Anachronistic Hearts

Anachronism is the occurrence when something is out of place in terms of time or chronology, particularly in historical contexts. It happens when a person, object, custom, or event is depicted in a time period where it does not belong.


Anachronisms can be intentional or unintentional and can either intentionally add a creative twist or unintentionally disrupt historical immersion.

❖ -- Intentional anachronisms are often used for artistic, comedic, or thematic effect, such as Shakespeare referencing a clock in Julius Caesar, even though mechanical clocks didn’t exist in ancient Rome.

❖ -- Unintentional anachronisms, on the other hand, result from errors in research or oversight, like showing characters in the 1800s using modern technology.

There are also cultural anachronisms, where misplaced attitudes or ideas... such as modern feminist beliefs... are ascribed to characters in historical settings without historical justification.

In literature and media, anachronisms may serve as a device to juxtapose different eras, highlight contrasts, or add humor, but when unintended, they can break immersion and detract from authenticity.

Anachronistic describes something that is out of place in terms of time or historical context. It refers to people, objects, ideas, or events that appear in a setting or era where they do not belong. Anachronistic elements can be intentional, serving artistic or thematic purposes, or unintentional, resulting from errors or oversights.


For example:

❖ -- The term can also be metaphorically applied to describe something outdated or no longer appropriate in its current time, such as calling a typewriter an "anachronistic tool" in the digital age.

Or more like this...

❖ -- a historical drama depicting 18th-century figures discussing modern scientific theories.

❖ -- cultural and social attitudes... like modern equality movements expressed by characters in earlier settings without historical grounding

❖ -- a character in a medieval story using a smartphone would be anachronistic

Famous examples include:

❖ -- a wristwatch appearing in a historical movie epic like "Gladiator"
❖ -- modern slang used in period dramas
❖ -- Second millennium items such as cellphones, laptops, social media in the television series "Riverdale" set in the 1950s.
❖ -- Starbucks coffee cup in "Game of Thrones" television drama series
❖ -- "Braveheart" where in this historical drama set in 13th-century Scotland, William Wallace and his soldiers wear kilts, which weren’t worn in Scotland until the 16th century.
❖ -- In literature - "Ivanhoe" by Sir Walter Scott... This 19th-century novel portrays jousting and chivalry as key aspects of 12th-century England, though such practices were largely phased out by then.

Now to discuss this, whilst there may be many opinions on the same issue, I shall use my own opinion.

With that note given... In roleplay and storytelling, while research and historical accuracy are often appreciated, realism can sometimes feel overrated.


Real life is straightforward and often lacks the theatrical, engaging qualities that make fictional tales captivating. The best stories, in my opinion, aren’t those that slavishly replicate reality, but those that embrace wildly improbable ideas and plots. Historical accuracy and probability have their place, but the writer's prerogative to prioritize interest over accuracy often results in delightful anachronisms. These historical inaccuracies contribute to an overblown, adventurous style that many find appealing, and within certain genres, such as steampunk, anachronisms are accepted as a natural and integral feature.

I am inspired by the concept of alternate histories where Victorian aesthetics blend with imaginative technology. Using the old adage "Good intentions that went bad" as a foundation, I aim to incorporate anachronistic inventions, including lighter-than-air airships, analog computers, and steam-powered gadgets like Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace’s Analytical Engine.

These elements create a fantastical reality dominated by expansive machines of steel and brass, driven by steam engines and mighty pistons, set in smoky, overcrowded cities evocative of the Steam Age. The appeal lies not only in the gritty technology but also in the rich cultural and fashion details, from men’s top hats and frock coats to women’s evolving attire that mixes traditional and unconventional styles, symbolizing shifting societal norms.

Steampunk's charm is evident in works such as the novel "The Difference Engine", the comic book series, and movie, "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen", the Disney animated film "Atlantis: The Lost Empire", the Anime series "Fullmetal Alchemist", and and the roleplaying game "Space: 1889"... These stories weave historic flavor with imaginative technology, creating alternate realities where steam engines, gears, and futuristic Victorian innovations shape the world.

Examples like the comic series "Girl Genius", showcase unique worlds that draw heavily from historical aesthetics, while films like H.G. Well’s "Time Machine", and "Wild Wild West", embody the cinematic evolution of steampunk. Karel Zeman's film "The Fabulous World of Jules Verne" (1958) is a seminal example of how early visual storytelling captured this fusion of history and fantasy. These works exemplify the enduring allure of worlds where history and imagination collide.

What ?.... an alternate reality dominated by:

• expansive machines of steel and brass?
• Technologies powered by steam engines, forging worlds and empires based around huge steam engines and mighty pistons??
• Dirt; a lot of it. Dirty, coal burning, smoky as Hell, overcrowded Steam Age cities?
• Bronze-colored gears on everything, even if they serve no evident purpose?
• Computers, cars, and Zeppelins?
• Physically impossible floating islands, a feat caused by volcanic and seismic convulsions?

And oh, the Fashions…

• For the men - top hats, frock coats, tailcoats, waistcoats, cravats, fob watches, stylish canes, gloves, and, goggles...
• For the ladies are a lot more conservative... long dresses, corsets, stockings, etc
• But wait for it.....

Women's fashion gradually start to incorporating clothing that was previously considered 'male-only' (trousers, shirts, etc)...

• women wearing cravats and tailcoats, etc;
• women wearing top hats, Stetsons or bowler hats, maybe together with visible corsets, and smoking in public;

Eh, not so much nowadays...

• the popular visible corset which left the shoulders naked and the carrying a Derringer in her garter belt was formerly the mark of a prostitute, madam, thief, card crook or swindler’s attire…
• men's hats (like bowlers and top hats) and clay smoking pipes were used by Gypsy women…
• and rough utilitarian clothes like the heavy canvas skirt, jacket and Stetson or sombrero were for peasant women. ….

FOOTNOTE:

Though (1) magic in any form, (2) other than traditional human form, and (3) special abilities are allowed, I would hope that the individual accepting such character traits and responsibility for that trait, use it with care.
❖ Mind reading, yes, God-modding no...
❖ Dead is dead, there is no coming back...
❖ Vampires, yes, but limited powers are minimal, as steam by-products seems to decimate their kind.
❖ Illusions, yes, as long as you explain it...
❖ Magic, yes ...as long as you realize the DIRE consequences for using it.