FAQ - Queen City Steam

What is Steampunk?

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, "steampunk" is "science fiction dealing with 19th-century (1800's) societies dominated by historical or imagined steam-powered technology." Thus, the "steam-" in "steampunk" refers to the steam-powered technology that heavily influenced the Victorian era, and the "-punk" refers to the unconventional edge that the sci-fi genre brings into the setting.

In a nutshell, Steampunk is a fantasy genre that mixes science fiction with the Victorian era.

Who created the term Steampunk?

Jules Verne and H. G. Wells are commonly cited as its earliest influences, but science fiction author K.W. Jeter created the term steampunk in 1987 to describe a style of fantasy fiction that featured Victorian technology, especially technology powered by steam. The style first appeared in mainstream pop culture in the late 2000’s and currently is used in several design genres including fashion, literature, film, television, video games and DIY projects.

Do I have to wear a costume at events?

You can wear whatever you feel comfortable wearing at events as long as you’re aware of your surroundings and dressing appropriately for the venue.

Being respectful of your fellow guests is important.

Part of the fun of dressing up is building your costume arsenal and character(s). There are some amazing artisans and vendors in the Steampunk world, and going to events is a great opportunity to get ideas or start working on your own costuming.

Do I need a persona to be in Steampunk?

Creating a persona is a fun thing to do, but not necessary. I suggest going for the organic approach of seeing what you like most and incorporating that into a character. There are resources available for download on The Airship Caduceus Facebook page, under the “files” tab, that can help you come up with ideas. Reading Steampunk literature or looking at pictures online are other good ways to come up with personas.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/theairshipcaduceus

How do I find information on Steampunk?

Google can be your friend! There are also many different Steampunk Events and Steampunk Groups on all sorts of social media avenues. The Steampunk Explorer https://steampunk-explorer.com/ has some great information about Steampunk as well as many of the events around the United States. There are also groups locally that are more than happy to share their expertise and ideas. With Queen City Steam focusing on events in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio, I suggest checking out the local societies on Facebook.

www.facebook.com/groups/1457073441212220

www.facebook.com/groups/kentuckysteampunksociety/

www.facebook.com/groups/OhioSteampunkSociety

Does Queen City Steam foster an accepting and friendly environment?

Queen City Steam is a neurodivergent/LGBTQ+/other friendly space. We are dedicated to harassment free experiences for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, nationality or nationality origin or religion. We want everyone to feel like they are in a safe space where they can be themselves; a judgment free zone.

Frequently Asked Questions