Steamcon 2009 - PART 3

From Steamcon 2009

The last day of Steamcon. I was a twinge sad donning my costume for the final time, also taking a little while to start packing as I looked over the panels I wanted to check out. I also wanted to go around and say good bye to people I met throughout the weekend and check out the rumor of advanced registration for Steamcon 2010!

The panel pictures included below are used from onewe [X] mb's Flickr photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/onewe/

Sunday
10-11 a.m.
The Victorian Mind
Suzanne Jachim, Moderator
Tim Powers

Panel photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/onewe/4045803526/

This panel was rather informative and somber, at least in the way of how Tim and Suzanne described the Victorian world, its people, and how the Victorian mind had a notion of the universe. Tim, as was my experience Friday, is a gifted speaker who loves to think "what ifs" when delving into the fictional and real worlds of Victorian England. I respect the fact he does his homework first (which was part of the point of this panel) and then Tim really gets inside of the issues, the people, and the period events to come away with thoughtful alternative scenarios of what could have been...or a better understanding of a certain event. Great writers are like that I hear.

This was a first time listening to Suzanne Jachim, also a great speaker who loves history. Below are some of their comments and thoughts on the Victorian mind.

Some notable statements:

• London was the center of the Victorian world.
• Victorian ideals were the ultra extreme of the British society.
• Dore' Illustrations were cited as depicting much of the mood from that time period.
• "Everything is about how you present yourself."
• Britain is still a very stratified society. (Also, you do not go around challenging the status quo.) Example...

Suzanne shared a story about the wide-spread accepted practice of London-centric medical personnel not washing hands at maternity wards and the extremely high fatality rate (today we would know the cause as infections passed on from one patient to another). In the 1840's there was a physician who suggested cleaning hands before someone worked with a patient--in this case at the maternity ward. Fatality rates plummeted. The governing medical class ended up firing and disbanding the physician, due to his perceived insolence at challenging the accepted non-washing practice. (After some further research, it appears the move towards improved sanitation was growing all throughout the British Empire and even America.) Part of Suzanne's point was that although someone had the right idea (a practice that could save thousands of women and children), since he was not part of the accepted class--I think he was the son of a common laborer--his findings were rendered unacceptable and out of place for a person of his status.

For a better understanding of the period, Suzanne and Tim both shared two good reading sources:

• Jack London "People of the Abyss" (1903)
• Upton Sinclare's "The Jungle" (1906) ...about London's East end.

Two philosophies raged during this time: Darwin and Malthus

Tim Powers mentioned something near the end that stuck with me. After all the facts shared, Tim said something to the effect, "...People at the time thought they were doing the right thing, so do not be too quick to say this or that was wrong, given our modern perspectives. When you add it all together, some of their morals and ideals far outweigh what we now hold as moral-- although we would view ourselves as more civilized. Likewise, yes, many of the things allowed at the time were horrid (child labor, women as property, lack of proper sanitation practice in the early Victorian era, etc) according to our modern advancements. But all in all, the moral compass and innovations of each period pretty much balance each other out when you look at them side by side. All these things need to be understood if you want to write about, create, and truly depict the Victorian world.


11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
The Spark of Invention
Phil Foglio, Moderator
Paul Guinan
Cherie Priest

Panel photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/onewe/4045803528/

I've always been fascinated with the dynamics--from events, to a person, to possible outside inspirations--of how creative ideas sort of coalesce in a person's mind and then how those creative ideas make their way to some media for others to experience. From personal experience as a musician, artist, writer, and even my extreme geek side (working in RF communications and computers), I respect the creative process that begins....when?

For this panel, Cherie, Paul, and Phil shared their experiences and thoughts on the Spark of Invention by citing recent accomplishments that had come out.

Cherie is a transplant to Seattle from Texas. Since she loves history, Cherie shared she had one time come up to see some friends and they took her to see Seattle's Underground tour. She went again and again, and finally fell in love with the city, its communities, and its people. She shared that many of her observations and research coming to Seattle, in addition to the subsequent (and very enjoyable) excursions back into Seattle's Underground and reading of its fascinating history gave her much of the inspiration for the recent Boneshaker book released in September, an alternative history/steampunk styled story.

