Steampunk: 21st and 19th Century Issues
Thesis: Steampunk
artistic medium to illustrate problems plaguing the early industrial era:
workings class poverty, racism, feminism, and imperialism. The solutions to
these past issues can shed light on solutions to our similar present day
circumstances.
I.
Introduction
A.
Definition of Steampunk
B.
As literature
C.
As culture
II.
Past
Steampunk origins – Other possible political works
A.
The
Difference Engine, Morlock Night,
Electric Life, ???
III.
Industrial
Age Past Problems
A.
Underpaid Wage Labor/Sporadic Employment – Seasonal
Employment, Low Wages, Artisan loss of employment
B.
Polluted Environment – The Great Stink (The
Thames), The Gowanus Canal, The Chicago River
C.
Automation & the Rise of Mechanization –
Industrial Assembly Line, The Jungle
D.
Challenges to Societal Values
1.
Temperance – Women’s Temperance Movement,
2.
Gender Issues – Feminism, Suffragists,
3.
Race Problems – Abolition of Slavery, Jim Crow
Laws
4.
Religion – Lack of Religious Faith
E.
Govt. Control by Large Companies w/ Private
Interests – Big Trusts
IV.
The
Modern Times and its Problems
A.
Underpaid Wage Labor/Sporadic Employment –
Seasonal Employment, underemployment, Disintegrating middle class
B.
Polluted Environment – Current day Superfund
sites,
C.
Automation & The Rise of Computers –
Computers taking Over, Driverless cars
D.
Challenges to Societal Values
1.
E.
Govt. Influenced by Large Companies – Corporate
Lobbying
V.
Presentism
“Solved” Industrial Age Problems
A.
Colonialism – Exporting the manufacture to other
countries, White collar jobs
B.
Environmental protection, National parks,
Engineering
C.
Automation
D.
Challenges to Societal Values
1.
Binge Drinking
2.
Right to Vote granted, Laws revived
3.
Civil War & amendments
4.
Materialism > Religion
E.
Trust busting, end of oligarchy
VI.
Recent Artistic Changes to Steampunk – Battle over
political vs. Art
*** Need to bring in Steampunk NOT just old Industrial Age
Issues
No comments:
Post a Comment