White Steampunk, or Two Facets of Tsarist Russia. Jacek Dukaj’s “Lód” (“Ice”) and Andrzej Pilipiuk’s Short Stodies about Dr. Skórzewski Cover Image

Biały steampunk – dwa oblicza carskiej Rosji. "Lód" Jacka Dukaja i cykl opowiadań o doktorze Skórzewskim Andrzeja Pilipiuka
White Steampunk, or Two Facets of Tsarist Russia. Jacek Dukaj’s “Lód” (“Ice”) and Andrzej Pilipiuk’s Short Stodies about Dr. Skórzewski

Author(s): Tomasz Ryrych
Subject(s): Studies of Literature
Published by: Ośrodek Badawczy Facta Ficta
Keywords: steampunk; allohistory; alternate history; counterfactuality; Tsarist Russia; Jacek Dukaj; Ice; Andrzej Pilipiuk; Dr. Skórzewski

Summary/Abstract: The main purpose of the article is to draw attention to the specific subgenre of Polish fantasy located geographically and historically in the realities of Tsarist Russia and making use of the aesthetic category of steampunk. First of all, attention is paid to the role of the White Steampunk in both the petrification and deconstruction of Polish national myths and political patriotic discourse. The first part of the article discusses the determinants and categories related to steampunk aesthetics in general. The second part is devoted to a detailed analysis of Jacek Dukaj’s and Andrzej Pilipiuk’s works which serve as an example of the implementationof this aesthetics in the context of contemporary political, social, and cultural issues.

  • Issue Year: 60/2019
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 97-114
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: Polish