Gearing Up

The “punk” in dieselpunk and steampunk obviously derives from their predecessor, cyberpunk, which got that half of its name from the anarchic, down-with-the-man attitude endemic to cyberpunk protagonists facing a dystopian world. While the underground movements of the future may remain a mystery, the underground movements of the past provide a fertile groundwork for characters in worlds not unlike our own.

The anarchist movement is the obvious place to start. Anarchism is a political philosophy that opposes authority and mandatory government. Anarchism as a social movement began in the second half of the 19th century and continued through the twentieth, producing many sub-types of anarchist thought. Anarchy was particularly popular in Europe between World Wars, to the point where anarchist communes were built in some parts of Spain during the Spanish revolution.

An anarchist is likely to be a free spirit with a combination of idealistic goals and a willingness to stand up to authority to see them through. While most anarchists are not violent, many were and are willing to do what’s necessary for freedom as they see it.

Another major element of the punk subculture is the DIY aesthetic. If you’ve ever wondered just what’s so bad about buying bondage pants at Hot Topic, well, this is the reason. Punks are expected to do for themselves, to make and to create, rather than bowing to what the corporate and popular elements are telling them they should wear and like.

DIY is already a huge element of the steampunk community online, with many people sewing or thrifting-and-repurposing their own clothing and building their own props, or supporting the work of individuals who sell their handmade items. In many respects, it’s easier to be DIY in a group this specialized - if you’re not doing it yourself, you’re probably not doing it at all.

In general, the overwhelming theme of punk could be called a fierce individualism. This manifests in every aspect of the culture, from the proliferation of sky pirates to the refusal of many individuals to define what, exactly, the fashion is. Keep this in mind and you won’t have any trouble putting the punk in your dieselpunk.