Christmas controversies: The holiday in review – Washington Post (blog)
| Washington Post (blog) Justin Bieber destroys Christmas AND steampunk: In his second attempt to spread Christmas cheer, Bieber made a music video of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” which had an inexplicable steampunk theme (Steampunk, for the uninitiated, is a literature … |
Justin Bieber, Macy’s co-opt steampunk subculture
Justin Bieber, Macy’s co-opt steampunk subculture
Nothing quite kills the ethos of your punk-inspired subculture like a mass-market purveyor of UGG boots — or worse, a tween singing sensation — adopting its aesthetic. That’s why fans of steampunk, the Victorian-era sci-fi cosplayers, may be fleeing en masse to another form of dress-up. Macy’s and Justin Bieber were inspired by steampunk for their holiday windows and Christmas music video, respectively, and fans are worried that their movement could be co-opted for mainstream commercialism.
A steampunk-inspired holiday window at Macy’s in New York. (AP)
Steampunk, for the uninitiated, is a genre of literature and a cosplay theme that involves envisioning life in an science-fiction-inspired era where steam power is still used. Steampunk heroes include H.G. Wells and Jules Verne, and practitioners of the craft wear Victorian-era clothing, such as monocles, spats, top hats, and bustiers. They also modify gadgets and accessories to look as though they are of the era, often by adding gears and a bronze patina.
Bieber’s new video for “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” which also promotes the film “Arthur Christmas,” features a wind-up corseted Victorian robot. Workers toil away in a gear-filled factory as they dance, and the Biebs wears a high-tech but ultimately useless glove. Over at , the famous holiday windows feature tiny Victorian characters taking a rocket ship to the North Star before a backdrop of gears.
When the steampunks learned about the windows and video, they were wary of the infringement on their subculture. Several blogs proclaimed that Bieber “” steampunk. Others, though, are confident that steampunk will survive its case of the Biebs.
quotes Isabella “Captain” von Pumpernickel, who shuts down the complainers: “If you think steampunk is dead because the ‘mainstream’ has noticed it, well then you weren’t really into it that much. … You are not a steampunk, you are just a hipster.”
“This will not cause a gigantic influx of early-teen girls into the scene. The Twilight Saga failed to produce such an effect on the goth scene so why should one video/photo shoot now make steampunk something hip for young teens?” writes the .
For those who see steampunk as forever tainted by the side-swept bangs of Bieber, there are other subcultures out there. commenter Skipples suggests a switch to , and there’s Teslapunk, Clockpunk and Dieselpunk. Punks a-plenty.
A steampunk-inspired Macy’s holiday display. (AP) 
A Macy’s holiday window display. (Spencer Platt – Getty Images) 
A child looks at a holiday window display at Macy’s department store in Herald Square in New York. (Andrew Burton – Reuters)
Justin Bieber, Macy’s co-opt steampunk subculture – Washington Post (blog)
| Washington Post (blog) That's why fans of steampunk, the Victorian-era sci-fi cosplayers, may be fleeing en masse to another form of dress-up. Macy's and Justin Bieber were inspired by steampunk for their holiday windows and Christmas music video, respectively, … |
Justin Bieber, Macy’s co-opt steampunk subculture – Washington Post (blog)
| Washington Post (blog) That's why fans of steampunk, the Victorian-era sci-fi cosplayers, may be fleeing en masse to another form of dress-up. Macy's and Justin Bieber were inspired by steampunk for their holiday windows and Christmas music video, respectively, … |
Steampunk Music: Victor Sierra’s Electric Rain
Sometimes kismet certainly comes into play when one least expect it… as I trudge through my re-re-written future piece, I was contacted by a Mr. B. Eisenstein, one of the very talented musicians from the Steampunk musical group Victor Sierra, regarding their latest work, Electric Rain. As many may know, I can be a bit stodgy with some of my musical selection (up until recently, I was working on a segue between opera and Steampunk), but as I am a curious sort, I took a listen to their recently released album… and I am quite glad I did!
