What is Cyberpunk/Steampunk?
- Thread starter ethaninja
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You could have just used Wikipedia.
Guess i'll do it for you since you are obviously incapable.
Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, alternate history, and speculative fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s.[1] Specifically, steampunk involves an era or world where steam power is still widely used?usually the 19th century and often Victorian era Britain?that incorporates prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy. Works of steampunk often feature anachronistic technology or futuristic innovations as Victorians may have envisioned them; in other words, based on a Victorian perspective on fashion, culture, architectural style, art, etc. This technology may include such fictional machines as those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne or real technologies like the computer but developed earlier in an alternate history.
Guess i'll do it for you since you are obviously incapable.
Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, alternate history, and speculative fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s.[1] Specifically, steampunk involves an era or world where steam power is still widely used?usually the 19th century and often Victorian era Britain?that incorporates prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy. Works of steampunk often feature anachronistic technology or futuristic innovations as Victorians may have envisioned them; in other words, based on a Victorian perspective on fashion, culture, architectural style, art, etc. This technology may include such fictional machines as those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne or real technologies like the computer but developed earlier in an alternate history.
Wikipedia is your friend:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampunk
Though, as for my own definition, Steampunk is typically an alternate history involving the use of science fiction elements and creatures (such as robots or any highly advanced machinery) powered primarily by the use of steam. Think the industrial and steam revolution only much more advanced.
And cooler.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CyberPunk
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SteamPunk
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PunkPunk
Basically, I think Cyberpunk is fiction set in the future, sort of like sci-fi, but it centers around the technology of the time.
Steampunk is like Cyberpunk, but with a steam-technology aesthetic.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SteamPunk
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PunkPunk
Basically, I think Cyberpunk is fiction set in the future, sort of like sci-fi, but it centers around the technology of the time.
Steampunk is like Cyberpunk, but with a steam-technology aesthetic.
Wikipedia's explanation is good, but I prefer TVtropes's shorter version: [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PunkPunk]
So there's Steampunk that does it with Victorian-age steam-powered technology, there's Clockpunk that does it with Da Vinci style technology, and Dieselpunk that does it with WW2-style electricity and heavy engine based technology. BioShock is an excellent example of the latter.
What's missing though, especially for Steampunk, is that it's important to remember that in these history-based punk settings there is advanced machinery (think mechs and the likes) but it's all build with technology from that time period.
So there's Steampunk that does it with Victorian-age steam-powered technology, there's Clockpunk that does it with Da Vinci style technology, and Dieselpunk that does it with WW2-style electricity and heavy engine based technology. BioShock is an excellent example of the latter.
The two terms used to mean two different subgenres of Sci-Fi, but in the last few years they've taken on the additional meaning of two actual subgroups of ravers and/or punk rockers. I don't know too much about the newer definition, but the older one is simple enough.
Cyber Punk usually refers to a form of gritty sci-fi with lots of run down metropolises and often some kind of computer network that people can physically jack into. Think Neuromancer, The Matrix, Shadowrun, Ghost in the Shell, and to a lesser extent, Blade Runner.
Steam punk usually refers to a combination Sci-fi and fantasy, where Victorian era steam technology allows for things like jetpacks and giant robots. Think The Rocketeer and Hayao Miyazaki's version of Howl's Moving Castle. I'm sure there's more and better examples out there, but I honestly can't think of any; Cyber Punk has traditionally been more popular, at least in the west.
Edit: Ninja'd, several times over.
Cyber Punk usually refers to a form of gritty sci-fi with lots of run down metropolises and often some kind of computer network that people can physically jack into. Think Neuromancer, The Matrix, Shadowrun, Ghost in the Shell, and to a lesser extent, Blade Runner.
Steam punk usually refers to a combination Sci-fi and fantasy, where Victorian era steam technology allows for things like jetpacks and giant robots. Think The Rocketeer and Hayao Miyazaki's version of Howl's Moving Castle. I'm sure there's more and better examples out there, but I honestly can't think of any; Cyber Punk has traditionally been more popular, at least in the west.
Edit: Ninja'd, several times over.
Gee thanks. I'd rather not use wikipedia since they always tend to overword things. Like the use of the word 'anachronistic'. It takes up a lot more of my time because I have to then google each word I don't understand and then reread the sentence.Kaill said:
Cheers for the effort thought, but I think I'll stick with people who can lay it on me in layman terms.
what a good cyberpunk anime, Ghost in the Shell, what an equally good but less know cyberpunk anime, the armitage OVA'sPanken said:
