In the beginning, I was with the author re: steampunk as a re-imagining and even questioning of the history on which it's based. But when s/he grandly asserts that it's mere fiction and that we can take the parts of imperialism we like and leave the rest....This is a problem. A big problem. I'd like to think that this person has no idea what s/he is saying/implying, particularly at the end of the piece. I always prefer to assume that someone made a mistake before assuming said person actually means to cause harm.
Now. I don't think all steampunk *has to be* imperialist or Orientalist in nature. I think there are many possibilities for celebrating the culture without co-opting it in the hands of a careful author. And I agree w/cmpriest that one of the great things about steampunk is its ability to be inclusive, to re-imagine a history in such a way that it doesn't oppress or exclude people. But it has to be done carefully and thoughtfully and not just by taking the parts we like and forgetting or ignoring what we don't.
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Date: 2010-03-15 03:23 pm (UTC)Now. I don't think all steampunk *has to be* imperialist or Orientalist in nature. I think there are many possibilities for celebrating the culture without co-opting it in the hands of a careful author. And I agree w/