Top Hats & Taxidermy

Fly on the wall

2010-02-17T17:23:00.004Z

Now I've seen animals taxidermied to incorporate clockwork parts, but never before have i seen such handiwork on such a small scale as InsectLab They actually take insects, and add their clockwork taxidermy skills to them. Find the collection of insects here.

Of all the works there are two which i find ineffably impressive. The Dragonfly, (made to look like a helicopter) and the Praying mantis.

These pieces are beautifully crafted,on an incredulously small scale. The dragonfly (Left) is a mere 2.25 inches across.

It all started when Mike Libby found a perfectly preserved dead beetle, and realizing how much it's body operated like a machine, decided to combine it with such machine parts as from a watch.

Libby uses old pocketwatches for the clockwork parts, and insects from all over our blue-green globe, as well as some right from his front doorstep.

On the website, Libby says he can even customize the models if asked. If that's not dedication to the old saying "The customer is always right." I don't know what is!

For those nature lovers out there, I hasten to add that all Libby's specimens are non-endangered, and he salvages some himself, so you can be sure that he doesn't use anything protected by CITES.

And so, all in all, (top) hats of to InsectLab.

Neowhatism!?

2010-02-15T15:59:00.003Z

This is the first time I have posted a negative post. This is purely here to express my hatred of the confusion surrounding Neovictorianism in a shroud of steampunk smog.

Let's clarify something before I go on: Neo-victorian-ism.

Neo - New, recent, modern.

Victorian - Of, or pertaining to the period of the reign of Queen Victoria.

Ism - Action, process, practice.

Neo-victorian-ism - The modern practice of or pertaining to the period of the reign of Queen Victoria. In other words, Neovictorianism is what we do, when we, the modern people, uphold the morals, styles, and technology of the Victorian time period.

Steampunk, however, seems to have left the word Victorian, and the suffix -Ism out of Neovictoriansm. People who somehow 'practice' steampunk (Not sure how since without -Ism it isn't a practice at all. odd.) seem to think it is set in the future... What possible reason do they have to think this!?

Admittedly, it's partially the fault of modern writers, and game designers who set their clockwork and steam powered tanks in the future. I'm still not sure whether this is because in their universe time runs backwards, hence the Victorian era is in the future; or if they simply hit the wrong button in their time machine and refused to admit to their mistake.

In my opinion, Neovictorianism can be defined as above, while steampunk is simply an art form (And I use the term loosely) born of the modern realization that laser-powered automaton making our jobs obsolete won't be invented for a couple of hundred years or so.

Notebooks and needles

2010-01-29T20:07:00.003Z

I recently found on DeviantArt a wonderful artist called Maya Rafa who goes by the alias of Diarment online. He's spanish, but Most of his site is translated into English. He uses everyday materials like cardboard and sculpey (That's Fimo to us Brits) and turns it into wonderful Neovictorian artwork.

He makes many different things, but today, i'm here to talk about his notebook collection. He makes wonderful covers, mostly from cardboard, but with a few plastic elements. Sometimes he puts in printed images of guages, dials, or clocks to show through holes in the front cover.

The burnished copper effect works wonderfully towards the overall theme of the items. The use of printed dials, and clocks is worked perfectly into the covers on an inside page so that it falls away into the book as you open the cover. Also used besides the cardboard and plastic elements are real cog wheels from various sources.

From his website you can link to another site where you can buy cirtain items from his works. The notebooks come with plain, or coloured pages, beautifully laced together with string, and a wonderfully unique design on the cover. The notebooks are only one fo the amazing things he makes, so have a look around his website, and his DeviantArt.

Velentine's day (of glory)

2010-01-28T19:08:00.005Z

A few years ago Nitome released a brilliant Neovictorian game called Dirk Valentine and the Fortress of Steam. It is a wonderfully made game with beautiful artwork, wonderful animation, and a storyline that doesn't fall into any plotholes. Simon Hunter's artwork in the game is perfectly done, there are some amazing enemies like the flying steam cannons that look as though they're wearing top hats, or the minion-type charcaters you experience early on.

The chain cannon is such a wonderful idea for a weapon; it shoots out a grappling-hook type head that can be used to kill enemies. It can also (on certain terrain) be used to create chains that you can walk on. The programming for just this must have been immense, so special thanks to Aaron Steed for the programming work.

