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http://sf.theboard.net/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl Passenger Information >> Boarding Deck - Forward Section >> SF/37 Feb. 2011 Theme(s) http://sf.theboard.net/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1322766784 Message started by Frank on Dec 1^st, 2011 at 2:13pm

Title: SF/37 Feb. 2011 Theme(s)
Post by Frank on Dec 1^st, 2011 at 2:13pm

I believe that Garen said that Steampunk was one of the themes at this year's fest. Dunno if that means the festival part, the marathon part or both.

/////split off into it's own topic -admin

Title: Re: SF/37 Feb. 2011 Theme(s)
Post by L.A. Connection on Dec 1^st, 2011 at 8:18pm

Garen has told me the "Steampunk" theme is mainly for the Festival as of now.

Not a big fan of the idea myself. Anime has been notoriously divisive at the Marathon. And, a sub-genre of anime which postulates a retro future where steam power ruled the world, is even more self-limiting as a theme for the Marathon.

Perhaps, someone can get Neil Nadelman to come to the board and explain why it's a great idea....

STEAMBOY, shown at SF/31

Title: Re: SF/37 Feb. 2011 Theme(s)
Post by Rich Bartlett on Dec 2^nd, 2011 at 4:51am

I suppose 2012:Welcome to the End of the World is too obvious a choice to actually be used.

Title: Re: SF/37 Feb. 2011 Theme(s)
Post by Jay Seaver on Dec 2^nd, 2011 at 9:32am

I'm no real fan of steampunk - it's backward-looking and is generally driven more by aesthetics than actual new ideas - but to call it a "sub-genre of anime" is two mistakes in one: Looking at anime as a genre rather than a medium, and ignoring that the vast majority of steampunk has been done in other media. Cherie Priest's "Clockwork Century" series of novels is probably the most visible right now, but the first novel in the series -Boneshaker - was just optioned for film the other day by Hammer. It's a niche that is currently small enough, film-wise, that I suspect Garen will have trouble doing much more than filling a shorts program.

Which would be cool, though, especially if it's accompanied by a costume contest.

Title: Re: SF/37 Feb. 2011 Theme(s)
Post by Frank on Dec 2^nd, 2011 at 9:49am

If anything, steampunk is a sub-genre of speculative fiction. I guess it was branded in the 80's-90's but the works of authors such as Welles and Verne are firmly set in a steampunk universe.

Title: Re: SF/37 Feb. 2011 Theme(s)
Post by Jay Seaver on Dec 2^nd, 2011 at 12:42pm

Well, they're kind of retro-actively steampunk - they were writing futuristic fantasies at the time. I don't know if something is actually in the genre unless it's deliberately anachronistic

Title: Re: SF/37 Feb. 2011 Theme(s)
Post by Frank on Dec 2^nd, 2011 at 1:33pm

Jay Seaver wrote on Dec 2^nd, 2011 at 12:42pm:

Well, they're kind of retro-actively steampunk - they were writing futuristic fantasies at the time. I don't know if something is actually in the genre unless it's deliberately anachronistic

Oh yea I forgot that time machines, flying machines, true submarines, spaceships and the like were plentiful in that 19th and early 20th centuries. Most of the stories are not set in the future they are set in the "then" present time.
These just did not call it steampunk and they are the sun source for steampunk.

Title: Re: SF/37 Feb. 2011 Theme(s)
Post by Jay Seaver on Dec 2^nd, 2011 at 2:17pm

Plenty of sf written today is written in the present day; "futuristic" != "future".

What I'm saying is that the intent of "steampunk" is obviously different from what Wells and Verne were doing; it's about applying a past aesthetic to present pop culture. It's design-oriented, and often style over substance. Early science fiction may be set in the same time period, but it's forward-looking, not fetishization (not that fetishization is necessarily a bad thing).

Title: Re: SF/37 Feb. 2011 Theme(s)
Post by Metaluna on Dec 3^rd, 2011 at 2:04am

Maybe our alternate universe marathon in Cleveland will also have a steampunk theme. They can call themselves the Cleveland Steame....

:-/

...maybe not.

Title: Re: SF/37 Feb. 2011 Theme(s)
Post by R_F_Fineman on Dec 3^rd, 2011 at 6:40pm

The festival, as opposed to the Marathon, has generally premiered a good share of full-length animation, so it really isn't all that different from past years. Garen can only premier the SF films that are actually getting made and the global youth market supports a lot of Anime. I'm jiggy with it.

