cyrano: (Coyote Cinema)
First note: this was an actual steampunk movie. There was enough steampulp to keep it from being a Blade Runner sort of down-mood production, lots of epic action and airships and sword fighting, but also the dark richness and classic conflicts of steampunk. I love the term 'Municipal Darwinism'. It sounds like a very British concept.

I was a little uncertain going in--the trailers said "first in a franchise of YA dystopian films!" in a way that made me fear it was going to be a mediocre cash in attempt. But I really enjoyed myself. The storytelling was good, and the world building was intriguing; there wasn't so much exposition about it as to tire the viewer, and it all felt like it took place in a larger world. But at the same time, it didn't seem to try to push us into an unavoidable sequel. The characters were interesting, even bit players like Tom's friend the probably-a-rebel who was onscreen so little I don't recall his name. Also, there was enough diversity-oriented casting that I noticed it.

All in all, four wags with far too much popcorn if you had to be strictly honest.
cyrano: (Writing)
Okay, here is my hastily written poorly conceived discussion of what Steampunk means to me.
It's inspired by the degree of irritation I experienced reading the Facebook 'Steampunk' page.
It's presented despite the fact that very few people give a solid wet fart about it.

Steampunk is a literary genre based on alternate histories of the Victorian period. Sometimes it involves the American West, but that tends to create entirely new sorts of stories, so I'm setting that aside. Technology is more advanced than in history, and there may be fantastical elements like space travel, humanoid races, or monsters. It's also one of the few literary genres that seems to be developing a wardrobe. (I'm considering a different name for the cos-play aspect; currently NeoVictorian is winning.)

Now to the important part: My opinion.
Steampunk is not about having a pair of goggles. It's not about having a Very Fine Hat.
Steampunk is about the consequences of technology developing faster than our ethics. It's about technology developing faster than our society can adapt. It's about technology wearing away at the gap between classes. It's about technology forcing that gap even wider, and the cracks in the strata that appear when that happens. It's about technology and how it makes you re-examine your humanity, perhaps even fight to maintain it in the face of a world of pistons and gears. It is, as is *all* science fiction, a method for taking today's world, grinding off the serial numbers, giving it half a twist and holding it up to the light. It's no accident that the form became popular at the time that it did.
Jesus. Now I'm all excited, and I want to write.

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