Simon Hunters wondrous artwork can be seen in this Flying Bomb Maker. I love the steam vents on the sides, and the style of the bombs is just marvelous, reminiscent of Wacky Racers.

I asked Nitrome about the bit I thought looked like a top hat and they replied: "The top hats are no coincidence....they are actually supposed to be on top of a little guy controlling the machine (he has a monocle and a moustache if that helps pick him out). Steampunk is often set in a Victorian era and while it is not as apparent in this as in some other steampunk there are still touches of it here and there." And upon a second look, i noticed you can just see his face poking out at the top, next to the pressure guage. Although i would disagree that the Victorian parts aren't too obvious. If you look at Dirk himself, for example, he is clearly wearing a Victorian captain's peaked cap. Also, those medals you collect look suspiciously like Victoria Crosses.

Anyhoo, overall a neat little package with a wonderful story and artwork, i won't reveal too much because i don't want to spoil the storyline. i would suggest playing this for yourselves because it is the perfect distraction for a Neovictorianist.

Gentleman's club

2010-01-21T16:15:00.006Z

I recently discovered that some bands are describing their music as "Steampunk". I thought this was an odd description for a music theme, and i was dissapointed by the results, most of the bands have very little steampunk or Neovictorian attributes of any kind. I think it's abominable how people use the term "Steampunk" to describe anything synthetic or oldy-styley these days.

Anyhoo, rant over...

I did however, on my searches find a very nice band called Unextraordinary Gentlemen, and they, i can say, are Neovictorian. In dress, and in music style. Admittedly the music is obviously modern and not Victorian, but if you listen to the lyrics of some of the songs such as Black Iron Road, (which i love) you will hear very industrial revolution themed lyrics, and the sounds at the beginning of some tracks just make you feel like you're right there building IKB's latest invention. You can listen to some of their songs for free on their Myspace page.

They're an American band with only three members;Eric (Malcolm Schreeck), Richard (Professor Mangrove), and Jennifer "Devlyn" (J. Frances). They use a sequencer machine that they call The Indifference Engine - Very nice pun, there. Anyway, all in all a very nice band here. I would seriously reccomend listening to them at some point.

[Below] Video of Unestraordinary Gentlemen performing Black Iron Road at a live event in California, 2007.

"A living machine!"

2010-01-17T11:41:00.042Z

A love story between machine and monster. Unusual, yes. Subtly based on Romeo and Juliette, yes. Brilliant, indubitably.

Without a shadow of a doubt, The Clockwork Girl is the best neovictorian graphic novel i have seen. For those of you who just want to read it click on the "read online". For those of you wanting to download the PDF, it's only $4.95, that's just £3.04, an excellent price for such a worthy item. The product page can be found here.

It's a love story set in a science loving community, where two rival scientists create two children. The Tinkerer creates a clockwork girl, and the Grafter creates a wolf-boy. Somewhat unsurprisingly, the two fall in love, and trouble ensues between the two 'fathers'.

For a taste of the brilliant artwork involved, here's the front cover of the book.

For those of you who want to know why i see it as linked to Romeo & Juliette, here's a spoiler. Just highlight between the square parenthesis [ ]

[ For one thing, there are to feuding 'families'. One of the lovers comes from each, and trouble follows this. Another, beautifully crafted part is that a character from the girl's family called, T-Bolt (Tybalt) seemingly kills a character called Maddox (acting as Mercutio). In return Huxley (in Romeo's position) kills T-Bolt. The ending however is quite the opposite of Romeo & Juliette. ]

The style is amazing, and the story plothole free. There's a brilliant flashback scene (which every good story needs) and it's even been made into an animation.

A beautiful story with wildy drawn characters, and a wonderful set of artwork. This is a must-read for any neovictorianists. A big hand to Sean O'Reilly, Kevin Hanna, and all the other people who worked on the novel's creation.

For those of you who just want to read it click on the "read online" button after following the link further up this post. For those of you wanting to download the PDF, it's only $4.95, that's just £3.04, an excellent price for such a worthy item.

Welcome to the blog

2010-01-12T16:31:00.011Z

I'd like to welcome any potential readers to the blog.

I decided to start it today, even though i have no fellow contributors yet. Hopefully, there'll be some coming along soon(ish).