Solarpunk-a genre, a rebellion against popular dystopia through green tech and an emphasis on community & craftsmanship.
Clockpunk(+Solarpunk): Background Story (Longish Text)
I haven't really thought of a main story for this setting, but I have planned out a bit of background:
As I have it figured out, the story occurs during the 17th Century (the 1600s) - which, in real life, was the Baroque Era… with the main story taking place during the latter half of that century.
I think the point-of-divergence would occur about two centuries prior. In this universe, Christopher Columbus never makes it to the Americas - as he falls ill at sea along the way. When the news of Columbus’ demise hits Italy, it leads to a decline of popularity in colonialism and imperialism - and, not long thereafter, anti-colonial and anti-imperial sentiments rise in popularity. Vatican City and the Catholic Church also loses its stronghold in religious domination. At some point, Leonardo de Vinci renounces religion - and he dedicates more of his time to creating clockwork models. This is what sets the clockwork technology in motion.
Quite naturally, there are limitations to clockwork alone - so something needs to be used to power it. Due to the growth in pacifism, gunpowder is on the decline - and magic doesn’t really exist in this universe. This is where people realize that sunlight and other natural resources can be used to power technology.
Due to greater artistic freedom and the growth in optimism, artwork becomes more colourful - and stained glasses enjoy a growth in popularity, and does not have such a strong connotation with churches. Religious freedom and religious tolerance becomes more prevalent, and people learn to embrace diversity.
By the early 17th Century, the last vestiges of class stratification are present - until, by about the middle of the century, it no longer exists.
In this universe, Jimmy Reed would be born in 1635 - whilst most of the Avenged Sevenfold members would be born in 1671. Johnny Seward and Matt Baker would be born in 1674. This places the births of everyone precisely two centuries before that of their steampunk counterparts.
The setting would be rich with gear aesthetics and with colourful glass and lights aesthetics. Even the urban areas are beautiful with greenery used in tandem with the buildings, and stained glass everywhere. Everything is so colourful - it practically makes the Christmas season seen dull and drab by comparison.
Blues music and rock music would still exist in this universe, but the latter genre would not so much carry connotations of debauchery and douchiness. Some of the older folks might still not care much for the genre, but only because it’s quite louder and noisier than what they grew up on.
Jimmy would have been born during a time when class stratification was still an issue, but it would already be in its deconstruction state.
For fans of clockpunk and/or solarpunk, feel free to suggest ideas.




I don't have any suggestions at the moment, but I do really like the idea of a Solarpunky world that's been Solarpunk for longer than one would usually see. :)
<3
Certainly, the one major advantage of a solarpunk society extrapolated directly from a Renaissance setting is that it bypasses the whole Industrial Revolution - and, by extension, corporations and mass marketing. Thereby, we avoid all the awkward questions such as the role of McDonald's and professional sports in a solarpunk setting.
As much as McDonald's is widely maligned - and Ray Kroc had some very unethical business practices - quite a few us would miss their food. Then again, there's probably nothing stopping people who like McDonald's food enough to run their own McDonald's-like independent restaurant from doing so.
Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream would likely still exist, since Ben and Jerry themselves are all about placing people above corporations - but one thing that might be different would be the decentralization of the business.
Good points. That's why my own Solarpunk universe is set post-apocalypse. All the McDs died in the android uprising. :D
"Blues music and rock music would still exist in this universe, but the latter genre would not so much carry connotations of debauchery and douchiness. Some of the older folks might still not care much for the genre, but only because it’s quite louder and noisier than what they grew up on." - also you might wanna empathise eco-friendly ways of amplification, etc.
Very good point. Since the steam engine was never invented, they would have to powered on some other source of energy. Gears and springs probably wouldn't quite cut it.
"The setting would be rich with gear aesthetics and with colourful glass and lights aesthetics. Even the urban areas are beautiful with greenery used in tandem with the buildings, and stained glass everywhere. Everything is so colourful - it practically makes the Christmas season seen dull and drab by comparison." - Liked this.
For buildings that have two or more storeys, the stained glass would probably be placed either directly above the clear glass windows or slightly above them.
Would make more sense though if the death of Colombus merely caused imperialism and colonialiam not to rise and then experience a sort of gradual decline, as opposed to creating an anti-movement?
I think it would be some mixture of the two, actually. Some of the more religious folks might even insist that the death of Columbus was God's way of warning them against imperialism and colonialism. There probably would not be so much an active anti-movement, rather people who formerly thought that imperialism and colonialism now reconsidering their stance - and those who were previously uncertain now taking a more firm stance in opposition.
Oh, I see what you mean now with God's Way of Warning Them :)