In our visit to Camden Market, I
was able to engage more with the reading for this week, as well as more clearly
understand steampunk as a literary style, fashion, and overall aesthetic.
Contrary to common opinion, steampunk is not simply clothing with metal
elements or goggles attached to an otherwise Victorian-looking hat, but a style
that can be recognized in many different mediums. Walking around Camden, one
discovers that steampunk is one of many recognizable cult fashions that are
represented in the area. You can walk into stores that cater to incredibly
complex and impossibly specific variations of the same niche, including: goth,
punk, cyberpunk, cybergoth, hippy, hipster, etc. Experiencing these other
subcultures in the same area helps present steampunk in a different light.
These subcultures are more than fashion or art, they hold within them their own
way of looking at the world that often focuses or exaggerates the developments
and sentiments of a specific era.
While the artwork in “The League of
Extraordinary Gentlemen” presents an otherworldly exaggeration of industrialism,
Camden market reflects many aspects of the comic in its function and layout. In
the comic, the futuristic vision of London is characterized by a diverse mix of
cultures that the characters must interact with to complete their mission. Various
cultures including Arab and Chinese are portrayed in rigid caricatures, the
comic employing stereotypes that may have been present in Victorian England.
Furthermore, London itself is presented as an eclectic and diverse cultural
center with each chapter highlighting a different neighborhood. When visiting
Camden, one finds a similar environment. There are stores and kiosks that hold
an incredible diversity of cultural influences, all contained within just a
couple of city blocks. The space itself has many elements that speak to the
steampunk style. Unlike many parts of London, there are no glass skyscrapers or
sprawling digital advertisements attracting attention. The market is built
around old brick buildings, and the natural rusted features of the locks and
the railway. While these elements are far from the steampunk utopia presented
in “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen”, they elicit the same sentiments
toward industrialism, cultural diversity, and futurism that one finds in the
comic.
Source: Moore, Alan. “The League of Extraordinary
Gentlemen.” Illustrated by Kevin O'Neill, vol. 1, DC Comics, 1999.
Jack,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your post. Todays visit was very eye opening in regards to the steampunk era and what it entailed. Having the chance to see in person some of the different clothing styles that go along with the steampunk culture allowed me to understand the times on another level. Connecting steampunk to other subcultures was a very good point as well. Today, although we may not see as many people living out a steampunk styled life, we do still see other styles and trends still alive. I was especially interested in the amount of punk cultured individuals within Camden Market because i thought this style had died out by now. It is cool to see people all around the world are still carrying these lifestyles and openly displaying them in public for everyone too see. Like Professor Marshall noted, it is very important to live your life how you want to and not worry about what other people think of you. In relation to the artwork you connected to Camden Market, I love the point you made discussing how the area of Camden isn't like traditional London, with glass skyscrapers and commercial advertising. I think this also reflects the same notion of staying true to yourself no matter how the surrounding world is evolving if that is how you want to live life. Thanks for such an enticing read jack, you have very nice insights on the steampunk era.