Reading Response 2 – SR

• What political events were happening during the time and place that these manifestos were written? How did those events influence the authors’ beliefs?
• Consider if and how these manifestos addressed the concepts of authorship/ownership, universal systems of communication, and social/political engagement.
• 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 technology?

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

The first manifesto of futurism was right before WWI. As well as during the last two manifestos were the formation of the USSR and a few years after the USSR formed the cold war started between the western part of the world and the eastern part. It was mostly the United States and the USSR that were most involved. 

The author’s beliefs are reflected in the work they produced through new technology. F.T. Marinetti’s manifesto seems like he is listing off things that he wants to happen in the future. The line “We will glorify war…” happened within the next few years. The beginning of the 20th century was filled with nothing but war and chaos. People were proud of their country showing patriotism by going to war with each other. The Manifesto of the Constructivist Group is really the only one that talks about concepts of ownership through their work. Lissizky addressed the universal systems of communication with destain almost (?). At least that’s how it sounded to me but I might have to read it again. Both manifestos had some sort of political engagement because of the time they were written. Lissizky talks about the future of books which is actually true today. You’ll hardly see anyone with a book if it’s not a digital version of it. The era of new technology defined the start of an era of digitalization. 

The communications process has changed the way we have produced different types of art, whether it is physical or digital. This kind of reminds me of an exhibit I saw in a museum called the Poster House. The exhibition is called “With My Little Eye: Warnings For The Homefront”, this exhibit showcases posters made during WWI & WWII that were warning people of spies in their country, These pieces were mostly produced by Allied countries.