Donnie Darko and Steampunk have a lot in common. Both rely on alternate realities as their central theme, both play with the concept of time like the laws of physics and quantum mechanics dont matter, and both are amongst the most beautiful things I have ever known.

Steampunk is a movement and a vision of a world that never moved on. Its a fantastical idea that exists both in the minds and in lifestyle of a explosively growing subculture. Steampunk is an imagined concept of the world without electricity, powered by steam, and all the implications thereafter. It is an alternate reality of a world of mechanical features, gadgetry, and clunky but quaint wonderful machines.
 
Donnie Darko is a story told through film of love and consequences, and choices. What would we do if we could control our fate through ultimate sacrifice for a love we could save but never have?

Theres an old platitude that states it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. Is that really true? Ask Donnie.
 
The Steampunk movement is more than just an idea. One hundred years ago, finely dressed gentlemen had no idea that their fine watches would one day be re purposed into vintage cufflinks, necklaces, and pendants. "How dare you! " they might say... yet here we are, wearing the watch movements of jewelry long forgotten and so casually discarded.
 
Steampunk jewelry offers the rare opportunity to proudly display a piece of time distilled down to itself quite literally as watch movement parts and faceplates showcased in a most stunningly beautiful way.
 
Donnie Darko spirit guide is an demonic six foot tall apocalyptic bunny named Frank. 

Frank tells Donnie the world is ending in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds. While not the most comforting or gentle source of guidance, though certainly a very specific one, Frank  is nevertheless right.

Donnie is galvanized into a series of action that will determine his own fate and that of those he loves most. Donnie must navigate through a process of choices to achieve his desired results. His reality is temporary, and unstable, making his decisions that much more important.

Our decisions are important too, and each one, like an old vintage key

 
whos lock is forever lost, has unknown consequences that will imprint our lives in ways we never imagined.

Will we be like Donnie?
 
CAN we be like Donnie?
 
I wont even try.
 
But he makes me think about what steampunk means, about decisions and consequences and roads left not traveled, about the what ifs of a life and world that exist only in our imaginations.
 
And when I stare at a piece of though provoking steampunk jewelry, a piece of art carved out of time, it reminds me of the beauty of not just imagined worlds, but the real one we actually we live in.