Ayesha Kapila

Title of dissertation: Steampunk: From Science Fiction to Design Culture


In 1987, K W Jeter coined the term, ‘Steampunk’ to describe a new subgenre of science fiction. The term referred to works with narratives set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used — usually Victorian-era England — but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, such as fictional technological inventions like those found in the works of H G Wells and Jules Verne, or real technological developments like the computer occurring at an earlier date.


This dissertation traces the development of Steampunk from its roots as a subdivision of science fiction to its position as a burgeoning subculture. Steampunk has recently infiltrated the field of design through the work of a maker community. Using the Internet as a space for communication, a tool for production and as a platform for designed objects, these enthusiasts have conceived a particular Steampunk aesthetic, perhaps best described as ‘Neo-Victorianism’ — the amalgamation of Victorian design principles with contemporary sensibilities and technologies.


However, Steampunk is not merely a retro movement or fleeting ‘fad’, and the relationship between its literature and design culture far transcends aesthetics. As this research uncovers, Steampunk instils a sense of technological and design optimism within its makers, enabling the movement to present itself as a viable alternative to the unsustainable nature of contemporary design.