An Introduction

As an aesthetic and culture that is explored through a variety of different media, steampunk frequently overlaps with other cultures due to the presence of steampunk texts within different genres. As there is steampunk science fiction, steampunk anime, steampunk gaming and steampunk comics, fans of steampunk often overlap with fans of these genres. Because of this overlap, steampunk is beginning to have a presence at conventions and events that are not predominantly marketed to a steampunk audience. Anime conventions, video game conventions, comic cons and others are finding an increase in steampunk attendees, creating a potential culture clash as participants attend non-steampunk conventions with the intention of celebrating steampunk culture.

The intention of this website is to explore what happens when steampunk participants attend non-steampunk conventions. I will look at the interactions between steampunk and other subcultures, working with the idea of “steampunk elitism” that has become frequently expressed. By looking at representations of steampunk elitism in shows such as The Guild and comparing these representations to interactions and diversity within the steampunk community itself, I will argue that elitism in steampunk occupies a complex position that is less straightforward than representations often suggest. While elitism is still an issue in some aspects of the steampunk community, it is not a universal element of steampunk, and is something that is often exaggerated in representations.

-Steven Greenwood

"The Guild," a primary example of perceived elitism

Note: the particular section I discuss begins at 6:33 into the video, so you may want to start this clip 6 and a half minutes in to save time.

This scene is a clip from the popular gaming webseries called The Guild, and is also my primary example of how steampunk is often perceived and portrayed by non-steampunk communities. In the clip, Clara is a member of the Knights of Good, a guild of online gamers who are attending "Mega-Game-O-Rama-Con," a video game convention. At the convention, Clara comes across a steampunk booth, and is incredibly interested in the culture. However, when attempting to interact with the members of the booth, Clara finds that they are not as welcoming as expected and are instead rude and uninviting.

The representation of elitism in the clip is obvious, with one of the members proclaiming to Clara: "You are absolutely unqualified in any of the poseur fields." Because of Clara's inability to perform tasks such as mixing laudanum, she is rejected from the steampunk community and not allowed to interact with its members. The culture is represented as being elitist, only allowing in a select few members based on their ability as it relates to ideals of steampunk. One member concludes, "I'm sorry, dear. Though your efforts are admirable, if you don't get it you simply can't be a part of it." Clara is not allowed to participate in the community not only due to a lack of skills, but also a lack of understanding. The culture is represented as closed to outsiders, only welcoming those who "get" steampunk. This representation clearly shows steampunk as being an elitist, exclusive culture that is hostile to outsiders.

Clara herself perceives elitism in the culture, as she summarizes how she sees steampunk: "How difficult can it be? Get a costume, act all snooty. Done and done!" Clara's "explanation" of steampunk shows that she herself perceives the elitism suggested by the other characters' actions. Her discussion also suggests that elitism is not just something that she sees as existing within the culture, but is actually something that she sees as definitive of steampunk, as acting "snooty" is one of the two central elements she uses to define the culture. This description suggests that - from the perspective of many that are not involved in steampunk - the culture is perceived as being one of elitism, exclusivity and people who act "snooty."

It is important to note, however, that the situation shown in this episode is a representation for a non-steampunk audience. Instead of providing a voice from within steampunk culture, it instead shows steampunk as it is perceived by other cultures, particularly gamers. Clara has no inside knowledge of steampunk, instead being part of the show's "gamer" community, and her perspective is therefore one of an outsider. The show itself is also predominantly about gaming, being targeted at a gamer audience, and therefore the audience and creators of the show are also not part of the steampunk community, instead observing it from a detached perspective. Finally, the convention that the characters are attending is established as a gaming convention, even through the name "Mega-Game-O-Rama-Con," which clearly indicates gaming. While the video is effective at showing how steampunk is perceived by gamers, it does not offer any perspective or voice from actual members of the steampunk community.

