In this article, we will return to the essence of the retrofuturistic genre with an author who has certainly been a reference in this field for a long time. How could Jules Verne have influenced Steampunk even before the invention of the term and its official creation? ? We will see how its emergence is fundamentally linked to the literature and literary criticism of the famous writer... OR NOT .
Jules Verne, from science fiction to scientific novel
Who is Jules Verne?
Let's start by clarifying and putting the author in context. Jules Verne is a French writer who made his mark during the 19th century. He wrote notable works that received many favorable reviews from the literary community. He mainly produced works devoted to science fiction and adventure novels.
In the field, Jules Verne's writings were called "novels of anticipation" by specialists. He was the first to seize technological advances, numerous at his time, to integrate them into crazy stories. Thus " Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea " or "From the Earth to the Moon" seem almost credible at the dawn of the industrial revolution.
He was born in February 1928 in Nantes in Loire-Atlantique. The character was very interested in steam technology since it was very fashionable at the time. He took advantage of this to seize many discoveries of his time to give them an unusual panache, using the adventures of his favorite heroes. Jules Verne simply got ahead of his time in order to surprise his peers of the 19th century.
How many books did Jules Verne write?
Jules Verne wrote a series of 54 novels called "Voyages Extraordinaires". Including his other novels, short stories, plays and song lyrics, it is estimated that he wrote about 70 books in total.
Extraordinary Journeys: From the Center of the Earth to the Moon
In any case, the man reflects a certain paradox in many ways. Jules Verne mainly studied literature during his youth. His passion for technology seems to have appeared naturally, out of nowhere. During his lifetime, he was very interested in technical inventions and technological engineering using a shrewd eye. Jules Verne managed to subtly play on both sides by brilliantly marrying science fiction and literature. The singularity of the character lies largely on this point. This is why Jules Verne wrote several successful science fiction novels. The author possessed a rare talent that allowed him to surprise and make the vast majority of literature enthusiasts dream.
The career of Jules Verne
It fits into a certain logic since the character was attracted to literature very early on. Obtaining his literary baccalaureate was a pivotal moment in his career. Jules Verne settled in Paris, in the capital, to study law at the University. He then became a stockbroker during the years that followed. The character's legendary curiosity then led him to launch into the theater; he was supported in his approach by the Dumas, father and son. It was quite natural that the young Jules Verne of the time, occupied the position of secretary of the lyric theater until 1854. He then worked with Michel Carré to have many plays performed at the theater.
However, Jules Jules Verne's literary career did not take off immediately without a hitch. Several publishers initially rejected his manuscripts, apparently not convinced of their relevance at the time. Fortunately, his writings eventually landed in the hands of Pierre-Jules Hetzel. Oddly enough, this well-known publisher in the field agreed to publish the manuscript of good old Jules. Pierre-Jules Hetzel had vision in being convinced by the emergence of a new audience in which young people would occupy a preponderant place.
He took advantage of this period of his life to establish a bond with Pierre-Jules. The famous publisher would collaborate with the writer for a long time. From this partnership, they published a manuscript '' Voyage en l'air '' confirming Jules Verne's interest in the production of literary works. To seal the collaboration, Pierre-Jules Hetzel had articulated his conviction around Jules Verne's ability to produce a great popular novel. The publication of the novelistic writing '' Five weeks in a balloon '' was a crucial step in the partnership between the two characters (Jules Verne and Pierre-Jules Hetzel).
Jules Verne enjoys his years in Paris
He took the opportunity to meet interesting people in the world of literary production and criticism. It seems that the character has literature in his blood. His meeting with Alexandre Dumas fils marked a turning point in his career. The two personalities collaborated together to make a clear contribution to the evolution of literary productions. Thus, they corrected ''Les pailles cassées'' which is a comedy play written just before their meeting. Jules Verne also took advantage of this moment of enlightenment to publish short stories in the magazine Musée des familles.
The success of Jules Verne
Jules Verne's manuscripts managed to establish themselves with his publisher and a public eager for his novels. The success was such that the publishing adventure between the writer and his mentor Pierre-Jules Hetzel lasted about 40 years. Together, they published a total of 63 novels, sealing a work initiated with care. Inspired by the quality of his protégé's literary works, the idea Pierre-Jules Hetzel had a brilliant idea that would bring Jules Verne's literary career to the top.
Indeed, he created the prestigious collection ''Les Voyages extraordinaires'' devoted exclusively to the literary works of the writer. This incredible collection stood out for its unique binding. Most of the novels of novels written by Jules Verne were published there, contributing to their success. The guiding principle of the novels was clearly defined, namely '' an invitation to travel and a change of scenery ''. The collaboration with Pierre-Jules Hetzel allowed Jules Verne to transcend himself. He managed to refine his style and then invent a new literary genre. Of course, the '' scientific novel '' created widespread amazement in the community and a craze that few authors have aroused.
Here is a list of Jules Verne's top 10 bestsellers that have captivated generations of readers.
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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1870): This novel follows the adventures of Captain Nemo and the crew of the Nautilus, a revolutionary submarine, as they explore the depths of the oceans.
