"Ricepunk"

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  • Not sure how many of you have heard of this term, but I'm infatuated with it. It's loosely defined as steampunk with eastern influences (oriental steampunk). Being Asian myself, I find the genre and its style fascinating.
    Lovely examples: [url]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4OYGjUrdllo/SPLCqtJMdJI/AAAAAAAAIZo/uhVQ5gxiqpI/s1600-h/james-ng-airship.jpg[/url]
    [url]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EenKCVBzXjI/TCUnkzH1AHI/AAAAAAAAGfw/ZqzfzmYKHss/s1600/IMG_4475.JPG[/url]
    [url]http://th03.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/2011/167/4/d/steampunk_samurai_by_levi_lover_luna-d3j3lx9.jpg[/url]
    [url]http://badlukart.deviantart.com/gallery/41207913[/url]
    [url]http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/321/7/b/steampunk_samurai_by_strangeknowledge-d3320kd.jpg[/url]

    So I have been building a character that belongs to this world, I unfortunately haven't got pictures of the full kit (there's an enormous paddy hat, twin lionhead swords, fans and a Vietnamese ao dai dress that actually has a mandarin collar to boot). There will be a full photoshoot once I get the imminent deadlines out of the way (read: two weeks to finish 50% of cosplay)

    Here is my character. Okay this photo is not so much Asian steampunk as an Asian dressed in steampunk. However it's the first image of my character and you will see more of her as I keep refining her story and her world.

    [IMG]http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/354/0/1/time__s_up__by_os_cordis-d4adcrm.jpg[/IMG]

  • "Okay this photo is not so much Asian steampunk as an Asian dressed in steampunk."

    i wouldnt go as far as to say theres really a differance, other than perhaps using only
    old tech in asian forms
    but to be true about it,
    asia was a main exporter of goods, and so traders would have witnessed most of the worlds technical innovations almost as soon as they came about
    thus one cant really claim anything as not belonging, except perhaps a giant battle axe
    but im sure thered be a similar weapon of asian origin

    but i agree that there is something aesthetically pleasing about an asian themed steam-punk
    personally i like seeing diferant "cultural variants" of themes, such as steam-punk
    kinda like the G Gundam series did having a nation specific look for each mobile suit

  • Wow, awesome job! Your costume looks really good and well put together. The character you designed looks great
    The photo itself is also awesome

  • It looks great! Though I'm curious as to what else separates "Ricepunk" (which...does that sound insulting to you? "Ricepunk?" As a white person, I feel weird saying/typing it) from Steampunk aside from "Ricepunk" being generally Asian-themed.

  • Ooo, never heard of this. Cool. =o Your character is awesome. =DD

  • [QUOTE=Dictamnus Albus;4643982]"Okay this photo is not so much Asian steampunk as an Asian dressed in steampunk."

    i wouldnt go as far as to say theres really a differance, other than perhaps using only
    old tech in asian forms[/QUOTE]
    Only in that, in this particular photo, there is nothing particularly Asian in the outfit except for well, the character herself being Asian. Like you said, the tech needs to be Asian, or the outfit.

    [QUOTE]It looks great! Though I'm curious as to what else separates "Ricepunk" (which...does that sound insulting to you? "Ricepunk?" As a white person, I feel weird saying/typing it) from Steampunk aside from "Ricepunk" being generally Asian-themed.[/quote]
    Don't worry, it's a term coined by Asians jokingly and used freely by them to name it, therefore I don't feel it is racist. It makes laugh myself. It is true that ricepunk mostly is a sub-genre of steampunk where the settings and outfits themselves are Asian themed. Just like steampunk pirates and steampunk cowboys for example.

  • I'm currently in the midst of writing a Chinese steampunk tabletop RPG, so yeah, you could call me a fan of the genre.
    The Ming dynasty in particular was kind of Steampunk before Steampunk was real. Floating cities, multi-stage rockets... yeah. That stuff was awesome.
    Anyways, glad someone else appreciates it too.

  • "Like you said, the tech needs to be Asian, or the outfit."

    thats not what i meant, as the pic is side shot/ profile, you cant even tell,
    ...well... i guess it is kinda what i meant, but it is nicely put together,

    and, *i tried to go on, but started talking circles

    i got it...
    me personally, i prefer to diferentiate/emphesize nationality, for aesthetic reasons,
    but at the heart of it, if it dosent look wildly out of place,
    then i dont see any diference as far as quality or uniquity

    to me, in the end, -punk, comes down to the aesthetic of the props,
    be it copper, gears and tubes (steam) cables, implants and spikes (cyber)

  • If you look at the "Wierd West" aspect of Steampunk, there is a precident for Asian influence in the culture. Think of how importent the Chinese were in building places like San Francisco. I have even seen a crew of Airship Pirates dressed in Komonos with steampunk touches.

  • Love the concept, and have been drawing it for many years now myself. Just not a fan of the name "ricepunk." I'm Asian and I don't like the term, although I don't have a better substitute besides straight up Asian steampunk.

  • I love it. Not Asian, no comment on the name. ;) But in general I love the concept of getting other cultural garb besides Victorian English in on steampunk.

  • I've been interested in something similar to this for a little while now. Never knew it was a specific subculture. I wanted to make a character who uses elements of eastern fashion and accessories as well as African and Central Americas. I was thinking of a well-traveled explorer who collects trinkets, jewelry, and accessories from the countries she visits. Ricepunk gives me ideas to expand on.

  • So from what I can tell, it's taking stuff roughly from the "victorian era" but on the eastern side of the globe? Sounds nifty, and that's the cool thing about steampunk, there are so many different sublets of it like western steampunk (I am doing a saloon girl) and other places around the globe during the "steam" era. It looks really cool so far. Good luck finishing it out!

  • Erm, "Ricepunk" isn't really different from Steampunk o_o; It's just, while most Steampunkers take their inspiration from Europe, Ricepunkers gather their inspiration from other parts of the world. Remember kids: Steampunk is alternative history in a realistic fantastic world. Other countries would of course have other styles.

    However, yes, I like your design. If you want to add more oriental touches, try wearing a kimono like shirt under the vest with long sleeves? It's all about subtle and interesting tweaks~

  • I really like that picture! I don't know much of anything about steampunk yet but I think it's a cool outfit. I've seen some gorgeous steampunk outfits by members of the IG forum using vintage kimono.