Dieselpunk + Steampunk Culture
Lifestyle vs Liking the Style
I recently started a thread at The Gatehouse regarding this very topic, and I'm curious to hear what people think over here about the idea of a dieselpunk lifestyle versus just liking the dieselpunk style! My intention here is to spark a little healthy discussion over the matter.
Here is the link to the original thread!
And I shall start this off with my original post in the thread:
Forgive me for this simple phrase, but I was wondering, as a point of discussion, the idea of 'lifestyle vs liking the style'. This is often a bone of contention amongst many subcultures, places of common interest and so on. Perhaps there is a slight superiority or inferiority complex going on regarding the two, as they can sometimes agree and sometimes clash.
I say it is simple because I myself am quite simple! But my intention here is to hear your views and spark perhaps a little healthy debate.
In my own personal situation, I have many interests, but I would not label myself as any one thing, be it steampunk, dieselpunk, decodent, horror, gothic, samba music enthusiast. My lifestyle is a mass amalgamation of all my interests, with the principle dogma being that I will try things that seem odd and to engage brain with off-centre lateral thinking. My lifestyle is wide and varied.
Liking the style touches on a similar note. Perhaps it influences my lifestyle in a way, with the things I like, perhaps I will decorate my house one way, buy a quirky top another day and so on. However, it may wax and wane, and ultimately appear as short-term moments of vanity.
Those who can adopt more of their admiration for a style into their life I sincerely applaud. In my line of work, I barely have time to organise anything of the sort, and plus, it wouldn't really be recommended in the medical profession to do anything that could be potentially classed as a gimmick. Therefore, I make do with liking the style. On the other hand, I don't think I could ever adopt a lifestyle, be it gothic, steampunk, dieselpunk. Perhaps I misunderstand what the idea of 'lifestyle' is when applied to subcultures, or maybe I don't understand. Perhaps the word has been misused here. Some people describe 'liking the style' as near derogatory, of not being 'true' to the life and crimes of the genre. But what if the intention was not to join the genre at all, but admire from afar and take bits and pieces here to work with what you already have? That can't be faulted, surely?
This is probably why I take the alternative lifestyle to these - the lifestyle that seems relatively uneventful. With the occasional zombie and blood spatter.
Here is the link to the original thread!
And I shall start this off with my original post in the thread:
Forgive me for this simple phrase, but I was wondering, as a point of discussion, the idea of 'lifestyle vs liking the style'. This is often a bone of contention amongst many subcultures, places of common interest and so on. Perhaps there is a slight superiority or inferiority complex going on regarding the two, as they can sometimes agree and sometimes clash.
I say it is simple because I myself am quite simple! But my intention here is to hear your views and spark perhaps a little healthy debate.
In my own personal situation, I have many interests, but I would not label myself as any one thing, be it steampunk, dieselpunk, decodent, horror, gothic, samba music enthusiast. My lifestyle is a mass amalgamation of all my interests, with the principle dogma being that I will try things that seem odd and to engage brain with off-centre lateral thinking. My lifestyle is wide and varied.
Liking the style touches on a similar note. Perhaps it influences my lifestyle in a way, with the things I like, perhaps I will decorate my house one way, buy a quirky top another day and so on. However, it may wax and wane, and ultimately appear as short-term moments of vanity.
Those who can adopt more of their admiration for a style into their life I sincerely applaud. In my line of work, I barely have time to organise anything of the sort, and plus, it wouldn't really be recommended in the medical profession to do anything that could be potentially classed as a gimmick. Therefore, I make do with liking the style. On the other hand, I don't think I could ever adopt a lifestyle, be it gothic, steampunk, dieselpunk. Perhaps I misunderstand what the idea of 'lifestyle' is when applied to subcultures, or maybe I don't understand. Perhaps the word has been misused here. Some people describe 'liking the style' as near derogatory, of not being 'true' to the life and crimes of the genre. But what if the intention was not to join the genre at all, but admire from afar and take bits and pieces here to work with what you already have? That can't be faulted, surely?
This is probably why I take the alternative lifestyle to these - the lifestyle that seems relatively uneventful. With the occasional zombie and blood spatter.
Tags: cyberpunk, dieselpunk, knobbery, kremperpunk, lifestyle, liking, steampunk, style, the
Views: 6
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tome Wilson on -
This comes up at The Flying Fortress a lot. It's great to see other perspectives.
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Permalink Reply by Jonny B. Goode on -
I live the style. I almost never go out without a fedora, pleated pants, wingtips or spectators. When I get dressy, a crisp suit, when I'm really stepping out, a zoot suit. The music I prefer is Swing or Chicago-style Blues. While I like the steampunk style and dress that way to steampunk events, I always come home to dieselpunk.
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Permalink Reply by Ella Kremper on -
Blimey, I'm imagining you to be a pretty sharp dresser out on the street! Better than seeing hordes of hoodies lining up the street corners.
Do you feel pressured to dress that way to conform with the style, or is it a style that you embrace? It sounds like to me you embrace it. Did it all start with initially liking the style, then fitting your own personal situation around it, or did you come about it another way?
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Permalink Reply by Jonny B. Goode on
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It's a style I embrace. And I guess I've just always liked the style. And being a musician in the style, it's just kinda natural. As for conformity... depends on my mood. ;) Sometimes (like tonight) I'll wear a very classic look; other nights I'll riff the look, throw in other out-of-period stuff, have fun with it.
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Permalink Reply by Miikka on -
I think I live in dieselpunk. It is my way to express my opinion about 21th century habits, values and fashion. You can blame me for being old fashioned man indeed. If I can have enought money I would buy a 30's Packard 120 for daily use, but now I must settle to listen swing-music only from stereos of my Bayerische Motoren Werke.
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Permalink Reply by Christopher McGinnis on -
I wouldn't really say I live the livestyle, but there are a lot of points that go with how I go day to day. The only thing I term myself as is a Geek. I grew up listening to a lot of jazz and blues, and I also loved reading old detectives novels (even bought a trenchcoat and fedora and wore those daily until everyone started asking if I was part of the Trenchcoat Mafia, then I stopped). But I also enjoyed reading books and playing games that are termed as Steampunk. I also listen to a lot of music that can be termed Goth. Or Metalhead.
All in all, I'm just me. I'm a product of everything that has touched my life in some way. But, Dieselpunk seems more along the lines of the music I listen to, the movies I watch, and somewhat how I dress.
© 2012 Created by Tome Wilson.