Unlike some recent popular musical productions, Victor Sierra’s music attend to the genre in a very well-done manner (yes, I’m referring to the already infamous Justin Bieber video, and a few additional artists with Steampunk placations). Many of the tracks are unique works, but as I beat my keys, my fancy has been subsumed by their rendition of Jefferson Airplane’s White Rabbit, which is, as everyone knows, refers to . By all means, do take a visit to indulge in their musical works, and I am confident you will pleasantly surprised! For a bit of audio enjoyment, please visit their Bandcamp location, found at:
The Justin Bieber Cool Initiative Takes a Giant, Steampunk Leap Backwards – New York Magazine
| New York Magazine It's … odd, and we'll go on record as stating that Steampunk is not a great look for worldwide heartthrob and aspiring rap star Justin Bieber. The little Newsies dance break is great, though. Newsies never fails. Wakey Wakey News Huffington Post Washington Post (blog) - - |
Own Justin Bieber’s Steampunk Robot Arm – Technabob (blog)
| Technabob (blog) I didn't even know that Justin Bieber had a steampunk robot arm, but then again, I don't really follow the Biebs. I'm not exactly in his target demo. Apparently, he donned this curious bit of steampunk wear for a photo shoot and a holiday music video a … |
Victoria steampunk artist arms Justin Bieber – Victoria Times Colonist
| | Victoria Times Colonist Local leather and metal artist Ian Finch-Field never expected to be involved in a Justin Bieber style controversy. But since Bieber has been pictured wearing the designer’s steampunk-inspired gauntlet, or medieval glove — a jump from the pop star’s clean-cut style — bloggers are taking notice. While not as contentious as that infamous February haircut when Bieber bid adieu to his signature swoop, MTV is calling this new look, including the gauntlet, a “shocking style transformation.” Finch-Field said he received a call from Bieber’s stylist in October, asking for the one-of-a-kind armpiece. “I kept my cool,” Finch-Field said with a laugh. The main body of the $3,000 gauntlet, which Finch-Field spent about 30 hours creating, is made from vegetable-tanned leather and brass. It also features an LED light, a vintage watch and compass — and a little piece of Victoria. “I used old hydraulics from the wax museum,” he said of the Victoria landmark that closed its doors last year. “They had a bunch of stuff thrown out on the side of the road.” He said he regularly includes found objects, typically pieces of machinery, in his work. Bieber’s stylist told Finch-Field that the piece will be featured in the singer’s Santa Claus Is Coming to Town music video, to be released alongside the film Arthur Christmas on Nov. 23. Bloggers aren’t the only ones responding to an advance photo posted on Bieber’s website — Finch-Field said he’s receiving feedback from the steampunk community, too. “I’m getting a lot of flak from people saying I’m selling out,” Finch-Field said. “They think there’s going to be a whole bunch of teeny boppers running around . . . not knowing what steampunk actually is.” Steampunk is at once retro and futuristic — a science-fantasy-inspired style that features elements of 19th-century technology. He said it doesn’t bother him. “To each their own.” Designers often mix in elements from various eras and regions — infusing cowboy themes as seen in the film Wild, Wild West, for example. Finch-Field’s work has a decidedly medieval influence, from his breastplates to masquerade masks. The artist, who grew up on a farm outside Golden, said he has always been interested in medieval times. “Ever since I can remember I’ve been fascinated with those times,” he said. “Blacksmithing and leatherwork and everything else.” He didn’t set out to make accessories in the steampunk style — he’d never heard of it until he made leather gauntlets for a pirate-themed party and a friend pointed out the style similarity. He began working with metal at 16 when he made a full-sized metal dummy, which he set free down a snowy slope to take on ski jumps in an informal competition. It took at least three months to make. “Back then I had really bad insomnia so I’d just get up, go to the yard and work on it,” he said. “I’ve always just been really attracted to working with metal, just using my hands. There’s nothing else like it; you just bang it into anything you want.” Finch-Field sells everything from wrist-cuffs and keychains to breastplates and pouches at his SkinzNhydez booth in the Bay Centre through December, as well as online at Etsy.com. He will also be at the 23rd annual Out of Hand Artisan Fair at Crystal Gardens Nov. 25 to 27. His wearable art will be featured opening night at the second annual Fashion in Action: A Girl’s Night Out from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Read more: |
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