The Cogkneys in action! It was a great gig and week!
Thursday 3 November 2011
Wednesday 2 November 2011
What is Steampunk?
Steampunk is a difficult thing to explain, as it does not abide easily by the usual subcultural rules. It doesn’t relate to a specific style of music, or television show, or film. (There are examples of all of these that fall into the Steampunk ‘aesthetic’, however.) Steampunk is a subculture that, for the most part, draws its inspirations from literature and history. Perhaps the best way to examine the philosophy of Steampunk is to look at the word itself.
The ‘Steam’ of Steampunk
For most Steampunks, the ‘Steam’ in Steampunk conjures up visions of the Age of Steam, (which most would consider to be the Victorian and Edwardian era) from the gaslit streets of Victorian London to the dusty saloons of the American Frontier, from the wilds of Colonial Africa and India to the genteel drawing rooms of the aristocracy. It can also conjure up more fantastical imagery – airship pirates fighting wild ‘air-kraken’, for example! Steampunks like to take things they admire from the Age of Steam – the clothing, the etiquette, even in some cases the hobbies, and merge them with our 21st Century attitudes and philosophies, which brings us to…
The ‘Punk’ of Steampunk
The ‘Punk’ in Steampunk has little to do with the musical style and more to do with the ethos of that music style – the DIY attitude, the rejection of rules and standards. The Punk attitude is what enables some lady Steampunks to- gasp! –show their ankles, or wear their corsets on the outside! Gracious! Steampunks often modify clothing to fit in better with their idea of Steampunk – or even design and make their own clothing, props, and ray-guns! Computers, cameras, cell-phones and many other modern devices are disguised and made to look as if they are antiques. The modern, streamlined aesthetic displeases many Steampunks, and they like to make their devices look more attractive and individual. Steampunk is very much about individuality.
Seriously, though, where does it come from?
Steampunk is a subgenre of science-fiction and fantasy literature. This kind of literature existed long before the term was coined (in the works, for example, of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne). Later authors came along and added to the literary tapestry – K. W. Jeter, Tim Powers, James Blaylock, Michael Moorcock, William Gibson, Bruce Sterling and many others. It was Jeter who coined the term ‘Steampunk’ (as a kind of tongue in cheek reference to the popular SF genre ‘Cyberpunk’) in 1987, and since then many authors have come to identify themselves as Steampunk writers.
There have been several films that utilise the Steampunk design aesthetic – The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Wild Wild West, Steamboy, Treasure Planet and others.
The literary heritage of Steampunk means that many (but by no means all) Steampunks develop an ‘alter-ego’ that often defines the way they dress. Some are explorers, and sport pith helmets, rugged boots and rifles. Some are engineers, dressed in overalls with several handy tools in their belt pouches. Some are airship pilots, with goggles and uniforms and sturdy leather jackets. The list goes on and on – soldiers, dilettantes, mad scientists, sky-pirates, musicians, spies, doctors, steam-powered robots &c, &c…
Where can I find out more?
The internet is very much the home of Steampunk. Information can be found at:
v Wikipedia’s Steampunk page
v The Brass Goggles Forum.
v Steampunk Magazine.
Each of these can direct you to a multitude of websites that cover every facet of Steampunk history, design and philosophy.
The ‘Steam’ of Steampunk
For most Steampunks, the ‘Steam’ in Steampunk conjures up visions of the Age of Steam, (which most would consider to be the Victorian and Edwardian era) from the gaslit streets of Victorian London to the dusty saloons of the American Frontier, from the wilds of Colonial Africa and India to the genteel drawing rooms of the aristocracy. It can also conjure up more fantastical imagery – airship pirates fighting wild ‘air-kraken’, for example! Steampunks like to take things they admire from the Age of Steam – the clothing, the etiquette, even in some cases the hobbies, and merge them with our 21st Century attitudes and philosophies, which brings us to…
The ‘Punk’ of Steampunk
The ‘Punk’ in Steampunk has little to do with the musical style and more to do with the ethos of that music style – the DIY attitude, the rejection of rules and standards. The Punk attitude is what enables some lady Steampunks to- gasp! –show their ankles, or wear their corsets on the outside! Gracious! Steampunks often modify clothing to fit in better with their idea of Steampunk – or even design and make their own clothing, props, and ray-guns! Computers, cameras, cell-phones and many other modern devices are disguised and made to look as if they are antiques. The modern, streamlined aesthetic displeases many Steampunks, and they like to make their devices look more attractive and individual. Steampunk is very much about individuality.