Therefore, instead of using The Guild as a representation of the steampunk community itself, I intend to use it as an example of how non-steampunk cultures such as gamers tend to view and represent steampunk. I will compare this representation to examples from within the community itself, examining ways in which these examples both contrast and reinforce representations of elitism such as those in The Guild.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jrUO5Rjga0

Forum examples: the Elite

In this post, I will examine several posts from popular steampunk forums that demonstrate a degree of the elitism that is present in The Guild.

In directly looking at steampunk discussions of video games, I discovered a forum thread at brassgoggles.co.uk discussing video games that people "think" are steampunk, and why these people are wrong. Below are a few examples of posts in this thread (Click on the images to enlarge them):

The introduction post starts off as being relatively non-judgemental, emphasizing "I wouldn't say this is a bad game... but it isn't a Steampunk game." The post establishes an exclusionary tone, emphasizing that the game cannot be steampunk, even though it wants to be, suggesting some of the exclusion seen in the Guild episode. By not judging the quality of the game, however, the post manages to avoid the "snooty" tone suggested by the episode, suggesting that steampunk - while having a degree of elitism - is not always as extreme as may be suggested by representations. However, later posts in the forum were not quite as inviting, suggesting that some members of the community are less forgiving than others (click to enlarge):

Brassgoggles user woutar seems a lot less accepting than the post creator, arguing that "some (not that smart) people think that dishonored is steampunk." He suggests that an inability to know if something is steampunk reflects poorly on someone's intelligence, and directly insults people for their inability to properly identify steampunk. This example is much more indicative of the "snooty" behaviour shown in The Guild, suggesting that there is some evidence from within the steampunk community itself to support the depiction. Woutar's post is then followed up by a response by user George Salt (click to enlarge):

What is interesting is that Salt is not defending the intelligence of those who misidentify steampunk - instead, his main attempt is to argue that the game Dishonored is steampunk. Salt uses the idea of whale oil as a "McGuffin" that serves the same function as steam, and argues that the atmosphere of the game makes him believe it is steampunk.
While he is crticising woutar's views on Dishonored, he does not address the implication that people who do not understand steampunk are "not that smart." Instead, he explains what does make Dishonored steampunk, but then proceeds to explain how other games such as Guns of Icarus Online are not steampunk. In addressing only woutar's definition of the genre, without addressing his treatment of people who do not fully understand the genre, Salt suggests that woutar's attitude is acceptable, or at least that it is something that is not significant enough to dispute.
By criticizing games that "call themselves steampunk" without "being steampunk," all three of these posts reinforce the idea that steampunk is an exclusionary culture. However, the posts express varying degrees of elitism - from the forgiving, mild reactions of  Steamed_up_scholar and George Salt to the extreme judgement of woutar - which suggests that elitism in steampunk is a much more varied and complex issue than the blatant "snootiness" of The Guild, and therefore deserves greater consideration.

Source: http://brassgoggles.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,41762.0.html

Forum Posts: Welcoming a New Member

Despite the elitism suggested by some of the forum posts, I found a similar number of posts that actually show the steampunk community as being very welcoming and accepting of new members, which contrast with the elitist examples. This variety of different responses suggests that elitism in steampunk is something that is not a universal issue, and instead depends on individual situations. The following posts come from steampunkcanada forums:

User Relic Raider openly admits to being "new and... just a tad new to Steampunk," looking for advice on making a steampunk Lara Croft outfit. However, instead of apprehension or rejection on not being a member of the community, she is met with advice, compliments and a welcoming atmosphere. User Stuart responds by complimenting her outfit, calling her hat "lovely," and then giving her some advice on how she can improve the outfit. Later in the forum, he also directs her to the Vernsians, a steampunk community in Halifax, therefore openly welcoming her into the community.

Through this example, it is clear that steampunk is not a homogenous group, as he is very welcoming and friendly towards the new member. Stuart provides a contrast to elitism that suggests that looking at the variety of different types that make up steampunk is essential to a discussion of elitism, as it is not an issue that exists in all members of the community.

