Filed and misfiled accounts from the crew of our long-suffering airship. Expect corset incidents, questionable engineering, rogue goats, time-travel complications, and far too much tea. These log entries chronicle the absurd voyage of steampunkstuff.co.uk—one meme at a time.
An emotional support automaton with unresolved daddy issues and a penchant for dramatic monologues. Fuled by El. Grey. tea.
This meme works by blending steampunk aesthetics with exaggerated emotional tropes to create a humorous, character-driven tableau. The robot—described as an “emotional support automaton with unresolved daddy issues”—is visually framed in a dramatic, introspective pose, reinforcing the parody of overwrought self-reflection. The sepia tones and vintage decor evoke a bygone era, while the absurdity of the mug labeled “TEMPUS FANKUFLU” adds a layer of surreal comedy. By combining theatrical language with a stylized setting, the meme satirizes both Victorian melodrama and modern emotional clichés, inviting viewers to laugh at the fusion of mechanical stoicism and human angst.
Captain’s Log, Supplemental: Lady Winslet’s new ‘pocket companion’ has stirred both admiration and mild panic among the crew. Measuring no more than six inches from tentacle to tentacle, the diminutive kraken resides in her evening clutch and responds to her commands with unnerving swiftness. Yesterday, it passed her a handkerchief; today, it attempted to fillet Jenkins for looking at her bonnet. I am forced to consider the possibility that we’ve taken on the most well-dressed privateer in the aether.
Between the lines (and pixels).
The “Pocket Kraken” meme takes one of the most feared creatures of maritime legend and reimagines it as a dainty, handbag-sized companion for the well-dressed steampunk socialite. In true steampunk fashion, it blends the absurd with the refined — pairing high society etiquette with a fantastical pet that’s equal parts charming and dangerous.
The humour comes from the juxtaposition: a creature known for dragging ships beneath the waves is here politely handing over a lace handkerchief. In the logic of the steampunk world, this is perfectly normal — after all, if you can fit an airship in a teacup (given the right amount of brass and optimism), why shouldn’t a kraken fit in your evening clutch?
The caption, “Pocket Kraken — because one can never be too careful with valuables… or sailors,” plays into the tongue-in-cheek worldbuilding, implying that the kraken’s talents are equally suited to guarding jewels and abducting hapless seafarers. It’s a wink to those familiar with nautical lore and a nod to the whimsical impracticality that defines the genre.
This meme playfully combines steampunk aesthetics with modern digital woes — specifically, losing internet or mobile signal.
In the image, a well-dressed Victorian gentleman sips tea calmly while a pigeon (styled as a stand-in for a raven) perches nearby with a scroll. In the background, a sparking, gear-filled communication contraption has clearly failed. The top text asks, “Lost all communications?”, and the bottom advises: “Post a raven. Sip something restorative.”
The joke hinges on the absurd juxtaposition of 19th-century solutions to 21st-century problems. When your high-tech device fails — a relatable modern frustration — the suggestion is to revert to a whimsical steampunk alternative: sending a message via bird (like a raven or pigeon), and calmly drinking tea.
The accompanying Facebook caption drives the humour further: “When the signal fails, summon the feathered broadband. Reliable, reusable, and never asks for a password.”
This line mocks our dependence on Wi-Fi and passwords, suggesting instead a feathered creature with perfect uptime and zero digital barriers. It pokes fun at both modern connectivity issues and Victorian-era eccentricity — the very essence of steampunk humour.
Submitted without context, yet somehow perfectly understandable.
This latest entry features a tabby cat in full steampunk attire (waistcoat and goggles, naturally) staging what appears to be a mid-air mutiny against an anxious goat at the helm. A raven provides enthusiastic aerial support. It’s unclear what caused the feline-led rebellion, but judging by the goat’s expression, this was not on the flight plan.
The phrase “Mutiny Most Fowl” was suggested by a regular follower who imagined the chaos of a raven and a cat teaming up to overthrow a goat pilot. Naturally, we obliged.
No actual animals were harmed. The goat probably had it coming.
The Raven-Cat Mutiny (also known informally as “A Mutiny Most Fowl”) refers to a widely circulated steampunk meme depicting a feline-led insurrection aboard a dirigible. Accounts vary, but most versions involve a waistcoated tabby cat, a helpful raven, and a bewildered goat attempting to retain control of the airship’s helm. While traditionally viewed as a lighthearted affair, some historians have argued that the incident marks a turning point in airborne animal diplomacy. Interpretations differ as to whether the event constitutes an actual mutiny or simply an aggressive redistribution of navigational responsibility. The event is now commemorated annually aboard some airships with ceremonial squawking, theatrical paw-pointing, and biscuits withheld without explanation.
