The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus

Steampunk is a subgenre of Science fiction primarily based on the Industrial Revolution of the mid to late 1800s in Victorian England. It is heavily influenced by inventions and movements from the time period, including a change in the way that people thought about the world. This included the Theory of Evolution from Charles Darwin, the incorporation of “Social Darwinism” by Herbert Spencer, and the invention of the first computer by Charles Babbage. 

Much like the scholarly spirit embedded in the “age of steampunk” Faustus himself is constantly craving more wisdom and will do anything to get it. Creating a power struggle between knowledge and time, which are major themes throughout the play. The Neo-Victorian Futuristic world he lives in is ceaselessly pulling at him from both sides; until ultimately time is deemed more precious, but only if used appropriately. Juxtaposed with the need for more intelligence in a world where it is only coveted by the elite. 

I used my costume designs to showcase this major theme by including watches, clocks, gears, and metal. The show has a steampunk feel with bright colors to off-set the coldness of the various metals. 

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