The Steampunk Meme Logbook

In Early memes, Quotes

“Your call is important to us. Please hold while we reroute your reality through several unstable dimensions.”

Facebook 11th May 2025.

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 stern-looking man with a large, handlebar moustache, dressed in a long, high-collared coat cinched with a belt. He has a complex, steampunk-style mechanical arm, complete with gears and articulated fingers, on his left side. He is wearing large, industrial-looking headphones connected by a series of pipes and wires that run down his back. A circular mechanical device with a gear and a pressure gauge is attached to the front of his coat.

The background is a chaotic and industrialised cityscape with numerous factory smokestacks and a thick plume of smoke filling the sky. There are also flames and smoke rising from a few buildings, giving the impression of a disaster or a very polluted atmosphere.

The text at the bottom, in a bold, capitalised font, reads “REALITY CALLED. I PUT IT ON HOLD.”

The meaning of the meme is to humorously express a refusal to deal with the problems or responsibilities of daily life. The steampunk aesthetic and the man’s stoic demeanour contrast with the chaotic background, suggesting that he is deliberately ignoring or shutting out the messy, overwhelming reality around him. The addition of the post caption “Your call is important to us. Please hold while we reroute your reality through several unstable dimensions” further emphasises this idea, treating the concept of “reality” like an unwanted phone call that is being deliberately delayed and complicated.

A close-up image of a steampunk-style Nixie tube clock with a glowing caged light bulb on top. A plaque behind it, surrounded by dark pipes and gauges, has a humorous caption. The Nixie tubes display "02:38", and the plaque reads: "COMMENCE CHAOTIC TIME-ANOMALY COUNTDOWN: 02:38 PREPARE FOR UNEXPECTED VICTORIAN HIJINKS".

Unleash Time Travel: Discover the Quirky Steampunk Lamp That Summons Alternate Timelines

In Early memes, Oddities you can own

“Warning: Activating this lamp may summon alternate timelines.”

Perfect for timekeepers, chaos engineers, or anyone who thinks standard table lamps are cowardly.

#ad Available here https://tidd.ly/4jNMe05 **

Image assembled with the assistance of curious contraptions and questionable algorithms. No artisans were harmed. Probably.

Facebook 10th May 2025

The image is a digitally rendered steampunk-style composition that mimics a real-world object. It features a chaotic, industrial background of dark metal pipes, valves, and gauges, suggesting a complex, old-fashioned machine.

In the foreground, there is an ornate, retro-futuristic steampunk device. It consists of a large, glowing Edison-style light bulb housed in a metal cage on top of a boxy mechanism with brass gears, knobs, and switches. Below this, there is a digital clock display made of glowing, orange Nixie tubes that shows the time “02:38”.

Mounted on the wall behind the device is a plaque with text that adds to the humorous, meme-like nature of the image. The text reads:

❖ COMMENCE CHAOTIC TIME-ANOMALY❖
COUNTDOWN:
02:38
PREPARE FOR
UNEXPECTED
VICTORIAN
HIJINKS”

The meaning of the meme is to set up a humorous, impending event. The serious, dramatic tone of “COMMENCE CHAOTIC TIME-ANOMALY” is undercut by the playful and absurd outcome of “UNEXPECTED VICTORIAN HIJINKS.” The image is a lighthearted joke about the genre of steampunk itself, taking its dramatic, intricate machinery and applying it to a trivial, funny outcome. The fact that the Nixie tube clock is a real, available product on Etsy adds another layer of a real-world object being transformed into a meme, blurring the lines between a product, a piece of art, and a joke.

Check it out **

** Sponsered links!

A steampunk-style meme featuring a man in a jacket and glasses walking away from a chaotic scene of gears and a pressure gauge exploding with sparks. The text at the top reads, "I DIDN'T LOSE CONTROL. I JUST..." and the text at the bottom reads, "...SWITCHED NARRATIVES."

