Browsing category: Links & Interviews

Steampunk takes over MTV

Posted by on October 22nd,2008

GD Click to see the MTVs take on Steampunk Infiltrates The Mainstream If there wasn’t already enough proof that the steampunk trend is gaining widespread attention, MTV has joined other media and entertainment institutions in attempting to cover it. MTV’s article can be found online, along with short films of interviews, a music video by Dr. Steel, and a performance by Abney Park. People interviewed include Tom Wileford of Brute Force Leather, authors G. D. Falksen and Cathrynne M. Valente, Joshua Pfeiffer of Vernian Process, the members of Abney Park,My self Evelyn a Brass Goggles contributor , various attendees of Salon Convention,DOV and even Voltaire representing the goth community. The coverage is generally very good, and the MTV researchers clearly listened to what their interviewees were telling them. A fair amount of effort is paid to connecting steampunk with modern film and culture, but that is only to be expected given that MTV is trying to make the subject accessible to its viewers. The film segment’s host, John Norris, makes a fantastic attempt at “dressing the part,” and even gets into the spirit of the trend. The coverage includes movies, music, and fashion. The famous and talented Kit Stølen is referenced for his iconic role in steampunk fashion. Etsy.com’s steampunk-themed sellers are referenced, as are Retroscope Fashions and RockLove Jewelry.

The vid clips that will air on MTV

The Photos

The on air times. MTV2 Tues 9/30- 6:30am, 7:23am, 8:15am MTVu Mon 9/29- 5:45pm, 7:45pm, 9:45pm, 11:45pm Tues 9/30- 1:45am, 3:45am, 5:45am, 7:45am, 9:45am, 11:45am, 1:45pm, 3:45pm, 5:45pm MTV has been taken over with Obama coverage. Steampunk is TBD but will air soon. Check out MTVnews.com for the full piece. The whole Article

Steampunk and the Macabre

Posted by on October 2nd,2008

Though we are mostly interested in the “lighter side” of steampunk here, a little detour into the possibilities that the darker side of the genre offers might be of interest still, specifically where steampunk meets the macabre, the fantastic, the supernatural, and the bizarre.

First and perhaps foremost, there is of course the “cryptozoological scientific art” of Alex CF. His work is well-known among us, though Mr Alex himself is rather averse to his work being labeled “steampunk”; indeed, his creations might better fit the macabre and whimsical, but they are obviously of interest, no matter how one wishes to call them.

There are, however, many more artists and steampunk enthusiasts alike who mix steampunk and the macabre in ways quite fascinating. We shall introduce you to a few of those, specifically Mr Mike Amend, Mr Timothy Lantz, Miss Lisa Black, as well as Professor Delphinius J.C. Tucker.

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Gatehouse Gazette #2

Posted by on October 2nd,2008

Steampunk is “History in the Making” with the second issue of the Gatehouse Gazette, released this September.

From the origins of World War I by Mr Robert Rodgers to an article about Japan’s reasons for attacking Pearl Harbor by Mr J.D. Roger, it is history that the contributors to the Gazette are writing. Between all this war, there is fortunately more adventurious spirit also, in a narrative about the first motorized crossing of the Sahara, by Mr Joost van Ekris, a report on steampunkness in Disneyland Resort Paris, by Ms Hilde Heyvaert, plus an article about Hugh Ferriss, “delineator of Gotham”. And the Gazette offers an exclusive preview of Mr Toby Frost’s upcoming novel, God Emperor of Didcot!

Please click here to download it.

Heterodyne Designs

Posted by on August 16th,2008

The artisan of this lovely piece of steampunk-styled jewelry hides behind the banner of Heterodyne Designs where “rare artifacts and oddities” are assembled by the artisan herself, a Miss Alexandra Sforza, as well as her sister, Victoria. They provide much of their whimsical creations for sale there, though they may also be contemplated in a Profile with no strings attached.

Mr Jack Rose of the blog, Gearing Up, sat down for an Interview with Miss Sforza, Alexandra that is, a little while ago, in which she talks about what inspired her work (Jules Verne, Indiana Jones, and Girl Genius, to list a few) as well as what made her interested in crafting steampunk jewelry specifically. “I’d been looking at steampunk items for a long while,” she explains, though when she developed a liking for the steampunk aesthetic, “crafters were far and few between.” Fortunately, the appreciator of steampunk jewelry today is better off, for, as Miss Sforza notes, nowadays, “there are hundreds of steampunk artists all making lovely things.”