Paul Guinan also is a big history buff. However he enjoys focusing on actual events. Some time ago, beyond his art work, he wanted to do a straight adventure (history) story and Paul realized "I needed a 'hook.'" At the time, Paul thought a good example would be similar to The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles - fictional characters integrated slightly into history, but those fictional characters do not change history. Paul then went briefly into how this creative approach--looking toward true historical periods and inserting a fictional character--helped him develop Boilerplate, which began as a graphic novel, then a website (2000), and finally a book, released this year.

For both Cherie and Paul, I made a note that it appears part of their initial creative process is to: 1) Observe, 2) Research, and 3) Reverse Engineer--a city, circumstances, or time period-- to help give context to their altered world.

Phil Foglio shared some insights to the recent Girl Genius projects (webisode graphic novels and radio theater).

Phil and Kaja sat down some time ago, listing out some preferences for a new project: Something with a strong female protagonist and it had to be funny. Phil--being more the drawing artistic force of the family--started off with some drawings, to which Kaja went through selecting certain ones to help refine the cast of characters they might try to explore. Phil and Kaja then took about seven years to write the stories.

Phil shared something really important about story telling: "If you want people to suspend their sense of belief, you need to first gain their respect/acceptance with your premise (most often based on facts or acceptance/notions)."

After some Q&A, I was able to get in a question that I wondered about for myself:

Question - (paraphrased) Each of you have shared your experiences how you create, write, and get the ball rolling with your work. Is there ever a time when the ideas are not clicking, you feel the creative well has run dry, and possibly you seek out trusted friends to discuss your work? What kind of social circles might you have to discuss your work?

Answers -
Phil answered that he often talks with his wife, since they collaborate on so many projects.

Paul also mentioned working collaboratively with his wife--who also helped in the production of Boilerplate. Paul shared how he would think something is great, but then submit it to his wife and she would make suggestions...that ended up improving the piece.

Cherie also mentions her husband...bouncing off ideas.

With that panel over, I made some final purchases, ate lunch and then headed to the airport for an afternoon departure. --But before I headed to the airport, I pre-registered for Steamcon 2010!!!


Epilogue

These posts attempt to capture a very small part of what I experienced during Steamcon 2009, mostly with the information I gleaned from the panels and some hastily jotted memories of meeting some very friendly people. To "Miss," Jen, Ken, Justin, Jake, Dave, Jeff and his two friends, Terri and Stanley, Sarah, and many other goggled and steam-head fans, thank you.

And as with a good story--something I had not shared earlier--this vacation comes full circle. On the flight coming up to Seattle, I sat beside a couple who were coming up in celebration of their daughter and son-in-law's one year wedding anniversary. I sat beside Oran, the father. We talked about everything making the trip breeze by in what seemed like a short amount of time. I was able to talk about Steamcon, part way as a trip/vacation, but also to do further research on my own steampunk-esque story coming out soon. Oran talked about his work. As we arrived in Seattle, we discovered we'd all be taking the same flight back to Sacramento on Sunday. I joked, "Well I'm going to ask you how the vacation went, then, if we see each other Sunday!" We both laughed.

Turns out we did see each other Sunday on the same flight, although we sat in separate areas. (I did ask how their vacation went and Oran said they all had a great time...and plenty of fresh seafood!) As a touching ending though, when we had arrived in Sacramento, I had departed the gate area and Oran was standing there smiling. We shook hands and hoped possibly we'd see each other for their daughter/son-in-law's second wedding anniversary NEXT year on the same date. I hope so.

Note: While putting these posts together, I discovered some great photos over on the Flickr photo site, tagged, Steamcon 2009 : http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/steamcon2009/

Enjoy!

By the way, if you have any questions or interest about steampunk, feel free to comment or contact me.