Is Steampunk really “Punk”?  As with all new genres/subcultures, our own dusty Burner one included, there are those who will endeavor to define it in some form or another to “help” the uninitiated better understand.

Over the last half-year, we’ve had the grave misfortune of seeing the following Steampunk 101 article being re-posted to numerous Steampunk sites and forums (click here to read the article we will be criticizing).  While most of it is fairly clear and well written, the author’s conscious decision to dismiss half the genre’s name as ironically inapplicable is preposterous.  I refer, specifically, to this line of his text:

“Where does the punk come in? Ironically, it doesn’t.“

We hoped such an attempt to define steampunk would simply dissipate due to this gross oversight.  Unfortunately it persists to the detriment of all who wish to see the genre reach it’s full potential.  In light of this fact, Dusty Bacon wrote this letter to the articles author:

Mr. Falksen,

The Steampunk 101 article you’ve written is a mostly agreeable introduction to the genre.  I find it rather baffling though that you should completely dismiss the punk aspect of the name in spite of it contributing the very soul of the subculture itself.

I see that you are a historian.  You may not have included any analysis of punk-rock in your studies so here it is in a nutshell.  Punk Rock – borderline criminal youths (read: “punks”) taking radical liberties with rock music/culture that status quo people deem inflammatory in order to act out their rebellious tendencies.

Now here’s a definition of Steampunk which might help you begin to understand how punk could actually fit into the equation.  Steampunk - taking radical liberties with historical facts (mostly those of the steam technology era) in order to re-invent them into the realms of science fiction.

Punk is the devil-may-care, rebellious attitude that necessitates the taking of radical liberties with the status quo.  Without the punk, steampunk would be, at best, historically based fiction.

I could delve further into the rebellious undercurrents of possibility that the steampunk genre provides but hopefully your mind is already beginning to grasp that which it obviously did not when you wrote Steampunk 101.  I consider myself neither a steampunk expert nor an author of fiction, I am also not a historian.  I am however, quite the man about town so perhaps we can connect on that point if nothing else.

With sincerity,     Dusty Bacon of DustyCouture.Com

This letter was sent to the email address of it’s author over four months ago now.  Mr. Falksen has yet to reply.  If you wish to echo these sentiments I recommend you contact him on Twitter (click here for @GDFalksen).

The High Desert Steampunks of Northern Nevada (click here for their Facebook Page) are currently drafting a charter to proclaim their independence from Tor and Mr. Falksen’s tyrannical definition of this genre.  Stay tuned for reports of their secession from ignorance!