My issue with Steampunk

[roseembolism]

While I was reading the book "Court of the Sky", several thoughts crystallized which explained why I don't care for Steampunk. That is, there are specific steampunk stories that I enjoy, such as Girl Genius and Laputa, but there's some things that have been really bugging me about the genre at large, without my really being able to conceptualize them until recently.

It bothers me that a lot of steampunk seems to celebrate the worst elements of Victorian society. Ethnocentricism, Classism, Colonialism, for a start. About the only "ism" that Steampunk doesn't celebrate is sexism, and that in a weird way where the trappings of sexism are highly evident, but the actual sexist attitudes are only lightly touched upon. 

I also have a minor issue with maintaining suspension of disbelief when Steampunk mirrors Victorian society, even in circumstances such as a radically different geography or history. But that's a problem I have with a lot of fantasy fiction, not just Steampunk.  Also, some stories have taken various approaches to avoid both of these problem, such as "Girl Genius", but both of these problems appear to be common in the Steampunk genre. The second issue frankly is minor, but the fact that much of Steampunk seems to be even more reactionary than standard science fiction, and deliberately so, frankly bothers me.  The obsession with velvet, goggles and gears, just seems to be breezing over some really unpleasant context.

Comments

[mindstalk.livejournal.com]

I haven't read much Steampunk. How much does it -- and in what ways -- does it celebrate ethnocentrism etc., as opposed to using the setting and style but ignoring the unpleasant aspects?

[heron61.livejournal.com]

I've avoid most steampunk for exactly this reason. When I look at examples, almost all of it celebrates colonialism, and I'm simply not interested in reading that sort of thing.

[haamel.livejournal.com]

I think it may be that you dislike all bona fide steampunk stories, and like some crossover stories instead. Every time I read Girl Genius, I'm reminded of Kaja's sobriquet "gaslamp fantasy": the effects of the Spark and the various demi-human races smack much more of magic than tech. Laputa has a similar vibe going: the ancient Laputan tech lacks the obvious rivets and steam of a steampunk hoedown (Muska's army aside).