Steampunk Invasion
Has anybody else noticed that Steampunk items have started to invade the Ren Fair? And I don’t mean that one person with gears glued to their bracers or a pair of goggles tucked into the brim of their tricorn. I am talking about the items in the booths that are very, definitely steampunk. Here is what Wikipedia has to say about the term Steampunk: Specifically, steampunk involves an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century and often Victorian era Britain—that incorporates prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy.
At the last fair I went to in 2010 the Highland Renaissance Fair in KY, many of the leather shops had thrown in some steampunk flair with their leather fair. Bracers with a pop-up compass, bracers with a set of gears on them, etc. I am not saying this is a bad cross over but it is very intriguing that the steampunkers are starting to bring their own bit of un-reality to the Renaissance Fair.
For instance, take the gentlemen in the picture. He is decked out in Steampunk finery. He has many elements of both the Renaissance Festival and Steampunk in his outfit. He was very nice and even posed for a few pictures (as usual, if you know him, let me know). I think this is a great addition to the fun and fantasy of the fair. Here is the point though. Could standard Rennys make the crossover to the Steampunk / Victorian Fair.
Those of us that break out our piratey best would be fine, I think. Those that go for the fantasy motif would probably also do well. But what about the true Rennys. Those that wear the tights and the doublet? Those that wear the rapier at their side and look like they were extras in the Three Musketeers? I think that is where the cross over ends. I think those true Rennys with medieval / Renaissance culture on their mind would find that the Steampunkers and the Victorian garbed festival attendees would look at them the same way that those of us that attend the fair in garb would look at the wandering Sith, ninja or cosplay.
Let me know if you think I am wrong. Let me know if you have ventured into a Steampunk convention in your medieval best. I would love to hear the stories.
- Bobaganush the Pirate
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