This is not, however, to say that the particular thread I discuss is entirely devoid of elitism. User Grande Queen Wanda offers a bit of gendered advice that criticizes the sexuality of Relic Raider's idea:

Wanda's advice is more reminiscent of the elitist representation shown in other media, as she critiques the sexualization of Raider's costume: "I know it is nice to be the chick in a corset and hotpants... you will be surprised how much more becoming and amazing your costume will look by rather than sexing it up to our tastes, doing so to Victorian standards."

Raider is critiqued for her outfit not matching Victorian standards of sensibility, taking on a tone of Victorian elitism, rather than one of acceptance or welcoming. The response of Grande Queen Wanda undermines the welcoming atmosphere shown by Stuart, and writes off outfits that are not Victorian enough for her as being "the chick in a corset and hotpants." This hostile depiction of sexualized outfits is one that suggests an "elite" element to the steampunk community.

The differences between Stuart's reaction and Grande Queen Wanda's reaction once again demonstrate how elitism in steampunk is neither universally present or absent. Instead, elitism differs depending on individuals within the community.


Source: http://www.steampunkcanada.ca/apps/forums/topics/show/6034557

Steampunk Tribes

One important thing to understand about steampunk when looking at elitism is that the culture is not homogenous. As a large community, steampunk consists of many different subgroups. In his article "Steampunk Tribes," Mike Perschon describes several of these subgroups, describing them as "tribes." The three tribes that I will discuss are what he calls the "Jeterists," "TruePunks" and the "Browncoat Timelords."

Describing the TruePunks, Perschon says they are "dismissive of those who see steampunk as a hobby or something 'fun'.... I've never been able to get one to admit that they're 'dressed up'" (10). The TruePunks' preoccupation with the idea of steampunk as a lifestyle and rejection of casual interest hints at the elitist tendencies seen in The Guild and some forum posts. By rejecting casual interest, the TruePunks run the risk of simultaneously rejecting newcomers and therefore appearing elitist and exclusive.

A Steampunk Bible: for TruePunks, steampunk is not "fun" or "a hobby"

In describing the Jeterists, Perschon explains that they "always seem to have read the latest steampunk book before you have." (9). This description itself does not seem to hint at elitism, instead only suggesting a literary interest. However, in his other descriptions, Perschon frequently groups them with the TruePunks as the members of the culture that do not welcome newcomers or casual fans, suggesting that they are hostile to fans of steampunk that have not read the core three of "Verne, Wells, or Burroughs" (9). By rejecting potential fans who have not read the "proper" novels, the Jeterists could also be seen as engaging in the kind of elitism of which steampunk is often accused.

The Jeterist equivalent of the Steampunk Bible

In his article, Perschon describes newcomers to the steampunk community as "Boneshakers," explaining them as "Johnny-come lately to the steampunk party – people who have gotten into the scene since Cherie Priest released Boneshaker" (10). It is through Boneshakers' interactions with the Jeterists and TruePunks that Perschon fully illustrates the exclusionary tendencies of the two subgroups: "Depending on how gracious the Jeterist or TruePunk you're talking to is, you might want to lie about being a Boneshaker, since you may be dismissed outright as having anything of value to add to the culture." (10). The two tribes of Jeterists and TruePunks are suggested as being hostile to newcomers, and dismissive of anyone who is not valuable to the steampunk culture. This portrayal suggests that the elitism seen in some works is not an issue with the culture of steampunk as a whole, but instead a characteristic of particular subgroups within the greater culture.

In contrast to the Jeterists and TruePunks, Perschon describes the Browncoat Timelords (BT): "the BT's just want to give you a hug. They're really nice people who talk to everyone at cons, making sure everyone feels welcome and included. If you are a Boneshaker, these are the best people to hang around with." (10). Being described as welcoming and inclusive, the BTs challenge the notion that steampunk is an elitist culture. The existence of BTs suggests that - even if elitism is present in steampunk - it is not an issue that exists throughout the entire community.

