Over the past couple of years it has become fashionable in certain Goth and Deathrock circles to criticize Steampunk.   On a prominent Deathrock forum,  Steampunk was recently characterized as “silly” and “stupid”.   I find it curious that members of a subculture who have always chided the Mainstream for being “intolerant” can be so intolerant themselves. Deathrockers and Goths love to portray themselves as being “individualistic” and “nonconformist”, yet in cases like this they are remarkably disdainful of those who not conform to their standards.   In effect, these people have become exactly what they claim to despise:  intolerant conformists.

On that particular forum, the primary complaint against Steampunk seemed to be concerning the music.  Steampunk was  derided as somehow not being a valid subculture, because its music  “is already covered under other genres”.   These  critics of  Steamkpunk apparently do not  understand that Steampunk is not a music subculture.  Unlike the Goth and Deathrock “scenes”, music is not the definitive factor of Steampunk.   Steampunk is a visual subculture.  Music is strictly secondary, being simply something to add to the mood at social events.  As Joshua Phieffer of Vernian Process says,

“…[T]here is no defining element to Steampunk music. Steampunk music is different to every individuals interpretation of it. The only true definition could be; ‘Music created by Steampunk fans, or music that Steampunk fans find invokes the atmosphere they expect from a Steampunk setting or aesthetic‘.”

To the Deathrockers who recently sneered that Steampunk music is already covered by existing genres, yes indeed!   It’s covered by everything from Ragtime to Goth. And therein lies the beauty.  While a few bands do call themselves Steampunk bands, this is usually in more of an aesthetic and philosophical sense more than an attempt to create a new musical genre.  An analogy might the way that  different bands toured with the Grateful Dead and became part of Deadhead culture, but were nothing musically like the Grateful Dead.  DJs  at Steampunk nights spin songs that simply that fit in with the atmosphere.  Personally, I find Frightdoll’s “Endings” and the Darnell Woodies’ “Booger” eminently suitable for a Steampunk event.  But these  are certainly not “Steampunk” bands,  and might even be horrified at the suggestion.   At The Clockwork Ball, hosted by the talented Davenport Sisters, of course you will probably hear hear Vernian Process and The Unextraordinary Gentlemen.  You might hear Rasputina, The Squirrel Nut Zippers, the Decembrists, and Jill Tracy.    You might hear Classical, Jazz, or Darkwave.    But it is the song that is important, or rather, the feeling that the song invokes, not the “genre” of the artist.   Indeed, someone can be a Steampunk aficianado and not listen to any particular music at all.    This is where Steampunk differs from music subcultures.    It is especially ironic to hear Deathrockers bash the Steampunk subculture on musical grounds, when a couple of the most prominent Deathrock “models” are not fans of  Deathrock music!

Apparently, people are trying to make Steampunk fit their own notions of their own scene.   A couple of years ago on the same forum, one  Deathrocker sniffed something to he effect that Steampunkers are just LARPERS in top hats and goggles.    Well, I’ve known far more Goths who are LARPERS than I’ve ever met in the Steampunk scene.  So what?  The implication that Steampunk is somehow contrived and devoid of real substance is a charge that was leveled at most burgeoning subcultures.  Let’s be real: Steampunk is no more “silly” than  than Goth or Deathrock.  This is the pot calling the kettle black, so to speak.  It is truly ludicrous for one such subculture to be bashing another.

Steampunk is not Goth. It is not Deathrock.  It does not try to be.   So what is the problem?  All three of these have far more in common with each other than they will ever have with the Mainstream.  Instead of bashing people who are trying to be different, why not show a little of the same tolerance that you want the rest of the world to show you?   Or at the very least, bother to find out a few facts before you trash something out. A few places to start might be here:

http://steampunkscholar.blogspot.com/2009/06/steampunk-pastiche-elements.html

http://www.tor.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=blog&id=58014

http://brassgoggles.co.uk/blog/