The steampunk and the gothic movements

Later, in the 1960s, films and series followed, helped by the magical powers of special effects and they had a great impact on the viewers.

This movement is still present nowadays with :

• The Wild Wild West (1999) with Will Smith includes steampunk references, just as the TV show ;
• Hugo (2011) ;
• The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003) ;
• The Wind Rises (2013) ;
• Sherlock Holmes (2009) and its sequel Sherlock Holmes : A Game of Shadows (2011) ;
• Mortal Engines (2018).

This is fascinating because the future has always been a source of inspiration for writers, especially since the industrial revolution which allowed new ideas to develop. Steam was the new source of energy, it helped propel a train, so why not imagine machines that could fly or dive? Everything was possible and readers loved dreaming. They still do, don’t they ?

The way the heroes are dressed had to be in harmony with the time : women will generally wear a bustled skirt, corset top, jacket, mini top hat, goggles and Victorian lace up boots while men wear traditional Victorian clothing with a darker side to it : striped pants, brocade vests, leather suspenders, military boots, top hat and sunglasses.
They look like an adventurer, a scientist, or an engineer.

Now, steampunk can be found everywhere : art, design, comics, fashion, music, video games and so on.

No wonder that more and more people want to establish the movement as a culture and a lifestyle ! Events such as festivals, parades, parties or salons where thousands of people meet have been held all over the world in the past twenty years.
The most important is Lincolnshire Steampunk festival in England. 100,000 people are expected to attend the four-day event every year ! Some of these events are even covered by TV channels, newspapers and magazines.