When I was younger, I had an old pocket watch. Nothing fancy, just a perfectly serviceable timepiece. Well, it was perfectly serviceable until I took the back off to see how it worked. After tinkering with the gears, it became a literal version of an old cliché rather than a thing of any accuracy. Despite its sudden uselessness, it began a fascination with all things old and ornate.
Imagine my delight when I saw this wondrous creation. Umm, yeah... that would be a fully functional PC made to look like it belongs in Captain Nemo's submarine. There is really only one word to describe it and that word is "awesome." (For you Mac folks, they have one of those too.)
Welcome to the world of "steampunk." Originally it was a weird literary genre popularized in the 80's by authors like William Gibson and Neal Stephenson. Their books transposed sci-fi and fantasy themes upon an alternate version of the Victorian era. It was a fictional world of crazy steam-powered inventions, dirigibles, and massive amounts of over-dressing.
But now some creative types have moved it out into the real world. Having possibly read H.G. Wells and Jules Verne a little too heavily when they were younger, they dress like they are extras from The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. But outside of their questionable fashion, the artistry and craftsmanship that goes into their creations is amazing. Blending both the modern and the archaic, the result is bizarrely futuristic. This Fall, many of these modern antiques will be for sale at the first annual steampunk convention which will be inexplicably held in Sunnyvale.
Another Victorian-esque event coming up will be the Victorian Days Walking Tour in Colma this weekend (a city that has received a certain amount of newfound interest as of late). This event is more about architecture than atmosphere though, so leave the waist coat and aviator glasses at home.
-jw-