Browncoat Timelords just want to give you a hug

  
In describing how a "Carriger Pigeon" (fashionable steampunk) would explain how to fix a corset, Perschon's article gives an example of the two extremes that can be demonstrated by the different tribes: "A BT Carriger Pigeon will do this with grace. A Jeterist or TruePunk Carriger Pigeon will simply mock you from afar." (10). By presenting a situation in which members of different steampunk subcultures would react very differently, this article stresses the varied nature of steampunk culture and the importance of recognizing the variety of different subgroups that make it up.

The different types of tribes discussed in Perschon's article are similar to Jess Nevins' discussion of prescriptivists and descriptivists, as she explains: "The prescriptivists maintain that there's only one true definition of the term, and the descriptivists, whose preferred definition is much broader. Most (though by no means all) prescriptivists hew to the traditional, Jeter/Nicholls definition, while the descriptivists usually alter their definition" (Nevins).


Nevins' article is very similar to Perschon's, and a similar distinction could be made between prescriptivists as the members of the steampunk community who could be suggested as creating a more "elite" image, and the descriptivists as the inclusive, welcoming members. However, the problem with Nevins' article is that it divides the community into two distinct groups: while it recognizes that steampunk is not homogenous, it still reduces it to being made up of only two sides, which is still a very limited vision of the culture. Perschon, on the other hand, discusses seven separate tribes, and then mentions ways in which these tribes can overlap and cross over. This separation of steampunk into seven overlapping subcultures gives a better idea of how varied the culture is, giving a better perspective on how elitism is not a clear-cut issue, but a complex situation that depends on the behaviour of individual groups within the steampunk community. I use Perschon's terminology, as I would argue that his various tribes are a more effective way of looking at variety in steampunk culture than simply dividing the community into two opposing groups.

Whether looking at steampunk as made up of tribes or being divided into halves, it is clear from these two articles that steampunk is not a homogenous, static culture. Examining any trend in steampunk - such as the issue of elitism - therefore requires a consideration of the various different subgroups that make up steampunk. Therefore, while The Guild's representation of elitism may be true of some members of the steampunk community, it is not an accurate representation of the culture as a whole.

Works Cited
Nevins, Jess. "It's Time to Rethink Steampunk." i09. 27 Jan. 2012. Web. http://io9.com/5879231/its-time-to-rethink-steampunk. 12 Dec. 2013.

Perschon, Mike. "Steampunk Tribes." Exhibition Hall 7 (2010): 9-11. http://exhibitionhallzine.weebly.com/. Web. 12 Dec. 2013.

Additional Examples of the Elitists: Reginald Pikedevant and Dr. Fidelius

Looking at steampunk as a varied and complex subgroup, it is easier to examine elements of steampunk culture that may be considered elitist without then viewing the entire culture as such. On this page, I will explore several examples of members who show elements of the more elitist subgroups within steampunk.

The elitism expressed by some of the subgroups is apparent in some steampunk music, particularly the song linked above, "Just Glue Some Gears On It (And Call It Steampunk)". While predominantly a critique of commercialization of the term "steampunk," the language used in the song could also be suggested as promoting the image of steampunk as exclusive or elitist. As Pikedevant says: "Gears are appropriate to introduce if they look like they have a legitimate use. Although Nixie tubes are undeniably splendid, they date from long after the Age of Steam ended. Pity, really; I just love Nixie tubes. Anyway, I hope you’ve comprehended. So use the word steampunk correctly, old chap, don’t use it to refer to crap!" (Pikedevant).

The lyrics of the song strongly suggest a Jeterist/Prescriptivist attitude that could be seen as exclusionary. The singer even admits to loving Nixie tubes himself, but being unable to use them in his version of steampunk because of a technicality. As even the steampunker himself is unable to fully integrate his interests into the culture due to prescribed "rules," the song strongly suggests that his approach to steampunk is one that does not welcome people or things that do not "belong." By having this exclusionary attitude, Pikedevant could be argued as belonging to an elitist "tribe" or subgroup of steampunk that contributes to the idea of steampunk as elitist.

