At the intersection of history, fantasy and technology sits steampunk.
Originally a subgenre of sci-fi, steampunk is notable for featuring steam-powered machinery rather than advanced technology. And while the notion of steam power may sound awfully old school, steampunk’s belief system, focusing on the creativity of the individual, self-sufficiency, support of small and local businesses, and respect for artisanship and traditional materials, could come straight out of the millennial handbook.
The Science Museum of Virginia’s new touring exhibit, “Discover Steampunk,” offers a curated look at how the thinkers and makers of the 19th century took inspiration from the science fiction stories of the 1800s to envision the future. The optimistic nature of steampunk attempts to figure out the inner working of things to make them better, coincidentally, the same principle on which the scientific method works.
The result is a perfect marriage of science and art.
Victorian-era writers were a major influence on later authors of steampunk, presenting a jumping off point for the exhibition. Visitors can explore electricity with Mary Shelley, plumb the ocean depths with Jules Verne, witness the dawn of photography with George Eastman, track the development of household appliances with Isaac Singer and even time travel with H. G. Wells, the man who envisioned clocks that could move us forward and backward in time.
Retrofuturism as an element of steampunk envisions how we think the past viewed the future. Given the Victorian era’s unenlightened attitudes about women, people of color and the LGBTQ+ community, it’s only fitting that today’s steampunk authors choose to break with stereotyping and historical reality by using those groups in roles not possible in the 19th century.
Goggles, gears, vests and clocks, all staples of steampunk, show up in contemporary interpretations of steampunk fashion in the exhibit. A steampunk wedding dress is crafted of fabric custom-printed with the couple’s marriage vows and embellished with antique clock parts and bead embroidery. Uncomfortably heavy? Probably. One of a kind? For sure.
Black platform wedding booties are covered in bead embroidery and over 100 antique objects related to the shoe industry in Brockton, Massachusetts, the largest shoe manufacturing city in the world a century ago. Looking at the highly decorative shoes, a visitor observes, “I know a couple of women who’d kill for those.”
Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” not only became an instant classic when it was published in 1818, it created a new genre of gothic horror. By imagining a world in which we had the power to create life, she asked questions about what we do with new things we build and what our responsibility is when we have the power to make something.
To tie in, the part of the exhibition devoted to Shelley provides ample opportunities for electrical experimentation a la Frankenstein. Visitors can create a human chain to connect the handprints on either side of the arches to see the electrical current produced by flowing through the bodies or create their own static electricity.
Burning Man, the week-long large-scale annual desert event focused on community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance is known for its iconic steampunk vehicular creations, which are called Mutant Wonders. Many, including the Golden Mean Snail Car inspired by “Dr. Doolittle,” and the Airpusher Art Car are pictured in the exhibition.
A prime example of how steampunk craftsmanship redefines materials to create a collaborative homage to visions of the Space Age before it even began is the Raygun on display. Repurposing objects and items that are as far from weaponry manufacturing as possible, its creators have fashioned an entirely harmless steampunk weapon with a lot of style and whimsy.
Likewise, the Zeppelin Flight Attendant outfit created by Kij Greenwood and debuted at the Clockwork Alchemy steampunk convention in San Francisco, is bound to amuse visitors. The heavy, ornamental full-length coat and dress are mere background for the two colorful tanks the attendant wears, one offering tea and the other air.
So, who’s going to get into “Discover Steampunk?” Kids eight and up will likely enjoy experimenting with the more than 20 interactive machines inspired by the ideas of 19th-century innovators. Parents can appreciate how thoroughly S.T.E.A.M. is woven throughout the exhibition, making for an engaging lesson for school aged children. Science fiction fans will have the opportunity to savor the origins of the genre and its far-reaching impact on modern culture.
And because steampunk is based in a philosophy of an ever-changing, ever-building and a nearly always optimistic way of looking at and improving the world, the exhibit’s appeal is almost universal. Between the unique Victorian-inspired aesthetic of the exhibition and the concepts of ingenuity, collaboration, resilience and creative problem solving it showcases, “Discover Steampunk” is fascinating on many levels.
Perhaps most intriguingly, it imagines how different the past might have been had the future come earlier.
“Discover Steampunk” runs through Aug. 18 at the Science Museum, 2500 W. Broad Street, smv.org. Entry is included with the admission fee for the museum. To learn more, visit the website here.