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Around the World in Eighty Days (1873): This story tells the story of Phileas Fogg, an English gentleman who bets that he can travel around the world in just 80 days , accompanied by his servant Passepartout.
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Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864): This novel follows Professor Otto Lidenbrock and his nephew Axel, who discover an ancient manuscript revealing the existence of a passage to the center of the Earth and decide to venture there.
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From the Earth to the Moon (1865): This novel tells the story of a group of men who decide to build a giant cannon to send a manned projectile to the Moon.
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The Mysterious Island (1874): This novel follows the adventures of five castaways who are stranded on a desert island after fleeing the American Civil War by balloon.
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Michael Strogoff (1876): This novel tells the story of a courier of the Tsar of Russia who must face many dangers to deliver a secret message across Siberia.
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The Children of Captain Grant (1868): This novel follows the adventures of Mary and Robert Grant, who set out to find their missing father, Captain Grant, after finding a message in a bottle.
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Five Weeks in a Balloon (1863): This novel follows Dr. Samuel Fergusson, who, accompanied by his two companions, attempts to cross the African continent in an airship.
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Robur the Conqueror (1886): This novel tells the story of Robur, a mysterious engineer who builds a revolutionary aircraft, the Albatross, and uses it to dominate the world.
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The Castle of the Carpathians (1892): This novel mixes mystery, adventure and science fiction in telling the story of a haunted castle located in the Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania.
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea or the birth of the steam-powered future... Steampunk...
As you now know, Steampunk Aesthetics is fundamentally linked to Jules Verne. Indeed, the author describes a world full of inventions, as if the future could be filled with objects ahead of their time and a multitude of elements that are now found in Steampunk. It seems that Jules Verne 's literary works have contributed significantly to the understanding of the world during the decades that have followed. René Barjavel confirms this analysis in one of his cult phrases: '' Without him, our century would be stupid ''. He is none other than one of Jules Verne's most faithful disciples. Undoubtedly, the native of Nantes is an important writer of the 21st century.
In Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, the advanced technology of the submarine, the Nautilus, and many elements of the novel such as sea monsters have become symbols of retrofuturism. We have lost count of the versions of Steampunk Nautilus or mechanical octopuses (a fetish animal of steampunk).
The irony of Steampunk or uchronia in uchronia.
But be careful : if you have read the book, you know that the description of the submarine is quite far from what we imagine in the collective imagination. And for good reason, the Disney film adaptation has something to do with it.
The Nautilus is presented here differently from the novel, with a Victorian interior and an engine room totally inspired by the industrial revolution. Materials such as rivets and bolts are not described or imagined by Verne. Thus we could say that the decades that separate us from the original work have been influenced by a multitude of works that have transformed the collective imagination.
The Disney version of Nautilus ultimately has such a steampunk look that one could say that it was the influences and vision of the 50s and 60s of Victorian aesthetics that prevailed. It replaced Jules Verne's description and defined the Victorian retrofuturistic genre before the arrival of the word "steampunk".
Coming back to Jules Verne, he was on the lookout for the first scientific advances of his time, which he successfully integrated into his literary works. He wrote novels that gave prominence to scientific progress by letting his imagination run wild. Jules Verne's literary and artistic talent in this universe was thus attested by three notable productions: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1869), From the Earth to the Moon (1865), and before that Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864). These masterpieces of anticipatory literature greatly fascinated readers. He laid the foundations of credible science fiction, documented and inspired by the most recent discoveries. The breath of change of scenery and travel, linked to talented writing, inspired generations, and of course the future steampunk movement.
Jules Verne's Legacy in Steampunk
Even today, Steampunk remains a subgenre of science fiction literature. The inventive and daring fashion makes the difference and seduces all generations without distinction, from the youngest to the seniors. Steampunk can be difficult to understand for men of the contemporary era because of the multiple subtleties that surround the concept. However, it is enough to take a few tours of the significant events of the past to better understand its influences. Steampunk refers to a literary movement integrating intrigues dating from the 19th century, coinciding with the first industrial revolution. Steam technology and coal were particularly in vogue at that time. We refer in particular to the beginning of the industrial revolution during which the interest in wood, leather and metals was obvious (bronze, copper, brass or silver).
Moreover, Jules Verne's stories provide some answers on this aspect since these literary works directly immerse the reader in the heart of the industrial society of the 19th century. The expression "Steampunk" is closely linked to cyberpunk, whose emergence dates back to 1984 according to the stories on the subject. The popularization of Steampunk was made possible by the immense contribution of the fields of music, cinema, drawing and the " Do it yourself " movement. The Steampunk concept allows the authenticity of artisanal creations to be revealed.
All this resonates with the audacity and inventiveness of Jules Verne's novels. Even more impressive, Steampunk has embellished the author's work , and the vision of his inventions. Each adaptation of the works of the great Jules is now influenced by the movement that adds its paw, so much so that as with the egg or the chicken, we no longer know who influenced the other!
