Conclusion

What does steampunk do for its readers as a genre in its own right that genres such fantasy, action-adventure, science fiction…or subgenres like fairy tales, westerns and space operas cannot do on their own? What does steampunk teach us about ourselves, about humanity, about the society we live in? Sure you can make the technology and the re-imagination of history argument, but doesn’t science fiction do that already, just like Doctor Who proves? How are these lessons unique of other genres? Why is steampunk important, aside from looking really cool and being fun to dress up in?

With these questions in mind, it is clear to me that steampunk would be much more successful (and provide fewer headaches) if it acknowledged itself as an accessory to other genres and subgenres instead of trying so fruitlessly to be a genre or subgenre in its own right. The aesthetics of steampunk, including things like cogs and brass and steam-powered machines, make fascinating fixtures of science fiction, fantasy and other popular genres. Writers and producers can feel free to incorporate these elements into their works to whatever capacity they choose without fear of not religiously following all of those long-winded criterions of what makes a work “steampunk.”

The best analogy I can come up with for how steampunk should be represented in the popular culture community is as follows:

Steampunk is like an everyday purse. You can wear it with a bunch of different outfits and it tends to match because you strategically bought it in black. But at the same time, it still manages to make a statement because of that big beautiful MK label that tells everyone that you are wearing a luxurious and expensive Michael Kors bag. At the same time though, this bag does not define who you are: that is what your personality is for. This bag is just a bag.

It’s a cute bag, and people sometimes take notice and appreciate it, but it isn’t “you,” just like steampunk isn’t a genre or subgenre. It matches with a lot of different genres or subgenres, but it doesn’t define them.

It’s just a pretty purse.