroyed Victorian • Inside out Victorian • Dickens Victorian
Male • Hunter with fine weapons • Eastern turbans and robes • Punk look • Lots of leather • Lots of gadgetry • Lots of weaponry
Hunters, Lolitas, Far East, Scalliwags, Punks “the aesthe.c outliers of steampunk culture”
Anything goes; DIY crea.vity plus reuse/recycle/re-‐invent is prized
Eclectics
What Is Steampunk? Literary Genres
Music, Theatre and Movies
Art, Design, Maker Products
Pop Culture
Makers & DIY & Sustainability Movements
Fashion Trend
Global fashion designers referencing Steampunk • John Galliano for Chris;an Dior Spring 2010, corsets, top hats, flowing fabrics, layers of lace
• Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer 2013 runway show in Paris, updated version of classical Victorian looks
• Prada Fall/Winter 2012, heavily tailored steampunk suits
2000s – Runway Fashion
Tulsa Community College Presents ‘Agamemnon
April, 2014 “’Agamemnon’ Goes Steampunk. An ancient tragedy gets a semi-‐modern makeover, as the Tulsa Community College Theatre Department brings a steampunk altude to the look of its produc-on…”
Steampunk Movies
Royal Caribbean Steampunk Cruise
New York Times March 14, 2014
“Steampunks At Sea”
“The appeal of all of this, Mr. Falksen said, was that Steampunk culture provides a way to rebel against the tenacious informality of the contemporary moment.
‘People like the elegance and the manners,’ he went on. ‘It caters to their taste for sophis;ca;on and gives them a stronger sense of self.’”
El Pulpo Mecanico, at Burning Man 2011
Steampunk Events?!? Why, Yes, Indeed!
Steampunk regionalism
East Coast – High Victorian
tea party
San Francisco/West Coast –
DIY, Maker Faire
Texas/Southwest/Rocky Mountains –
Wild West, Gold Rush
Atlanta (Dragoncon)/ South East – Civil War
reenactment
Steampunk & Colorado
� Victor, Colorado Steampunk Fes-val. Popula-on: 397. We can take ‘em!
� “Colorado Steampunks” Facebook: 1,417+ members
� Ac-ve Meetups for Steampunks in Denver, CS � Blogger Kondra Seibert lists Colorado as the
“#1 Steampunk Vaca-on Des-na-on” based on our statewide Victorian-‐era history, museums, balloon rides, Anomalycon Steampunk conven-on (1500+ aSendees) and ac-ve Steampunk communi-es, and yes, Leadville’s train
Music – Abney park
Even MickeY…
Comics
Justin Bieber
December, 2011 Steampunk-‐themed “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” Christmas video. Terrified commiSed steampunks everywhere. Did the young Canadian kill Steampunk?!!!
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2004-‐01-‐04 -‐ 2004-‐01-‐10
2005-‐12-‐04 -‐ 2005-‐12-‐10
2007-‐11-‐04 -‐ 2007-‐11-‐10
2009-‐10-‐04 -‐ 2009-‐10-‐10
2011-‐09-‐04 -‐ 2011-‐09-‐10
2013-‐08-‐04 -‐ 2013-‐08-‐10
Google Trends -‐ Steampunk
steampunk
Steampunk Peaking?
Jus-n Bieber Video
January 14, 2013
“IBM predicts that ‘steampunk,’ a sub-‐genre inspired by the clothing, technology and social mores of Victorian society, will be a major trend to bubble up, and take hold of the retail industry.” • From 2009 to 2012, 11-‐fold increase in steampunk social chaSer • 63% of social users discussing steampunk are under 30
IBM Predicts…Fashion’s Biggest Trend 2013-2015
Late 2000s and Beyond: (Counter)- Cultural Movement
Fun and Fashion – 90% • Fashion • Neo-‐Victorian design • Cosplay (“Costume Play”) • Conferences • Cruises • Music • Movies • Games • Art • Genre fic-on
Philosophy, Economics and Poli-cs – 10% • Makers • DIY (Do It Yourself) • Values craGsmanship over mass produc-on • Design-‐focus, authen-c self-‐expression • Tech-‐savvy, digital -nkerers • Hackerspaces, shared workspaces • Environmentally sensi-ve, green, upcycling • “Share Economy” collabora-ve consump-on • Redistribu-on markets • Peer-‐to-‐peer crowdfunding
Intel’s Futurism Research
Intel: What we learned “We came out with an opinion…this subculture means something is going on…History as an on-‐ramp to the future…A third industrial revolu-on” • Steampunk is the -p of the iceberg
• Beyond playing with Victoriana • Tinker Evangelist • Play with the past. Wit + Humor + Technology • Transforming maSer into ideas
• People want to be ac-ve par-cipants in our future, to use stories to design the future we want to live in, to take charge of our future
• Steampunk/making/hacking = what is the future we want to design? • People want a different rela-onship with their technology • Big Three on future of technology, technology with a sense of
Humor History
Humanity
Physicality of steampunk
• Not an--‐technology, but nostalgic • Steampunk, making, hacking LOVES technology, it happens IN technology • Making (Maker Faire) • Hacking (hacker spaces, shared workspaces, opensource design) • Par-cipatory and face-‐to-‐face community: Burning Man, Maker Faires, conven-ons, hackerspaces • A culture with iden-fiable signifiers
Technology: 3d printing
• Customize and create your own experience based on a mass/elite design…3D prin-ng is an enabler • Religion of steampunk is making • DNA of steampunk is open-‐source, encourages par-cipa-on, encourages making things more human • Steampunk objects are named -‐-‐ someone made this • Makerbot and thingaverse – devices + community + par-cipa-on
Steampunk philosophy
“To many of us, steampunk is so much more than a simple aesthe-c. It’s a philosophy for life….a commitment to self-‐sufficiency and the crea-vity of the individual, support of small and local businesses, respect of ar-sanship and tradi-onal materials are core steampunk concepts. Hardcore steampunk enthusiasts tend towards a longing to downsize the material aspects of their lives, while simultaneously demanding more func-on, beSer design and roman-c execu-on of the objects they choose to have around them. In fact you might say that the steampunk philosophy could be summed up in this golden rule:
‘Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beauBful‘ Guess who said that? William Morris, the Victorian era designer and founder of the [1860s] Arts and CraGs Movement.”