I didn’t lose control. I just… switched narratives

In Early memes

I didn’t lose control. I just… switched narratives.”

Built with imagination, binary code and algorithms and not to be confused with a work of art.

Facebook, 10th May 2025.

The image is a digital illustration in a steampunk style, showing a man with glasses and a jacket walking away from a chaotic scene of cogs, gears, and a pressure gauge. Sparks and glowing embers fill the air behind him, suggesting a recent mechanical failure or explosion.

The text at the top of the image reads “I DIDN’T LOSE CONTROL. I JUST…” and the text at the bottom reads “…SWITCHED NARRATIVES.”

The meme’s meaning is a humorous way of reframing a situation where one has clearly lost control. Instead of admitting failure, the person in the meme presents their loss of control as a deliberate and strategic choice to change the direction of events. It’s a way of jokingly rationalising a bad outcome or a mistake as a planned, intentional act, often used in contexts where things have gone spectacularly wrong. The man’s calm demeanour while walking away from the mechanical disaster reinforces the humour of his statement.

A humorous steampunk-style illustration of a man with a handlebar mustache, wearing a top hat and goggles, calmly adjusting his cravat. In the background, there is a chaotic scene of gears and a fiery explosion. The text above reads "EXPLOSION? IN THIS WAISTCOAT?" and the text below says "REMAIN DAPPER. ADJUST YOUR CRAVAT."

Navigating Chaos with Dapper Confidence: A Steampunk Perspective.

In Captain's Log, Early memes

When chaos reigns and the gears fly wild, a true gentleperson tightens their cravat and carries on. Dignity is not optional.

This meme was brought to you by human imagination and another active automaton.

Facebook, 9th May 2025.

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.

The image features a whimsical steampunk-themed illustration, designed to resemble a poster or a page from an old-fashioned publication. Its background is a sepia-toned paper texture, while the top displays the title "ACTUAL ODDITIES YOU CAN OWN" in large, bold capital letters.

Actual Oddities You Can Own – #3: Baby Octopus in a Jar

In Early memes, Oddities you can own

Actual Oddities You Can Own – #3: Baby Octopus in a Jar

Check it out on The Steampun stuff blog.

Disclaimer:

This cartoon is gloriously unhinged and not a literal depiction of the product. The baby octopus won’t glow, wink, or discuss steampunk politics. The oddity is real — the monocled lunatic is not. AI tools were unrealised in the creation of this post.

Facebook 6th May 2025.

The image is a humorous, steampunk-style illustration in the form of a poster or a page from a vintage publication. The background is a sepia-toned paper texture. The title at the top reads “ACTUAL ODDITIES YOU CAN OWN” in a bold, capitalized font.

The main subject is a smiling man with a large mustache, wearing a top hat with a gear on it, a monocle over his left eye, and a suit with a bow tie and a lapel pin that also features a gear. He has a wide, happy expression, with large, round glasses on his face.

Actual Oddities You Can Own – #3: Baby Octopus in a Jar

He is holding up a glowing jar with a small, stylized octopus inside. The jar is a mason jar with a label that says “BABY OCTOPUS IN A JAR.” The octopus inside is a golden-yellow color and appears to be floating in a liquid. The liquid is also yellow and has a glowing, wavy effect at the top, as if it’s emitting light or steam.

The bottom of the image has a caption in the same bold, capitalized font: “#3: BABY OCTOPUS IN A JAR.” The overall style combines Victorian-era aesthetics with steampunk elements, giving it a whimsical and anachronistic feel.

As well as a funny meme, there is a unique set of products on Etsy with glowing octopus sculptures in a jar.**

Check iy out **

**Sponsered link.

Victorian-style illustration of a calm woman holding a teacup and biscuit in front of a mechanical wall exploding with sparking cables. She appears unfazed. Text reads: “Sabotage on Deck Three? One problem at a time. Finish your biscuit.”

One problem at a time. Finish your biscuit.

In Captain's Log, Early memes

🧭 Meme Entry: Sabotage on Deck Three?