Seriously, though, where does it come from?
Steampunk is a subgenre of science-fiction and fantasy literature. This kind of literature existed long before the term was coined (in the works, for example, of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne). Later authors came along and added to the literary tapestry – K. W. Jeter, Tim Powers, James Blaylock, Michael Moorcock, William Gibson, Bruce Sterling and many others. It was Jeter who coined the term ‘Steampunk’ (as a kind of tongue in cheek reference to the popular SF genre ‘Cyberpunk’) in 1987, and since then many authors have come to identify themselves as Steampunk writers.
There have been several films that utilise the Steampunk design aesthetic – The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Wild Wild West, Steamboy, Treasure Planet and others.
The literary heritage of Steampunk means that many (but by no means all) Steampunks develop an ‘alter-ego’ that often defines the way they dress. Some are explorers, and sport pith helmets, rugged boots and rifles. Some are engineers, dressed in overalls with several handy tools in their belt pouches. Some are airship pilots, with goggles and uniforms and sturdy leather jackets. The list goes on and on – soldiers, dilettantes, mad scientists, sky-pirates, musicians, spies, doctors, steam-powered robots &c, &c…
Where can I find out more?
The internet is very much the home of Steampunk. Information can be found at:
v Wikipedia’s Steampunk page
v The Brass Goggles Forum.
v Steampunk Magazine.
Each of these can direct you to a multitude of websites that cover every facet of Steampunk history, design and philosophy.
Monday 17 October 2011
Rehearsing!
Rehearsing, rehearsing, rehearsing. Looking forward to bringing Whitby a barrel-load of Cogkney spookiness! But what to wear?
Tuesday 27 September 2011
Tuesday 20 September 2011
Sunday 18 September 2011
Whitby Alt Fest!
Are you coming to the Whitby Alt Fest this year? If so, we'd love to see you at The Rifle Club on Friday night for 'The Major's Soiree', where The Cogkneys will perform an almost completely but not quite new act! Audience participation! A Cockney Singalong! Spooky songs! Innuendo!
And there'll be other entertanment in the form of inimtable form of Count Rostov's comedy, as well as a quiz (I think). Cheapest bar in Whitters, too!
Friday 16 September 2011
Arthur Foot - Poet of Note!
Have written a couple of poems recently - I might well 'launch' one or possibly both of them at Whitby this year. Oooooh! I can tell you that one of the poems is called 'The Mysterious Green Potion' and is a sort of homage to Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde!
And it's all fodder for the possible upcoming book - Ribald For Your Pleasure!
And it's all fodder for the possible upcoming book - Ribald For Your Pleasure!
Monday 12 September 2011
Back from the madhouse!
Well, we're back from another stormingly good weekend at The Asylum Steampunk Convivial! Getting to swan about in nice clothes, go for drinks/lovely meals with wonderful, make new friends and see old ones - what could be better?
Oh yes! Also getting to see great musical acts such as The Men Who Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing (eagerly awaiting their new album), Sunday Driver, Professor Elemental and Mr B. The Gentleman Rhymer, as well as greatly enjoying the inimitable Count Rostov's superb radio play (and his naughty little play in the Soiree!)
The Cogkneys performed a brand new act (twice!) in the Major's Soiree on Friday, and it was lovely to be on the same bill as the aforementioned Count (accompanied by the lovely Lady M), Kit Cox (the time travelling comedian), Dr. Quack and Andrew O' Neill (FLIES!) as well as the Major himself.
Splendid!
A selection of iconographs can perused here... Pictures!
If you missed us in the Soiree, or you'd like to revisit the 'genius' of our act (not my words, but those of our audience), here's the whole thing. Lawks!
