Brilliant or bizarre?

To outsiders, steampunk seems odd, crazy even. What would inspire grown men and women to dress in Victorian gowns or top coats and then adorn themselves with cogs, coils and cartridges? Why would they gather to play games like teapot racing or carry weapons that resemble space guns? Steampunk is a genre of Victorian sci- fi followers who take themselves back in time and then imagine inventions of the future. The term was coined in the 1980s by author KW Jeter, a US sci- fi writer known for his dark themes. But aspects can be traced to the works of HG Wells ( The Time Machine) and Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The Victorians were masters of invention and steam power revolutionized almost every aspect of life. They also imagined submarines, space travel and robotic life. Steampunk is a re- imagining of the 19th century with a more modern view of where science is heading. Inventions and costumes are limited only by imagination. The genre appeals to many people: those who love the Victorian period; those who love the challenge of re- imagining 19th- century technology; and those who enjoy the adventure of becoming characters with names and different personalities. The community takes part in festivals, balls, vaudeville events and parades. In 2016, Oamaru – commonly accepted as steampunk world HQ – made it into the Guinness Book of Records for the largest gathering of steampunks in the world. Weta Workshop, of Lord of the Rings fame, has donated artwork and statues for a permanent steampunk exhibition (see steampunkoamaru.co. nz).