F.T. Marinetti, “Manifesto of Futurism”; Aleksandr Rodchenko, “Who We Are: Manifesto of the Constructivist Group”; and El Lissitzky, “Our Book”, Graphic Design Theory: Readings From the Field by Helen Armstrong, pages 19-31. 

Questions/prompts:

Here are the questions to which you should respond in your reading response:

  • Consider if and how these manifestos addressed the concepts of authorship/ownership, universal systems of communication, and social/political engagement.
  • What common views do these artists/designers share, and where might they disagree?
  • Which elements of these texts remain relevant for the present, and which elements are problematic? 
  • How has the communication process changed since the early 20th Century, specifically with regard to “feedback” and “noise”?

I do believe that there is a concept of authorship and ownership in these manifestoes because if there is a manifesto that means there is an author or a thinker who created it and if people are joining it or supporting it this means that people are getting involved and this shows ownership. The fact that both the manifestos are beginning with ‘we’ in every sentence tells us that it’s a universal ideology it’s not for one person and it’s not specified either. I believe there are disagreements in both these manifestos the futurist group seems like they support technology and change i.e in point 4.”We say that the world’s magnificence has been enriched by a new beauty: the beauty of speed. A racing car whose hood is adorned with great pipes, like serpents of explosive breath—a roaring car that seems to ride ongrapeshot—is more beautiful than the Victory of Samothrace.” whereas the constructive group seems like they are anti-technology ie’.and we simply said: This is—today technology is—the mortal enemy of art. Technology…’

 I think that the elements that are relevant for today are talking about progress, moving forward, bringing change, adapting technology, etc. there were a few elements that feel problematic to me for instance in the futurism manifesto in point no 8.’Time and Space died yesterday. We already live in the absolute, because we have created eternal, omnipresent speed. I don’t understand this line completely but what I’m getting from this is that there is a denial that time doesn’t exist and life is eternal, or I could be wrong. Also in point no 9 and 10 F. T. Marinetti wrote ‘We will glorify war—the world’s only hygiene—militarism, patriotism, the destructive gesture of freedom-bringers, beautiful ideas worth dying for, and scorn for woman’.’10.

We will destroy the museums, libraries, academies of every kind, will fight moralism, feminism, every opportunistic or utilitarian cowardice.’ These points are also problematic and reflect intolerance and extremism. I think that the Communication process since the early 20th century has changed drastically, if we just talk about the involvement of cell phones and the internet these two things were introduced to connect people and make communication easy and it is getting better and better day by day. Everyone can now create noise whether it’s in form of a trending hashtag on Twitter or a viral TikTok and can get instant feedback.

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