The illustration features a black-and-white, hand-drawn style reminiscent of Victorian-era etchings or woodcuts, set against a sepia-toned background. The central figure is a man with a moustache and spectacles, wearing a suit, a bow tie, and a high-collared shirt. He is holding an unfolded map, looking at it with a calm, slightly amused expression.
The background is a dramatic scene. A large volcano is erupting, spewing smoke, rocks, and an array of gears and cogs into the air. Several small dirigibles are flying nearby, one of which is positioned close to the volcano’s peak. To the right of the man’s head, there is a small, mechanical device with pipes and a pressure gauge.
The text at the top, in a large, capitalised font, reads “MAP INACCURATE BY 300 MILES”. The text at the bottom, in the same bold, capitalised font, reads “SPLENDID. MORE ADVENTURE THAN EXPECTED”.
The meaning of the meme is to reframe a difficult or challenging situation as a positive opportunity. The man’s calm and enthusiastic reaction to the realisation that his map is wildly inaccurate and he is in a dangerous, volcanic area is a humorous subversion of what would be a stressful moment for most people. The meme suggests an attitude of embracing unexpected problems as exciting adventures, rather than obstacles, and is often used to convey a sense of unflappable optimism or a love for chaotic situations.
The image is a humorous, steampunk-style illustration in the form of a poster or an advertisement from a vintage publication. The background has a sepia-toned paper texture. The title at the top, in a large, capitalised font, reads “EXPLOSION? IN THIS WAISTCOAT?”.
The central figure is a well-dressed man with a handlebar moustache, wearing a top hat with a pair of goggles perched on the brim, and another smaller pair of goggles over his eyes. He is adjusting his cravat, and his expression is one of calm composure. He is wearing a waistcoat, a suit jacket, and a collared shirt.
The background is a chaotic, mechanical scene. To his left, there is a large, complex machine with numerous visible gears and pipes. In the upper-left corner, a dirigible floats in the sky. To his right, behind his shoulder, there is a large explosion or burst of fire and smoke. Despite the chaos, the man remains unfazed.
The caption at the bottom of the image, in the same bold, capitalised font, reads “REMAIN DAPPER. ADJUST YOUR CRAVAT.”
The meme’s meaning is to convey a sense of calm and unflappable confidence in the face of chaos, disaster, or overwhelming stress. The man’s meticulous attention to his cravat, while a literal explosion happens behind him, serves as a metaphor for maintaining one’s composure and priorities, no matter how dire the circumstances. The steampunk aesthetic adds a quirky, anachronistic layer to the humour.
In a richly detailed, Victorian-style etched illustration, a woman in late 19th-century attire stands with an air of calm resolve, holding a delicate teacup and a biscuit mid-dunk. She wears a high-necked dress with intricate embroidery and a pendant watch on a chain. Her expression is completely composed — almost bored.
Behind her, the airship’s mechanical interior has erupted into chaos. A tangle of thick, writhing pipes and cables has exploded in sparks, clearly suggesting sabotage or malfunction. Despite this dramatic event, the woman remains unfazed, fully focused on the critical matter of tea and biscuits.
Text at the top reads: “Sabotage on Deck Three?”
Below: “One problem at a time. Finish your biscuit.”
Hashtags at the bottom include: #airshiplife #steampunghumor #biscuitfirst #shipboardmanners
🧐 Meme Explanation:
This meme is a celebration of steampunk stoicism and utterly misplaced priorities — in the best way possible.
Faced with what appears to be a catastrophic mechanical failure aboard an airship, our character chooses calm, civility, and biscuit protocol over panic. The phrase “One problem at a time” underscores the absurd but relatable sentiment: yes, sabotage is happening — but first, the tea ritual must be completed.
Like earlier entries in the series, this image exaggerates British manners to the point of parody, poking fun at the cultural impulse to remain composed even in the most ridiculous of emergencies. It also subtly satirises modern burnout culture — where crises pile up, yet we’re still told to “stay calm and carry on”… or at least finish our snack.
The disclaimer “AI helped with this sketch without any artisans being harmed” playfully acknowledges the AI-generated nature of the artwork, reinforcing the Automaton Improvisation aesthetic that runs throughout this meme series.
This one went viral, clocking up a thousand reactions.
This meme humorously juxtaposes British composure with a dramatic scene. The central figure is a well-dressed gentleman with a moustache and goggles, calmly holding a teacup while a large airship behind him is on fire and crashing. The detailed, old-fashioned art style adds to the absurdity of the situation, emphasising his nonchalant demeanour.
The text plays on British stereotypes, with the top line asking, “PANIC? IN THIS OUTFIT?” and the bottom line insisting, “ABSOLUTELY NOT. FINISH YOUR TEA.” The humour lies in the extreme composure of the man amidst chaos, making it relatable to those who strive to maintain normalcy in stressful situations. Overall, it highlights a dry, understated humour through the contrasting reactions to disaster.
