Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction or science fantasy that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrialsteam-powered machinery. Although its literary origins are sometimes associated with the cyberpunk genre, steampunk works are often set in an alternative history of the 19th century's British Victorian era or American "Wild West".
Steampunk used to be a genre that provided social commentary on the world and society- however, of recent years the commercialism of the genre have diluted the punk aspect of the genre and diluted it back to the romantic aspects of the Victorian era, brass fixtures and goggles. Originally the concept of “punk” came from the concept and ideologies of going against social norms and expressing oneself freely about opposing opinions and values. Steampunk initially focused on the ideas of social commentary and dystopia.
With this in mind when we look at the genre of Steampunk, we use the term punk in regards to the way that characters are going against societies conventions throughout the expression and declaration of an individual’s creativity through their expression of individuality. It is looking at characters chemistry and unorthodox approach to their world within their conformist society.
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