.: AnachroCon . Atlanta, Georgia . February 25-27, 2011 :.
> AnachroCon (Day 1) – Intro to Steampunk <
> AnachroCon (Day 2) – Carnies & Steampunk Boba Fett <
> AnachroCon (Day 3) – Extraordinary Contraptions <
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Come one, come all ~
I’ve stories and pictures to share
of metal men and winged women
at an extraordinary steampunk faire!
Betsy and Gally
You may have noticed I haven’t posted anything in a while. Don’t worry, more chapters of my sci-fi/horror novel Infectnation are still on the way, I’ve just been busy working, traveling, and taking care of things on my end — and I’m moving again soon! But as luck would have it, I got to visit my good friend Betsy just in time for Anachrocon.
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I’m a huge fan of cyberpunk and steampunk.
While cyberpunk usually depicts post-industrial dystopias with an emphasis on cybernetics, computer-based technology, and anti-establishment protagonists up against megacorporations, steampunk features anachronistic technology, steam power, and Victorian culture with an emphasis on human and technological potential.
Cyberpunk books and movies include Neuromancer by William Gibson, Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson, Blade Runner, and The Matrix trilogy.
Steampunk books and movies include The Difference Engine by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill, Laputa: Castle in the Sky by director Hayao Miyazaki, and The Dream of Perpetual Motion by Dexter Palmer, which I’m reading right now and enjoy greatly.
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The first (and probably last) dress I ever made
One of the main points of attending a convention is to dress up. As you’ll see, steampunk attire commonly consists of Victorian, Lolita, and military styles. Of course, you can always steampunk up your favorite characters too!
I wasn’t planning on having a costume for AnachroCon because I don’t own anything in those categories, but Betsy had enough fabric left for me to make a dress so we’d match. After three nights of confusion and shoddy crafstmanship, I sewed my first dress — an off-set, red pinstripe dress with tie-able shoulder straps. Still not steampunk, but at least I managed to make my own outfit at the last minute.
Gally and Matthew Silva from Penny Dreadful Productions
Male steampunk outfit by Penny Dreadful Productions
Female steampunk outfit by Penny Dreadful Productions
A strange, static-producing contraption by Penny Dreadful Productions
Brute Force Studios merchandise
Thomas Willeford, owner of Brute Force Studios; his works were featured in the steampunk episode of Castle titled “Punked” (season 3)
Victorian steampunk
Military steampunk
Steampunk contraptions like retractable metal wings
Steampunk Wolverine from X-Men
Steampunk weapons for sale
Co-owner of Steampunk Sisters with a tattoo of glassblowing
My awesome new octopus bag by Alienphant with my Anachrocon 2011 membership badge
I had an awesome first day!
Panels included an American Civil War debate, Horror Literature Throughout History, Victorian Occult, Dystopian Literature, Hatmaking, and more.
Bands performances included The Cemetery Surfers, Ghosts Project, Play it with Moxie, Frenchy and the Punk, and Doctor Q.
Lots more to come in Day 2 of AnachroCon. See you again soon, badasses!
Photos © Christine Lines 2011
Blog post © Christine Lines 02.28.11
http://lestismitethee.wordpress.com/2011/02/28/anachrocon-day-1-intro-to-steampunk
I had such a fantastic time with you at Anachrocon!!! <3 It was awesome :D
I did too! <3 I like steampunk more than ever now :D
Sounds like a lot of fascinating panels. Did you enjoy the performances? Also – would you recommend any of the bands, specifically?
I think you dress came out looking really well, as modest as you’re being. ;)
Steampunk wolverine! YEAH! Your octopus bag looks totally badass.
Yeah, everything was great! What I liked most were the more mature attendees compared to other cons. In anime/gaming conventions, there are tons of kids and teens. At this convention, I think we were the youngest group of people (early twenties) with most people in their late twenties or early thirties. It was so badass to see sixty year old ladies in Victorian garb with steampunk goggles or little laser guns.
What was also fantastic was how nice everyone was. Men properly groomed and dressed up in suits or vests with hats and gloves greeting you with “How do you do, m’lady?” and the women complimenting each others’ outfits left and right. It was really romantic!
Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see all the bands play, but my favorite was Extraordinary Contraptions, who I will post pictures of on Day 3. Ghosts Project reminded me of folk music from Europe, nomadic in nature, and they were a three-man group featuring violin, some tiny guitar like a ukelele, and drums. I think you might like Play it with Moxie because they were like a steampunk jazz group with a female lead vocalist. A few couples danced together when they performed in the ballroom!
Thanks for your compliment on my dress :3 I felt really out of place because I didn’t have anything steampunkish to wear except my necklace and a borrowed top hat, but at least it looks good on me so I can wear it on other occasions. If there are any other occasions where I need a dress >_>
After I get done posting all three days of AnachroCon, I have another post coming up about DIY steampunk! I modded the octopus bag with straps and made a steampunk bracelet
Thanks for the mention on your blog. I am happy you had such a great time and got to experience some of the bands and entertainment.
~Doctor Q
DJ at the Gaslamp Gala Friday Night
and Director of Arts & Entertainment for AnachroCon
Fabulous photos, seems like you are having a good time and life is fun, as it should be.
Thanks, Sandra! I’ve been busy, but it’s nice to have a little vacation once and a while :] Congrats on getting published!
[...] AnachroCon (Day 1) – Intro to Steampunk [...]
Awesome!
Glad you got a pic of my wings! :D
Thanks, glad you found me! Your wings were awesome.
I love your outfit, Gally! That colour so suits you.
I think I favour Steampunk as I have studied so much Victorian literature and finding that period of history fascinating. I also enjoyed The league of Extraordinary gentlemen movie.
It looks like a real fun event!
Oh Jessica, it was a lot of fun! I’m becoming more fascinated with that time period too! Thanks for your compliment on my dress :] Hope you’re doing well!
[...] AnachroCon (Day 1) – Intro to Steampunk [...]
Pretty awesome Gally. Never been properly introduced to this genre, and considering this is only part one i’m sure I’ll get quite the 101 treatment in steampunk. Costumes look like Thunderdome meets pirates of the Caribbean meets technology. I’ll continue forward.
By the way, moving again? How are things?
Yo, great to hear from you again!
Steampunk is the embrace of past and future. Think of the industrial revolution when we realized we could use machines to do anything and mix that with Victorian fashion and alternate realities. The what if’s are endless!
I’m looking to move again within the next couple months. I’ll have more details later :3
[...] AnachroCon (Day 1) – Intro to Steampunk [...]