Oh yes! Also getting to see great musical acts such as The Men Who Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing (eagerly awaiting their new album), Sunday Driver, Professor Elemental and Mr B. The Gentleman Rhymer, as well as greatly enjoying the inimitable Count Rostov's superb radio play (and his naughty little play in the Soiree!)
The Cogkneys performed a brand new act (twice!) in the Major's Soiree on Friday, and it was lovely to be on the same bill as the aforementioned Count (accompanied by the lovely Lady M), Kit Cox (the time travelling comedian), Dr. Quack and Andrew O' Neill (FLIES!) as well as the Major himself.
Splendid!
A selection of iconographs can perused here... Pictures!
If you missed us in the Soiree, or you'd like to revisit the 'genius' of our act (not my words, but those of our audience), here's the whole thing. Lawks!
Saturday 3 September 2011
Less than a week to THE ASYLUM!
Rehearsing like a pair of crazy rehearsing fools! Looking forward to performing a particular 98 year old song, should be funny! Lots of buttock related humour in this year's act...
Saturday 9 April 2011
Back From Whitby!
Mimsy Beaucoup and I have returned from the Whitby Alt Fest, where we the guests of the crew of the Discombobulous! We had a great time in the steampunk hub of the rifle club and it was wonderful to see so many familiar & friendly faces. Tea was drunk, gin was drunk, rum was drunk, I was drunk. Marvellous!
The Cogkneys (our music hall act) performed on Friday night, here's the link to a video of our act...
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150164735062441&oid=126266604090585&comments
An album of my pictures can be viewed here... http://www.flickr.com/photos/karlthulhu/sets/72157626300150405/
On Saturday I got up and performed a few poems during the open mic slot, two of which are available to view on The Cogkneys youtube page...
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheCogkneys
That was wonderful, nerve-wracking fun!
Oh- The Cogkneys also have a few bits of merchandise available...
http://www.zazzle.co.uk/cogkneys
The Cogkneys (our music hall act) performed on Friday night, here's the link to a video of our act...
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150164735062441&oid=126266604090585&comments
An album of my pictures can be viewed here... http://www.flickr.com/photos/karlthulhu/sets/72157626300150405/
On Saturday I got up and performed a few poems during the open mic slot, two of which are available to view on The Cogkneys youtube page...
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheCogkneys
That was wonderful, nerve-wracking fun!
Oh- The Cogkneys also have a few bits of merchandise available...
http://www.zazzle.co.uk/cogkneys
Sunday 27 March 2011
Wednesday 2 March 2011
Fame at last!
If you don't ever blink, you might have seen me on The One Show on 01/03/2011. This was shot at last year's Whitby Gothic Weekend.
iPlayer link- http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/z5f4w/
Oh, and talking of Whitby don't forget that the Cogkneys are performing as part of the Major's Soiree at Whitby Alt Fest this April...
iPlayer link- http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/z5f4w/
Oh, and talking of Whitby don't forget that the Cogkneys are performing as part of the Major's Soiree at Whitby Alt Fest this April...
Saturday 22 January 2011
Sunday 2 January 2011
Back home from what was one of the most fantastically wonderful NYE's I've ever enjoyed!
Who'd have thought so much fun could be had in Corby?
From the dancing to the swimming, from the excellent game Ben ran to the Music Hall evening, all was excellent.
I especially enjoyed all the socialising, it was so nice to spend time with such a lovely bunch of incredibly sophisticated Ladies & Gentlemen.
The Cogkney's performance also went very well, and everyone seemed to enjoy it, and I've had some lovely comments about my poetry which made me all shy and blushy!
Some photographs on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/karlthulhu/sets/72157625604966233/
Who'd have thought so much fun could be had in Corby?
From the dancing to the swimming, from the excellent game Ben ran to the Music Hall evening, all was excellent.
I especially enjoyed all the socialising, it was so nice to spend time with such a lovely bunch of incredibly sophisticated Ladies & Gentlemen.
The Cogkney's performance also went very well, and everyone seemed to enjoy it, and I've had some lovely comments about my poetry which made me all shy and blushy!
Some photographs on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/karlthulhu/sets/72157625604966233/
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