As concerns the Marathon...well.

Past Steampunk movies like "Akira" and "The Wings of Honemaise" do have a place in our hearts, but then again so does cholesterol!

Put another way: those who do not learn from "Alternative History" are destined to repeat it! ;)

Title: Re: SF/37 Feb. 2011 Theme(s)
Post by L.A. Connection on Dec 3^rd, 2011 at 7:15pm

There are a handful of live action Steampunk movies, but they seem to flourish more in Anime (I erred earlier on that count). And, I personally haven't had a problem with showing a few representative Anime entries at the Marathon. But, it's been a divisive issue with the general audience at the event.
Like I said, I am led to believe that Steampunk will be mostly a Festival thing, so don't expect to see much steam on the screen at the Marathon.

What comes out of Your individual head may be another story......... :D

Title: Re: SF/37 Feb. 2011 Theme(s)
Post by Jay Seaver on Dec 5^th, 2011 at 11:12am

R_F_Fineman wrote on Dec 3^rd, 2011 at 6:40pm:

Past Steampunk movies like "Akira" and "The Wings of Honemaise" do have a place in our hearts, but then again so does cholesterol!

Oh, for crying out loud twice... Please, folks, know what words mean before using them!

Title: STEAMPUNK 1st Booking: SF/37 Feb. 2011 Theme(s)
Post by L.A. Connection on Dec 8^th, 2011 at 9:03pm

This just in!

Our first booking for the STEAMPUNK - themed Festival in February 2012.

Buy your tickets NOW!!..........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nAI_xI9wQnE

Title: Re: SF/37 Feb. 2011 Theme(s)
Post by R_F_Fineman on Dec 9^th, 2011 at 6:10am

Arthur Christmas
Don't know much about it (and want to keep it that way).

One thing is for sure the voice talent ROCKS!
James McAvoy ... Arthur (voice)
Hugh Laurie ... Steve (voice)
Bill Nighy ... Grandsanta (voice)
Jim Broadbent
Joan Cusack ... Lead Elf (voice)
Michael Palin ... Ernie Clicker (voice)
Laura Linney ... North Pole Computer (voice)
(Laura Linney as a compoter voice: I'm reprogramming my GPS! --R_F_)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1430607/

I'll get the Break Music Staff to work right away!

Title: STEAMPUNK: SF/37 Feb. 2011 Theme(s)
Post by L.A. Connection on Dec 9^th, 2011 at 8:39am

no, no, NO!

Just the STEAMPUNK-themed VIDEO shown!

::)

Title: Re: SF/37 Feb. 2011 Theme(s)
Post by R_F_Fineman on Dec 9^th, 2011 at 12:43pm

Quote:

LA: First Film announced[quote]Your Humble Narrator: Arthur Christmas...

Quote:

LA:no no NO!

[/quote]

Whew, that's a relief. My staff couldn't come up with any Christmas themed songs. Heard any lately? ;)

Title: Re: SF/37 Feb. 2011 Theme(s)
Post by Jay Seaver on Dec 9^th, 2011 at 2:50pm

To be fair, Arthur Christmas actually a pretty fun little movie, well-able to hold its own in the middle of a movie season that is being ridiculously good to kids and families, and actually has a kind of SF-ish take on Santa's operation toward the beginning. However, I'm pretty sure that Christmas is the last thing I need in February.

And it's pretty clear that people in general seem to have a much broader definition of "steampunk" than I do, because I didn't think of that term at all when I saw that video in front of Arthur Christmas (and, yeah, I could have done without it).

Title: STEAMPUNK'd: SF/37 Feb. 2011 Theme(s)
Post by L.A. Connection on Dec 9^th, 2011 at 4:24pm

Ah, geez. I was just playing off of a couple of headlines and stories:

Steampunk is officially dead (gawker.com)

Justin Bieber Ruins Entire Nerd Subculture With New Christmas Video

Musical haircut Justin Bieber has a new Christmas song, "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," and the video is inexplicably steampunk-themed. Sorry, steampunks: time to get a new quirky aesthetic pastime before it blows up among 14-year-old Beliebers.

http://gawker.com/5865597/justin-bieber-ruins-entire-nerd-subculture-with-new-christmas-video