Basically that. I don't know what steam punk is and to avoid taking over another thread with this conversation, I'm posting it here.
It's a genre of science fiction that uses steam powered engines in it's plot or setting. SO just imagine the Wild West or Victorian Era (19th century). Usually it is used in post apocalyptic stories or alternate versions of history.
I knew it wasn't music. I was thinking "Wild Wild West" the movie. I think that's probably sort of right.
I think of underground clubs where there is steam rolling in (like you see from sewer drains) and techno music is blasting and people are sweaty and dressed like Greenday
A good example of a steam punk movie is Treasure Island (Wlat Disney, animated), League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and yeah, Wild Wild West.
I recall some people arguing about this on a fantasy crpg forum. Then someone posted a linked to following musical, education video which I found quite helpful: http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFCuE5rHbPA
It's predominantly a genre of sci-fi literature drawing on authors like Jules Verne and H. G. Wells. Imagining an alternative future where steam power and other Victorian design is the dominant aesthetic so it's retro-futurist, in contrast to cyberpunk which is very futuristic, all digital and neon. Nowadays it's also a DIY culture where people make artefacts and clothing in the style, and in this for I'd say it's somewhat related to the dressing up in the goth subculture, and there is a fair amount of overlap. So far it doesn't have so much of a musical identity though.
The game Bioshock is quite steampunky too. And after thinking about it there's more cosplay in it than goth I think, if that makes sense.
Ha, I'm actually sitting in a coffee shop next to people who call themselves the Austin Steampunk Society. They're dressed up for what I think is a murder mystery night. But yeah, as others have said, it's advanced technology with a Victorian aesthetic, so steam engines, gears, copper, etc. Apparently Dieselpunk is about to be all the rage, except replace Victorian aesthetic with Art Deco.
I've never heard of Dieselpunk before, but when I looked it up I found this Wikipedia page that mentions a whole slew of other subgenres: Cyberpunk derivatives - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In addition to films and cosplay subcultures, steam punk has also made its way into novels and animes. A good example of contemporary steam punk fiction would be "the diamond age" by Neal Stephenson, The Difference Engine, as well as Android Karenina. The Northern Lights by Philip Pullman also shows clear influences from the Steampunk genre. As for animated films, there are numerous short animes to choose from. But to get the most comprehensive view of the influence Steampunk has on the world of animation I suggest watching "steamboy" by Katsuhiro Otomo.
Mostly airships. Loljk. Well....the sort of steampunk idea that I see a lot is the idea of a Victorian world where steam powered technology is the main source of power. It's really geary, brassy, bronzy, and the like. I had a steampunk nerdome for some time, but now I'm into clockwork and the other punks (dieselpunk (steampunk but more silvery and imagine more mechs than airships), cyberpunk(Syndicate and Deus Ex Machina like), industrialpunk(gothic steampunk and or dieselpunk))
