ADVANCED PLACEMENT STEAMPUNK 102
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LAST WEEK WE LEARNT
Steampunk literature is set in or around the Victorian age showcasing science fiction or fantasy technology.
Alternative history stories have always been popular in this genre. The purpose is to take established events and bend and twist them to suit. In effect altering history. Think of mixing the old with the new and modifying modern technology in sophisticated ways.
At this stage, Steampunk has largely come from the American and British culture, with tricklings from France and Japan.
THIS WEEK
Steampunk in Japan. Rising to host imaginative worlds of retro-futurism. Their unique perspectives and creative intelligence encompass a broad range of degrees of Steampunk.
THE STEAMPUNK EVOLUTION.
Japan’s access to different fields of foreign literature, found for the reader, a lack of Japanese characters. They were seen as a remote island, waiting for the arrival of modern civilization.
In 2013 the concept of Steampunk was only beginning to gain recognition in Japan, however, there had been quite a number of films prior that included the brass-Victorian aesthetic, one such film called Steamboy.
Steam-powered castles, archaic-tech guns, ingenious automatons and mechanical dragonflies – there’s nothing like anime when you’re craving a Steampunk fix.
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This film is an Anime. What pray tell does that mean, you may ask? An anime is a style of animated Japanese film or television program. Listen up if you want extra AP credits!
AN anime is an abbreviated pronunciation of Animation in Japan. Shimokawa Oten 下川凹天, Jun’ichi Kouchi 幸内純一, and Seitaro Kitayama’s 北山清太郎 used their combined artistic talents to create the first anime cartoon in 1917.
Anime is usually, but not always, the animated version of popular Manga. Wait up! Manga!… please explain.
Manga means ‘Whimsical Pictures‘ in Japanese. Manga is a Japanese comic.
Trivia – In Japan, more paper is used to print Manga than toilet paper.
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This gentleman Mr. TEZUKA Osamu 手塚 治虫was the most famous manga artist in Japan. He began his Manga revolution in 1947 when he published New Treasure Island. You may remember the popular T.V. series Astro Boy.
Unfortunately, such a great talent’s life was taken too soon and Tezuka died of stomach cancer in 1989.
A new King rose Hayao Miyazaki 宮崎 駿. [image error]Renown film director, producer, screenwriter, animator, author, and manga artist. He attained international acclaim as a masterful storyteller and as a maker of Anime feature films. Spirited Away, Castle in the Sky and The Secret World of Arriety to name but a few. When you have time adjust your goggles, grab yourself an Arbuckle (coffee), and pull up a stump, these films will surely keep you entertained. Steampunk fantasy is the most popular of the Japanese genre to gain attention.
JAPANESE STEAMPUNK FASHIONISTA SHINDIG
Steampunk style in Japan is distinctively cute with elements of Gothic. A shindig held every few months called Steam Garden brings S’punks from all over Japan. Steam Garden endeavours to use the 19th century as a backdrop into a fictional parallel world, featuring adventurers and outlandish technology; the story encourages participation. The next event is Hunters Fair. Here’s the link – I’m sure you’ll find it fascinating.
I hope this conservative look into the paradox we call Steampunk has helped you gain a better understanding of the concept, the sub-culture, films and more.
