If you want to change the world, you have to be a bit … offensive.
That was the Futurists.
Well, that was F.T. Marinetti. The rest came along for the ride.
Part of his inspiration was a car accident. And how cool that could be. And how driving fast is awesome.
Italian Futurism was not about the future, it was about the future’s impact on the present. In this case, 1909, new technologies were changing the world. And the idea of the Roman Empire still being what Italy was all about – Marinetti felt this was passé.
Streetlights, factories, NOISE.
The world sounded different before the 20th Century. Artist/composer Luigi Russolo created music from noise. And a bit later, the electric guitar took this concept mainstream. Moog, synths would go farther.
Marinetti’s sound poetry seemed like nonsense. It was just a beginning.
Futurism advocated war too. So a bunch of the futurists were killed in World War One. And the movement ended up with ties to Fascism. And they were pretty sexist, tho in readings, I’m pretty sure Marinetti was pussy whipped mor than anything.
Which is why they’ve been ignored. Rightfully. Well, not too ignored. They did some amazing things. And hell, the fashion industry LOVES to steal from them. A lot.
Gaga wouldn’t totally be Gaga without Futurism off in the distance.
Italian Futurism says dubstep to me.
Here’s an experimental mix from a few years back:
—steve mehallo
Flommist Steve Mehallo is a graphic designer, illustrator, font designer, educator, foodie and gadfly. He is the creator and founder of FLOMM! THX to flommists Cabrina Robinson for her appearance on the MARINETTI track, and Chelsea Davis for letting me get away with destroying FIRE in this. Sort of. Pictured up top: Ivo Pannaggi, Speeding Train (Treno in corsa, cropped), 1922, source. Sources include this and this. MOR reads can be found on the Flomm Bibliography page.
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