Steampunk

According to the T-shirts at the convention booths – What happens when Goths meet brown?

You get Steampunk. The genre has gone from nothing to a major force in the Sci-Fi world even since World Con last year. Costumes abound, dances and tea dances are taking up a lot of time and mad scientists abound –

various mechanical steam helpers

and the workshop

The craze includes pseudo-Victorian costuming. It is a huge improvement over the Goth/Fairy attire of a few years ago. Black is worn, yes, but there is a wide range of palates as well. Corsets are worn, but they are not all black and dripping with pseudo gore (at least I hope the gore is faked). Bondage is out, aviator goggles and bowler hats are in.

And the amount of flesh hanging out exposed is significantly reduced.

The afternoon session included teaching

the instructors

(most dances most strongly resembled Contra-dancing) and were attended by a wide range of participants.

dad and daughter

not all were so young

I think a large part of the appeal is that it is more modern than Renfaire garb while leaving people free to change personas on a whim. The style lends itself easily to the not so young crowd (this particular group of Con goers has been steadily aging). The other thing that is quite appealing is that no one can judge what is “out of period.” Short of bikinis and carrying a magic fairy wand, just about anything goes.

Maus and I are moderately recovered from whatever food poisoning one of the fast food shops managed to contribute to our non-well being and we have been putting in time on Registration as well as Kaffee Klatsches. It is scary – I don’t recognize many of the authors anymore!