The Futurist Manifesto

In the Futurist Manifesto, Marinetti defines the future as a culmination of aggression, suppression, and the eternal. Marinetti remarks on the stagnancy of the past; how all things came to a slow-paced end. Beneath the word-vomit of constant simile and metaphor (Sorry professor, I just really disliked his pretentious tone! ), there is this inherent irony when referring to new age technology as gothic/bygone terminology such as centaurs, angels, and kings. It directly contrasts with the very concept of technology, which evokes ideas of “new” and “modern”. It is these disparities that further highlights the lack of energy exhibited by past literature and invention. When speaking in over-saturated similes, the car is brought down from “the pinnacle of human invention” to that of a “centaur”. Marinetti sees this and demands explosive energy instead. He speaks toward a future full of excitement and danger that is constantly living in the present. However, he takes this idea to the extreme when declaring his desire to, “-demolish museums and libraries, fight morality, feminism and all opportunist and utilitarian cowardice.” While there is defiantly an emphasis on constant advancements in the present age, there is also a vast appreciation for the past. More so now, we are constantly being told to look towards the past, to appreciate history, and to learn from it. It can be said, that only through this history we can advance at all, be it through morality, invention, or general understanding. Marinetti also has the problematic yet, the ironic idea of glorifying war and fighting feminism. In his exceedingly unhinged and deranged set of demands there is this overarching theme of “liberty”, yet, Marinetti seems to be the most oppressive figure of them all. 

Who We Are Manifesto of the Constructivist Group Aleksandr Rodchenko, Varvara Stepanova, and Aleksei Gan

Similar to Marinetti, the Manifesto of the Constructivist speaks on the “new”; not an outright disregard for the past, yet, a commentary of what has come to be. When considering the present, It’s often that we take what we have for granted. Our home, Our education, even the plate we eat of off was once just a concept, an idea someone brought into fruition that became so prevalent we often forget its value. The manifesto if the constructivist echos that sentiment, noting the mission of creators. There is no outright creation, but reconstruction, developing advancing, and repeat. A cycle seemingly mundane, but what a luxury it is to be Mundane. By stoping at “just words”, or “just a picture” we lose out on what could’ve been. There is a definite correlation with how creators work today. We take what always has been a look past “just a -“, to discover what can be. While Marinetti looks to destroy any traces of the past, The constructivist own up to it, they recognize the foundation and wish to expand on it.

Our Book El Lissitzky 

 Lissitzky takes a more solemn approach to the principles of the Constructivist group. While the constructivist say nothing is new yet can still be built upon, Lissitzky states outright that art has no evolution. That we invent until burden than event again to release the burden, and it repeats. He states that the root of this is language, communication, and what better way to convey that than the book. And as time goes on “the book” is the pinnacle of art, and how we develop new relationships with said “book” is how we can move forward. Some of this holds today, as designers still attempt to push typography as well as different forms of communication to relay their message. However, it does not always have to be a book. Begot pictures, dance, clothes, etc. There is more evolution with an emphasis on liberation and communication than there is the single medium of a “book”. I feel as though boiling everything down to a single concept is what limits the artistic freedom of what their groups strived for. By labeling themselves, creating “rules”, set goals, and manifestos, it became more about the individual’s desires, rather than the liberation of a group as a whole.