There are several hypotheses on the question of the Punk nature of Steampunk culture . Is it called punk because of its close association with the Cyberpunk genre? Or is it called punk because of the DIY mentality of the people associated with this style? To answer these questions, it is important to first understand a little bit of the history of this style and how it has been adopted by other communities and alternative art forms.
Punk Style originated from the contemporary Punk Movement
History of Punk Style and its subversive codes.
Punk began as a counterculture movement in the mid-1970s in New York and London, with the United Kingdom being the movement's home nation . Punk rock musicians created their own styles of music and incorporated a rebellious attitude into their daily lives. The punk style quickly became a way for young people to express themselves against mainstream society and social norms.
Punk gained popularity and was used as a generic musical label to describe anarchic and irreverent bands such as the Sex Pistols , the Clash and many others. Most punk bands rejected the mainstream elements associated with 1970s rock and created short, fast-paced music. The songs contained harsh chants and the lyrics often contained political and anti-establishment themes. Most bands produced their own recordings and distributed them independently through independent labels.
The punk movement today.
The Sex Pistols' iconic phrase "no future" has never been more relevant, the punk movement has evolved over the years and continues to inspire each generation of young people looking to rebel against social norms.
And despite being born over 40 years ago, the original punk has continued to evolve to include many different subgenres, such as punk rock, ska punk, street punk and many more. Punk remains a symbol of rebellion and nonconformity, and will continue to inspire future generations.
Punk Style, Punk Fashion, the codes of NO FUTURE!
Punk style is more than a style of clothing , more than a fashion or music, it is a way of life and an ideology . Punks dress provocatively to convey a message of rebellion. Punk clothing is often associated with colors like black, studs, chains, leather jackets, and printed t-shirts. Punk shoes are also very recognizable, with leather boots and Doc Martens. Punk style is often associated with a casual and unkempt look. This gave rise to the DIY philosophy that is associated with this genre. Punk has become famous throughout the world and has become a cultural phenomenon.
The creation of Punk fashion and its clothing style
Punk Style for Women: Aesthetic and Cultural Rebellion
Vivienne Westwood can be said to be the leading creator of the punk style and its dress codes . She captured the essence of punk rebellion in her clothing and unified its dress code . Westwood's clothes were provocative, colorful, and incorporated elements such as:
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Studs, safety pins and patches, often on his leather jackets and accessories.
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The street-art style printed t-shirt
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Iconic punk-look shoes such as the "Pirate Boots" and the "Rocking Horse Shoes"
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Corsets, essential to the feminine punk style, decorated with provocative motifs such as the skull or streamers.
She managed to create punk fashion, a style of clothing that became emblematic of the movement. Of course, other designers also borrowed elements of the punk look in their collections. Jean Paul Gaultier is one such designer. He took punk style codes with the kilt or denim to create fashion pieces that were both provocative and elegant. But it is important to remember that these designers were not the pioneers of punk style. Their appropriation of punk fashion was simply a way to capitalize on the popularity of the movement.
Punk Style and Science Fiction Literature
The term "punk" was first used in science fiction literature by Bruce Bethke, who published a short story called "Cyberpunk." Later, William Gibson provided the definitive elements of the genre in his work called "Neuromancer."
In this case, punk functioned as a style of fiction that combined elements such as subversive and pessimistic punk attitudes with cyberspace, cybernetics, and other futuristic technologies. The recurring theme of cyberpunk is usually to visualize a breakdown of society, leading to social disparities and attempts to overthrow the authorities in place.
A look back at the origins of other punk styles
The cyberpunk genre is a vision of punk style projected into a dystopian future. It has often been considered the inspiring force behind many other genres in the science fiction sphere. The most common are biopunk, nanopunk, and of course, steampunk . The term was first used by KW Jeter in the late 1980s. KW Jeter was, at the time, a well-known author in the science fiction community and was known for his cyberpunk works such as Dr. Adder, The Glass Hammer, and many others.
Although the word was borrowed from its famous counterpart, cyberpunk, steampunk literature dates back to the 1870s and 1890s, with the works of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells. These early science fiction novels have been considered precursors to the aesthetic associated with the genre that we know today.
Steampunk Style is not a Fashion but a whole Universe.
Steampunk is a very visual form of particularly appealing fiction, which often takes place around technologies modernized in the industrial age by steam. Going beyond its visual interest, it is its dystopian vision of science, technologies and the world that makes it successful, by criticizing our way of living and consuming, like the punk style precisely. It is one of these rare subgenres of science fiction that has made an appearance in other artistic subcultures such as music , fashion, crafts or even video games .
So, is there Punk in steampunk style?
Now that we have clarified what punk fashion and style was, we can try to identify the intersection point between punk and steampunk. Punks generally identify social disparities and are against social norms. Steampunks are also similar in the sense that they recognize the social disparities of the Victorian era and try to reject the social norms of that time. For example, both men and women dress up as explorers, pirates , air marshals, scientists, vigilantes, etc. This was not the case in the Victorian era where women were generally housewives.
Many steampunk fans also create their own steampunk aliases that they use to escape from their everyday lives. These people not only create original characters, but also have different personality traits when dressing them up. Another point that is closer to the punk style, they use their love for steampunk culture as a way to break free from existing social norms and explore the world from a new perspective.
Apart from this, steam punks are also known for their aptitude for tinkering and creating unique models, sculptures, artworks, etc. They have a die-hard tinkering attitude towards existing technologies and their designs range from creating new inventions to redesigning existing technologies to fit the steampunk aesthetic.
In conclusion, I could say that even though steampunk lacks the brutal and rebellious aesthetic of 1970s punk, it captures its essence through its disregard for social norms and its passionate tinkering attitude.
Thanks for reading, and see you soon for a new article on the retro-futuristic universe.
