Decopunk is a recent subset of the punk sci-fi genres (specifically Dieselpunk), centered around the Art Deco and Streamline Moderne art styles that were popular during the Roaring 20s and stayed in fashion until sometime in the 1950s. It has a sleeker and shiny aesthetic compared to Dieselpunk, which has a tendency to be more gritty and dark aesthetic to it. Often times, Decopunk will use slightly more modern technology compared to the times it's supposed to evoke like VHS tapes.
Visual[]
Decopunk shares a lot in common with Dieselpunk aesthetics, but with more of a focus on the Art Deco style that was popular around the time. A perfect visual example of the Decopunk aesthetic would be the original BioShock video game.
Fashion[]
A lot of Decopunk fashion does tend to draw upon Dieselpunk's similar influences, but there's definitely more of a focus on looking fashionable and classically presentable than there is on the grittiness one would find within the Dieselpunk genre. Definitely expect more zoot suits, dresses, and higher-end fashion in Decopunk circles than you would find within the Dieselpunk genre of aesthetics.
Music[]
Spotify Playlists[]
- DecoPunk playlist by Idris
- Decopunk playlist by dibleopard
- Decopunk playlist by bogartbearbreaker
- decopunk bois playlist by sketchytsh
- DecoPunk Ensemble playlist by lark93
- Dieselpunk/Decopunk Crossover playlist by WattpadAmbassadors
- Decopunk Mix (Spotify Niche Mix)
Ottensian Dieselpunk[]
Ottensian Dieselpunk is focused on the aesthetics and decadence of the Roaring Twenties and is another term for Decopunk. This leads to speculation on how it would evolve if it were completely uninterrupted by the 1929 Market Crash (Black Tuesday) that led to the Great Depression or by either World War and generally has a more utopian vision of the future (similar to the relationship between Solarpunk and Cyberpunk) and is more of a version of Retro-Futurism. Examples of fiction that work into the Ottensian Decopunk label include The Rocketeer, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, and (retroactively), the works of Isaac Asimov.
The Outskirts[]
Other works of fiction associated with Decopunk include the works of H.P. Lovecraft and noir fiction like Casablanca and LA Noire.
Media[]
Television[]
- Metropolis (2001) (film)
- Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995) (animated series)
- Love, Death & Robots S2E3: "Pop Squad" (2021) (episode of an animated anthology series)
- Lackadaisy (2023) (animated short based on the comic of the same name)
- Brazil (1985)
- Agatha Christie's Poirot (1989-2013) (British TV series)
- Batman (1989)
- The Rocketeer (1991)
- Batman Returns (1992)
- Dick Tracy (1990)
- Gattaca (1997)
- Sky Captain and The World of Tomorrow (2004)
Video Games[]
- BioShock
- Close to the Sun
Other[]
- Magic: The Gathering's Streets of New Capenna
- La Valise (comic book)
Gallery[]