But once again, be careful : Jules Verne is not the only one who can be considered the father of Steampunk. We can easily cite HG Wells or Albert Robida . It was in France that Douglas Fetherling had clarified the definition of Steampunk, namely in the preface to Futurs anciens in 1999. As a reminder, the preface in question is entitled '' The past is the future of man '' which has met with great success among historians.
The concept of Steampunk has been influenced by several trends from successive eras. The Steampunk aesthetic has undergone some changes by incorporating certain historical events. Steampunk has drawn a lot of inspiration from three fairly symbolic periods in history:
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From 1760: The Industrial Revolution in England
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From 1861 to 1865: the American Civil War (United States)
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From 1871 to 1914: The Belle Époque
When exploring Steampunk fashion with a discerning eye, it is common to see mechanical components made of cogs and gears , acting as accessories for costumes and clothing. This is followed by a few touches of modernity, giving an admirable elegance to the rendering of the looks. Faced with this understanding of the concept, a certain number of questions naturally arise. The first question then concerns how to proceed. Revisiting the past as if the future had arrived there earlier implies a transformation of the historical events that have taken place. This mechanism then leads to the emergence of a parallel reality or uchronia . To explain it simply. A Steampunk novel takes place in contemporary times, as it would have been if the event evoked had actually occurred.
Simply put, Steampunk is a genre of science fiction that revisits the past in a completely original way. Specialists often refer to Jules Verne and Steampunk to easily explain the concept. The approach associated with this concept makes it as if the future had happened earlier.
And these influences refer to Jules Verne perhaps?
For a long time, the Steampunk movement seemed to compete with the Gothic movement in a not so distant era. There are indeed points of convergence between these two fashion trends, hence the emergence of this encroachment of one on the other. The birth of the steampunk movement was part of a certain logic. It brought together a relatively large community of creators. The concept's notoriety was reinforced thanks to the immense contribution of these dedicated characters who animated the movement. It was thus common to see parades of automatons, exhibitions of objects and cosplay to flesh out steampunk as a whole. At the beginning, it must be believed that initiatives multiplied to gather support around the concept. The result is clear since steampunk has entered people's culture. The movement was widely welcomed with enthusiasm.
It is only logical to see today the existence of many subcultures attached to the original steampunk movement. Added to this is the emergence of several conventions on the theme of steampunk. The steampunk movement is mainly encountered during cultural events or events related to history. However, what mainly arouses the curiosity of the participants is none other than the creation of disguises and cosplay. The discerning eyes take advantage of these events to delight in the most romantic components of Victorian fashion. As you can imagine, clockwork mechanisms naturally occupy a place of honor.
Steampunk allows us to revisit the past
Steampunk offers the opportunity to revisit the past in a very subtle way with a touch of refinement. The Steampunk style refers to the emerging fashion of subcultures that originated in the 80s. This original look conveys a trend that goes against the fashion coinciding with the digital age. It subtly combines its playful and intriguing sides. Steampunk offers women the opportunity to create mind-blowing outfits between punk, gothic and Victorian for a moment, by sporting very original Steampunk creations. It also allows them to wear trendy and timeless looks, without imposing a limit of age, gender or budget.
The inventors' creations have served as a guideline for many contemporary authors to perpetuate the Steampunk style. And we warmly salute the success of some in this direction. They talk about the Belle Époque by evoking the significant historical events that have remained associated with the Steampunk concept. The most committed of them often think of the Henri Giffard steam aerostation, known as the ''Tsar''. Undeniably, the other Steampunk emblem is the machine of John Cockerill's steelworks. It is neither more nor less than the hearth of the industrialization of Belgium. Putting the Steampunk approach into practice is therefore a subtle art reserved for the most creative and receptive artists.
The retro futuristic genre requires a deep understanding of the current and past worlds to subtly merge the two. In fact, the steampunk movement seems to predict what the contemporary world would have been like in other circumstances. This refers in particular to a pattern in which the inventors of the steampunk movement would have been right about technology. In short, it is quite abstract as an approach, but it fits perfectly with the creative imagination of the artists behind its initiation and its perpetuation. For lovers of old-fashioned clothing styles, wearing costumes decorated with metal decorations is popular. It is common to see vintage clocks and art deco with gears or cogs .
In conclusion
With an innovative concept in France, Steampunk Store offers everyone the opportunity to subtly revisit the past. The approach implemented cleverly combines the real and the abstract, but also the best of the past to improve our daily future. Steampunk is a unique concept that has managed to cross time to assert itself even more in the 21st century. Far from being trivial, steampunk has established itself among a large community of enthusiasts. The concept has gone beyond the simple framework of a subgenre of science fiction and fantasy. In addition to fashion, most cultural media such as literature, music and cinema have adopted the steampunk style to enrich themselves further.
HG Wells: The Father of Science Fiction
I hope I have enlightened you on the truth of Jules Verne's influence on Steampunk. Although he laid undeniable foundations and the movement remains associated with his literary works, many of his contemporaries also have their part. It is also fascinating to see how the collective imagination can be influenced and distorted over time, such as the uchronies that we appreciate as fashion enthusiasts or history buffs.
Thank you for reading, and see you soon for a new article on the exciting world of Steampunk!