Seattle Steampunk Art Show

Anachrotechnofetishism Art Show Link If you’re in Seattle, Washington, USA from September 12th thru October 3rd, you should go check this steampunk art show out.

The usual suspects are all there showing their talent, including the new addition of lovely Missmonster to the rabble. So those of you in the northwest of the USA have something to go to, and any visitors have something new to look for too.

Gatehouse Gazette

Posted by on July 23rd,2008

“The new steampunk & dieselpunk magazine” is here with the release of the first issue of the Gatehouse Gazette.

In this first issue, the reader with find an introduction to the genre of dieselpunk by Piecraft and Ottens, an interview with Toby Frost, author of the steampunk-in-space novel, Space Captain Smith, an article about the gentleman in modern times by Delphinius Tucker, steampunk fashion and couture by Hilde Heyvaert, a review of the latest Indiana Jones film by Jack Rose, steampunk poetry, essays, cartoons—and more!

Please click here to download it.

Mouse of our Steampunk Forum has searched in vain all over the internet for Steampunk wallpapers. Finding a shortage, he she decided to amend that by creating SteampunkWallpaper.com. She has started this project with the ambitious idea to create a wallpaper a day for a year. She has many so far, yetshe is on the lookout for new ideas! So, she is asking the good citizens of the internet for new ideas for steampunk wallpaper! You can visit her thread at our forum about the topic here.

“Steampunk Rising” Article

Posted by on June 7th,2008

ChannelWeb.com was named one of the “Ten Great Media Web Sites” by B2B Magazine’s Media Business In July 2007. This past week they did a very nice 24 page article on Steampunk titled “Steampunk Rising”

You can read the whole 24 pages of it here

Datamancer, Jake Von SlattDoktor AMolly “Porkshanks” Friedrich  and G.D.Falksen are all there with many others.

Speaking of Datamancer, have you ever found your self drooling over his work?  Well you’re in luck he has a one of a kind up for sale here: Custom Brass and Marble 22″ Steampunk LCD by Datamancer.  If you can, go buy your self a work of art that works.

Dearest Bretheren and Sisteren:

Dr. Ding courteously invites you to gaze upon the many fine and mystical offerings of Madame Talbot’s Victorian Lowbrow™. It is a decidedy bizarre place, not for the feeble of constitution, containing many gruesome and spectral offerings for your consumption. No, not the tubercular kind of consumption. My but you are rather a literal creature, aren’t you? No mind, gentle reader. Read on.

Suffering from phantasms due to sudden limb loss? Madame Talbot has wrought only the finest cure known to medical science!

Perhaps you merely require a slightly macabre dental daguerrotype to display in your medical chirurgery? Look no further.

Or perchance one of your loved ones is much aggrieved with melancholy humor and is in dire need of one of Madame Talbot’s handmade Mourning Dolls? Dr. Ding finds their visages quite agreeable, in a most distinctive and singularly dreadful way.

I must confess although I have no actual need for the occult curious featured by the good Madame, I find myself inexplicably drawn to them, as if by some unseen hand. You don’t suppose this supernatural phenomenon is borne qua the mighty aetheric powers of something like this do you? I must summon my Evil Manservant Jeebes at once and have him bring me the chequebook anon. Forthwith and posthaste!

The History of the Phonocrank

Posted by on May 21st,2008

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1igtpxpDjM[/youtube]

The best way to know of a new invention is to ask the one who made it, So I did and this is what Aaron/Shadarko ) said of his wonderful Phonocrank.

The History of the Phonocrank:

Thanks for asking about the Phonocrank. I had been dressing steam punk for years before I knew there were anyone else like me. I had also been interested in old things, be it old radios, old tools, old photographs, you name it, if it was old, I pretty much loved it. I am very reluctant to move on to newer things. It was only recently I got an mp3 player, a cell phone, or a lap top. One of the reasons I love the idea of steam punk is, it’s not a denial of today’s technology. Rather its the idea of incorporating either an artistic flair missing in today design, or using alternative technology that can exist into day’s world. The project leading up to the Phonocrank was the Iphonograph. At roughly the same time that Herr Dokter was creating his gramophone styled speakers. I was working on the same idea for my mp3 player. It’s all well and good to use the modern tech, but a pair of speakers just look boring and bland. I wanted something that would go with the rest of my house. The first Iphonograph was a small music box shaped like a phonograph. Add speakers and done. The horn allowed the music to have a great old time sound, using the horn for what it was meant for. I created several more iphonographs of various sizes for myself and friends. The whole time something was nagging me.

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