A rather self-aware example of this elitism is Dr. Fidelius, a Steampunk Empire user who explains his approach to steampunk: 

Although the tone of Fidelius' post makes it difficult to tell if he is being sincere or ironic, the post still shows a clear example of how certain subgroups of steampunk are often perceived as being elitist. He states that he is "condescending," and he is working on "saying rude and insulting things in a manner which leads the listeners to believe [he is] just displaying a mordent wit." Whether Fidelius is being sincere in this description or not, the ideas that he mentions are ones that are very much attached to the idea of elitist tribes within steampunk, illustrating how some aspects of steampunk culture could be seen as promoting an "elite" image that excludes potential members.

These two examples show how particular members within the steampunk community have the potential to display an elitist attitude. Despite this attitude being dependent on individuals and individual subgroups within the greater steampunk community, from the perspective of an outsider who is not aware of the different tribes it could be easy to see examples like this and consequently interpret the entire community as elitist or exclusive.

Sources:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFCuE5rHbPA

http://www.thesteampunkempire.com/forum/topics/steampunk-language?id=2442691%3ATopic%3A1558037&page=2#comments

Temporal Perspectives

As steampunk is a culture that is still relatively new, it is important to consider the fact that it is constantly growing and developing. Considering the "newness" of steampunk, it is important to consider the ongoing nature of the culture and the time from which examples are drawn.

The clip from "The Guild" that I discuss is from 2011. While this is not exactly outdated, it is important to note that two years have passed between the time that the episode was released and the writing of this website. On this page, I will look at a few forum posts I discovered that discuss the issue of elitism as it has developed in a more recent context, suggesting a growth or change in the community.

In discussing the development of steampunk over time, cosplay.com user Mangochutney explains how steampunk has become gradually more entwined with other cultures:

Mangochutney suggests that the issue of steampunk elitism - at least in the cosplay community - is one that is becoming less significant over time, as "you'd be hard pressed to find somebody who's exclusively steampunk these days." His post argues that, as steampunk has gained in popularity, its members have begun to add other cultures into their approaches to steampunk to the point where it has become a sort of "hybrid" culture with most members engaging in steampunk alongside other interests, rather than exclusively engaging in steampunk.
Mangochutney's suggestion that the majority of steampunkers have merged with other cultures seems a bit extreme, especially considering that there are still conventions that are exclusively "steamcons" that appeal purely to steampunk attendees, and a large number of zines and other publications that are purely interested in steampunk. However, while the hybridization of steampunk may not be as widespread as he suggests, it is still something that could be seen as happening on a smaller scale. As steampunk increases in popularity, the number of people who combine it with other cultures or pursue it alongside other interests could be seen as increasing as well.
This discussion ties into elitism because a decrease in "pure" steampunkers would also therefore suggest a decrease in the subcultures of steampunk that pursue an exclusionary, elitist attitude. As other cultures are integrated into steampunk over time, it will be increasingly difficult for Jeterists and prescriptivists to exclude these cultures, as it is difficult to exclude something that is becoming absorbed into one's own culture.

While I strongly disagree with Mangochutney's suggestion that steampunk is no longer something that exists as an independent culture, as there is still ample evidence of exclusively steampunk works, it is still useful in highlighting a degree of hybridity in steampunk culture that has begun to emerge as some members of the steampunk community have begun to "absorb" elements of other cultures.

By looking at steampunk as a culture that is still constantly growing and developing, it becomes apparent that elitism may be a decreasing issue as members become more willing to accept others into their community. Therefore, rather than looking at elitism in steampunk as something static and unchanging, it is important to recognize it as an ongoing issue that may be decreasing as steampunk develops.

Sources:
http://www.cosplay.com/showthread.php?p=4793980#post4793980