Three Manifestos from Avant-Garde Designers
F.T. Marinetti, “Manifesto of Futurism”; Aleksandr Rodchenko, “Who We Are: Manifesto of the Constructivist Group”; and El Lissitzky, “Our Book”Â
Questions / Prompts
- 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?
Response
Artists of the twentieth century wanted to work towards changing the world with their art and the invention of machines just started like photography and film. They felt that it was time to transition to machines that would help them create sleek, functional, efficient, and powerful forms of art. Instead of just sticking with the current art that they made. These manifestos address the concepts of authorship/ ownership by expressing that they will create new forms of art that will challenge moralism, feminism and every opportunistic or utilitarian cowardice. Marinetti said this new form of art will challenge and change the world and he was right. Technology did change the world with its new forms of art and communication. The only problem is that these new ways to create art may one day fully replace traditional art. The communication process was changed in the early twentieth century by technology. Phones were made to help deliver messages instead of letters. The radio helps deliver good and/or bad news to everyone at once. Printing helps mass-produce books for everyone to read. Photography helps preserve and remember events that once happened. All this new technology has made life easier and it will just continue to improve.
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