-‐-‐ Geekmom.com
The Punk Point of View
“Too much of what passes as steampunk, denies the punk. Punk in all its guises. Punk – the fuse used for ligh-ng cannons. Punk – the downtrodden and dirty. Punk – the aggressive do it yourself ethic….We laugh at experts and consult moth eaten tomes of forgoSen possibili-es….We are a community of mechanical magicians enchanted by the real world and beholden to the mystery of possibility. We do not have the luxury of nice-es or the possession of politeness for we are rebuilding the yesterday and ensuring our tomorrow.”
-‐Professor Calamity on www.myrias.de/koops/gothic
What is a Maker Faire?
An event created by Make magazine to “Celebrate arts,
craGs, engineering, science projects and the Do-‐It-‐Yourself
mindset.”
Steampunk and Maker Faire
Maker FAires
Maker Movement—Still Rising
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"Maker Movement" Google Trends
Related TechNology trends --connected by philosophy
• “Share economy,” peer-‐to-‐peer and collabora-ve consump-on, as in Uber, Airbnb, TaskRabbit, Waze, Zipcar, Wheelz • Redistribu-on markets, as in Freecycle, Kashless, BuyMyWardrobe • Crowdfunding to support crea-ve and non-‐profit-‐oriented ventures, as in Kickstarter and Indiegogo
Enabling technologies and pla~orms for par-cipatory crea-on and DIY efforts
Leadville: We are accidental Steampunks and makers
-‐ Boom Days Mosey compe.tors
“[Leadville] Community Again Celebrates Its Heritage With Miner’s Ball” – Leadville Herald, February 2014
No-ce we already… � Love to wear Victorian ou~its � Boast a rich Victorian legacy � Live in the last untouched
major old mining town � Think mining engineers are
very cool � Merit official Na-onal Historic
Landmark District status with 50+ significant Victorian buildings
� Hold Library of Congress Local Legacy of Na-onal Interest status for Boom Days
� Have our own Victorian train
Spiced up with authentic gunfighters!
…and freely indulge our passion for mining exploits and heavy machinery – Boom Days Mining Events
Our Lovely Ladies in Victorian Garb!
Things Steampunk Folks Like to Do…
� Dress up in Neo-‐Victorian ou~its,with steampunk gadgets, guns and goggles
� ASend high tea service and absinthe tas-ngs � Ride on period trains � Build mechanical monsters � Compete in Steampunk costume compe--ons � ASend events with costumed Steampunk folk � Buy Victorian-‐era stuff they can steampunk-‐ize � Socialize with Steampunk folk in a period bar � ASend panels on Steampunk topics � Dance at Steampunk costume balls � Watch Steampunk-‐themed movies � ASend Steampunk gadget-‐making workshops � Tour Victorian-‐era museums, especially those
with gadgets, gears, engineering, mining…
Ideas For the fashion and fun steampunk tourist
• A touch of Steampunk flavor in our local Victorian/Old West events
• Maker Faire (local craGs, community market)
• Airbnb (collabora-ve consump-on)
• Steampunk Meetups • Steampunk events
• Victorian – Steampunk Ball • Train ride • Absinthe tas-ngs • Victorian high tea • Parades and promenades • Graveyard tour/paranormal events (think Poe)
• Workshops for makers and craGspeople
For the commiUed cultural movement steampunk
• Openness to young crea-ves and micro-‐entrepreneurs— • aSract with shared workspaces
• support for micro-‐enterprises • Maker Faire • Leadville Community Market
The End
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