Facebook Caption: One problem at a time. Finish your biscuit.

Believe it or not, AI helped with this sketch without any artisans being harmed.

First posted 6th May 2025.

🖼️ Image Description:

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.

Victorian-style etched illustration of a composed gentleman in a suit calmly drinking tea while a swirling time rift spirals behind him, filled with floating pocket watches and warped architecture. Caption reads: “Spontaneous Time Rift? Terribly inconvenient. Sip faster.”

Spontaneous Time Rift Etiquette: When Temporal Anomalies Interrupt Tea.

In Early memes

🕰️ Meme Entry: Spontaneous Time Rift?

Original post date: 5th May 2025

Facebook caption: Spontaneous Time Rift? Terribly inconvenient. Sip faster.

🖼️ Image Description:

A finely dressed Victorian gentleman sits in a poised yet unbothered manner, holding a delicate teacup mid-sip. Behind him, an intricately etched swirl of temporal chaos unfolds — pocket watches spiral through the air, architectural elements twist impossibly, and streams of time coil like smoke. Despite the obvious vortex of time unravelling in the background, the man remains entirely composed, focusing solely on his tea.

The artwork is rendered in a richly detailed Victorian illustration style, with sepia tones enhancing its antiquated charm. The text at the top reads “Spontaneous Time Rift?” while the caption at the bottom deadpans: “Terribly inconvenient. Sip faster.”

🧭 Meme Explanation:

This was one of the earliest entries in what would later evolve into the Captain’s Log meme series — though at the time, there was no Jenkins, no official log, just an absurd scenario handled with excessive British decorum.

The humour lies in the calmly exaggerated understatement. Faced with a spontaneous rupture in the very fabric of time — something that should elicit panic — the gentleman’s only concern is maintaining his tea ritual. The phrase “Sip faster” pokes fun at a stiff-upper-lip attitude in the face of utter disaster, a recurring theme in steampunk and British satire.

It set the tone for future memes: refined individuals responding to bizarre catastrophes with impeccable manners and mildly annoyed expressions. A visual and textual blueprint for the kind of absurd resilience that would soon define life aboard the airship.

The image is an Etched Victorian book-style picture of a steampunk variation on George Lucas's Darth Vader from Star Wars.

Join me, and together we shall rule the galaxy… with brass fittings and impeccable tailoring.

In Early memes

Join me, and together we shall rule the galaxy… with brass fittings and impeccable tailoring.”
A collaboration between one human, one machine, and a great deal of tea.

Facebook 4th May 2025. Star Wars Day!

Exploring the Quirky Charm of the Steampunk Darth Vader Meme

In the universe of internet memes, beloved characters are often reimagined in humorous ways, and a striking example is a steampunk twist on a classic Star Wars quote: “Join me, and together we shall rule the galaxy—with brass fittings and impeccable tailoring.” This playful alteration of Darth Vader’s iconic invitation blends the dark essence of the character with the whimsical aesthetics of the steampunk genre, celebrating creativity and craftsmanship. Accompanied by a Victorian-style illustration of Vader adorned with intricate brass fittings, this meme captures both humour and artistry, showcasing how even the most brooding figures can be given a delightful makeover.

What makes this meme particularly appealing is its broad resonance with fans of all kinds. By tapping into the nostalgia surrounding Star Wars while adding a layer of creativity that steampunk enthusiasts and casual viewers can appreciate, it stands out as a light-hearted celebration of imagination and collaboration. As it reminds us of the endless possibilities within artistic reimaginings, this steampunk Darth Vader invites everyone to enjoy the playful interplay of cultural influences and perhaps even inspire their own creative endeavours.

The visual component of the meme features a smaller Alice interacting with a caterpillar that is perched on a mushroom, smoking a hookah pipe, an image reminiscent of the whimsical and nonsensical nature of Wonderland.

“I Can’t Go Back to Yesterday”: Reflections on Change and Growth in Wonderland